SEC and Big Ten Leaders Hold Sway Over Future College Football Playoff Format

The conferences' commissioners emphasize the importance of the 12-team playoff's success before making decisions for 2026 and beyond.

The SEC's Greg Sankey and Big Ten's Tony Petitti met to discuss the rollout of the new 12-team College Football Playoff format, stressing its success as crucial.
The current playoff format, set for 2024 and 2025, could change significantly based on the SEC and Big Ten's influence and evaluation.
Both conferences are exploring ways to increase their representation in the playoffs, potentially seeking more automatic bids and control over seedings.
Discussions included potential collaboration on scheduling more inter-conference games to enhance strength of schedule for playoff consideration.
The commissioners dismissed the idea of forming super leagues or using private equity, focusing instead on leveraging their current resources and influence.