Greg Sankey explains 'frustration' over College Football Playoff discussions

As the College Football Playoff gets ready to expand to 12 teams this year, the conversations continue about what happens behind the next two seasons. From further expansion to media rights and revenue distribution, it seems as though the CFP isn’t done changing.

The idea of expanding the CFP has been around for the last few years, although it’s becoming a reality starting with the 2024 season. There was talk of growing from four teams to 12 in 2023 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but conversations stalled, and it had to wait until 2024.

In fact, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said he thinks the different topics being discussed now should’ve come up earlier, which is why he expressed “frustration” about where things stand.

“We have a reality for the College Football Playoff that says we need to be in conversations,” Sankey said ahead of Friday’s SEC women’s basketball tournament game between Auburn and LSU. “And it’s been a four-year work project for me that others decided to just put on the shelf for basically two years.

“Part of my frustration is the details that we’re trying to grind through right now, we should’ve been grinding through back in 2022 or 2023, not 2024. But problems yield in effort, that’s a mantra of mine.”

Reports indicated multiple ideas the CFP is considering after the 2026 season when the current deal with ESPN expires. A 14-team model has been proposed, and reported discussions also included automatic byes for the Big Ten and SEC following their expansions. However, ESPN reported the CFP is reconsidering that idea after public backlash – including from Big 12 and ACC coaches.

But Sankey had a message about what’s being reported about the CFP’s looming decisions, and he channeled Mississippi State athletic director Zac Selmon in the process.

“Myself and my colleagues – when I leave here, I’m going to jump on a phone call yet again. I told our ADs, I quoted Zac Selmon. So when Zac made a football change, in his press conference, he said unless it comes from me, don’t believe it,” Sankey said. “While I appreciate anonymous sources and the unnamed AD in this conference and unnamed AD in that conference, I told our athletics directors [and] our presidents and chancellors, unless it’s coming from me, don’t believe it and I’ll tell you when it’s true.

“It’s a high-level piece of work. … We’ve done something great with the College Football Playoff. We’ve clearly benefitted from them, I think the game has benefitted from the Playoff. There’s a future opportunity to continue to grow and build.”