Overview

• SEC officials postponed a vote on expanding conference play from eight to nine games until the College Football Playoff format is finalized.
• Coaches remain divided: some, like Brian Kelly, endorse a nine-game slate with an added Big Ten opponent, while others, including Sam Pittman, favor retaining eight games for scheduling flexibility.
• Negotiations with the Big Ten are exploring annual cross-conference matchups, but any formal agreement depends on mutual approval from both leagues.
• Commissioner Greg Sankey has advocated for a 16-team, open-access playoff featuring a 5+11 model, which secures five automatic bids and leaves 11 at-large spots.
• Athletic directors caution that playoff selection criteria and automatic bid allocation will ultimately determine the conference’s scheduling structure.