Greg Sankey: 5+7 CFP model not finalized yet, but 'we'll see if it's possible moving forward'

The 2024 college season will see a long list of changes. Perhaps the most notable will be the expansion of the College Football Playoff with the four-team model now a things of the past.

How the 12-team CFP format will look, though, is still a big question mark. Initially, the field would be the six highest-ranked conference champions and the next six highest-ranked teams. However, with the Pac-12 now dropping to just two teams after a groundbreaking round of conference realignment, a proposal is on the table to switch to a “5-and-7” format – the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven teams.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said that decision isn’t yet final, but he hopes conversations will continue about the move.

“I think I broke news way back, probably in August or September, when I suggested that that 6-and-6 model doesn’t work, that we needed to attend in these next two years towards that 5-and-7 – so five conference champions and the seven best remaining teams, based on the selection committee’s evaluation, that are not conference champions,” Sankey said Wednesday on The Paul Finebaum Show. “We’ve not been able to finalize that format.

“We’ll see if it’s possible moving forward. So those are some of the things in front of us. But it’s still a full participation, lively conversation. Was certainly a long day for us in meeting on Monday as we work through these really important issues around college football.”

ESPN’s Heather Dinich: The Pac-12 is the only holdout for 5-and-7 format

Earlier this week, ESPN’s Heather Dinich said the CFP management committee is largely in favor of the new format. The Pac-12 is the holdout considering there would be one less conference champion in the field.

Still, the sense is it will eventually pass, according to Dinich.

“Conference championship games are going to continue to hold a lot of value because of the emphasis placed on automatic qualifiers, but that’s why that model is important that they’re talking about,” Dinich said. “Everyone in that room aside from the Pac-12, at this moment, is in favor of the 5+7, which means the five highest-ranked conference champions plus the next seven highest-ranked teams.

“My understanding from sources, on and off the record, is that they will get to that point. It just hasn’t happened yet. I would expect at least in the next month or so that they take steps to get them much closer to that, if not rubber stamp it.”