SEC and Big Ten Push for College Football Playoff Seeding and Expansion Changes

Leaders from the two conferences advocate for revised playoff seeding and explore expanding the format to 14 or 16 teams by 2026.

SEC and Big Ten commissioners Greg Sankey and Tony Petitti expressed support for revising how teams are seeded in the 12-team College Football Playoff, potentially using the selection committee's rankings directly.
Discussions included the possibility of expanding the playoff to 14 or 16 teams by 2026, with proposed formats giving the SEC and Big Ten automatic bids for four teams each.
Concerns were raised about the financial impact on fans, with critics suggesting that expansion could price out average supporters while benefiting conference revenues.
The current 12-team format, which guarantees top seeds to conference champions, has faced criticism for perceived inequities, prompting calls for adjustments ahead of the 2025 season.
The SEC and Big Ten's dominant influence over the future playoff structure has drawn scrutiny, with some questioning the fairness of preassigned bids for their conferences.