Greg Sankey believes CFP negotiations could shift after Pac-12 exodus

The latest wave of conference realignment washed out the Pac-12 and the future of the league is now in jeopardy at the moment. The collapse of the west coast’s longstanding collegiate conference has tremendous effects across the board, but its impact on the new College Football Playoff format could go overlooked.

But not for SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, who explained on the Paul Finebaum Show this week that the massive changes to conferences this summer could be cause to re-assess the future CFP model that was just recently agreed upon. Currently, the expanded 12-team CFP format set to kick in next season will feature the six highest-ranked conference champions plus the six other highest-ranked teams remaining, regardless of whether they won a league title.

However, if the Pac-12 were to collapse or merge with another league, that could change the intended dynamic of the CFP, since it was originally supposed to award six league champions, seemingly the power five leagues plus the best group of five team — barring a crazy year where multiple G5 conference champs rank super high. But if the Pac-12 is gone, it would award the other power conference champs plus two G5 league champs in the typical season.

So, take a listen to why Greg Sankey believes the CFP format discussion needs to be revisited before it gets pushed under the rug for other issues.

Greg Sankey explains conference realignment’s effect on CFP format

“We do have changed circumstances. Right now we still have 10 FBS conferences but there’s obviously a great question about whether that will remain. And yeah, that could create the thought in my mind and I think in others about some level of adjust being made. I do think the access we’ve created to the 12-team format still seems wise, but maybe there are elements and specifics of what was decided when we had clarity around 10 conferences that might need to be adjusted given what’s happening right now.”

Sankey went on to emphasize he still likes the 12-team model, but believes there are new factors to take into account. After failing to sustain talks over these issues in relation to the CFP originally, the SEC leader is hopeful the conference craziness coaxes folks into talking this time around.

“I’ll go back to what I wanted to see, and that was a 12-team format that struck a unique balance between honoring conference champions and then providing access for the best teams who are not conference champions. And that was with an understanding of 10 FBS conferences — we have some independents, Notre Dame obviously being central there.

“What was really interesting to me was when that concept was introduced, rather than engage in feedback and conversation to try and improve, we just stopped. And instead of making the kind of improvements that are natural in any idea, concept or format that can be introduced, we just stopped.

“I’ve been an advocate — even before the events of the last few weeks — to look carefully at some of the decisions around seeding, around location. Some of my other colleagues have contributed their ideas — I think those will help us improve.”

Sankey’s biggest area of concern is the seeding situation, which we discussed at the top of the article.

“Now here we are with more membership movement, questions about how many conferences will exist. It just raises the questions about conference champion access, about how the bracket is seeded, particularly the adjustment around Notre Dame remaining as an independent, not having that top-four seed status.

“Those matters need to be really dug into and understood. To the extent we’ll have clarity soon on the number of conferences, I think that could help form our conversations. If we don’t have clarity, those issues around format, seeding, placement and teams will be probably a bit more drawn out. I’m one who thinks 12 teams can continue to work. It’s really about what happens inside that 12-team playoff.”

As always, the action — on the field — is the juice for the College Football Playoff. But Greg Sankey is right to pursue the best possible format for generating the best possible championship matchups.