Greg Sankey addresses timeline of College Football Playoff expansion

Greg Sankey believes it could be a long time before we see expansion of the College Football Playoff. In an interview with Paul Finebaum, the SEC commissioner said college football’s leaders aren’t close to ready.

“There’s a book Art of Possibility, which would say absolutely, that’s a possibility,” Sankey said. “Whether that’s a likelihood, I would not suggest it’s a likelihood. I do think there’s a meaningful intent to come to conclusion. But I’ll be clear that when we were assigned the task of looking at expansion, we had what we understood was a clear task and clear set of expectations, not a lot of limitations, just hey, explore the range of possibility, using that word, and introduce a format that can be considered and potentially implemented for the future. Yet again, we’re not at that finish line.”

The Playoff board of managers failed to approve a proposal for an expanded 12-team field Monday, casting more mystery on when it will finally happen. The goal was expand the Playoff by 2024, but now it appears 2026 is the earlier likely date. That coincides with the end of ESPN’s contract to broadcasting rights for the CFP.

The SEC commissioner also made critical remarks about Playoff expansion Monday prior to the national championship game between Alabama and Georgia. With two teams from his conference competing for a title, Greg Sankey said he feels no need for Playoff expansion.

“Those who asked (to expand the playoff) are not ready to act,” he said. “It’s in my best interest to leave it at four.”

Sankey also took a shot at the strength of conferences outside the SEC, alluding to a Penn State-Illinois game that went nine overtimes.

“We’re in a nine overtime contest and none of us can accomplish a 2-point conversion,” he quipped.

An expanded Playoff was initially proposed in June, just a month before Oklahoma and Texas both announced they should join the SEC. Other commissioners, such as the Big 12’s Bob Bowlsby, have expressed disappointment in the lack of support for expansion.

“I am disappointed,” Bowlsby said following meetings that spanned a combined 8 hours across three days. “… We have entrenched issues. They are no closer to being resolved than they were [before our meetings].”

With serious talks of Playoff expansion having already taken place, it seems inevitable that is the direction the sport will head in the future. It just might not be as soon as many hoped for.