Sankey Backs CFP Expansion, SEC Schedule Flexibility

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey opened the 2025 SEC Media Days by reaffirming the league's leadership in college football and advocating for expanding the College Football Playoff (CFP) from 12 to potentially 16 teams. He noted that while the SEC and Big Ten have differing views on automatic bid allocations, discussions on CFP expansion are ongoing. Sankey defended the SEC's current eight-game conference schedule but indicated a move to nine games is possible, depending on future CFP evaluation criteria. He also addressed issues such as eligibility lawsuits, the impact of NIL, and the need for unified eligibility standards to protect high school athletes. Sankey emphasized that any changes to the playoff format or conference schedule will be made carefully and responsibly. Final decisions on CFP expansion and SEC scheduling are expected by December as college football continues to evolve.