Greg Sankey on SEC potentially adding FSU: 'We’re not gonna take our pie and slice it into more pieces'

Florida State — among others — is currently in a public legal fight over the Seminoles’ ties to the Atlantic Coast Conference going forward, as the athletic program seeks to fill in a revenue gap between ACC programs and competitors in the Big Ten and SEC. The overall goal of the legal challenge, seemingly, is to clear the way for Florida State to leave the league, if it chooses.

But would the Seminoles even have a home in the SEC or Big Ten? Current indications are not promising for the power brokers in Tallahassee. The Big Ten reportedly isn’t keen on welcoming such a disruptive partner and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey wasn’t shy about pouring cold water on the possibility at 2024 SEC Media Days.

“Well we really had this great session where I talked about, really focused on our 16,” Sankey said on The Next Round Live podcast. “And our presidents have said very clearly: We’re not going to be to be entangled in legal issues around any consideration of expansion. So, it’s not a conversation. And we’re not going to take our pie and slice it into more pieces. They have to grow the pie. And I have to be aware, so the question that led into this analysis is, ‘Are you paying attention?’ So, I have to pay attention. But I think we have — this group of 16 is an incredibly strong, well-positioned group of 16 universities and athletic programs in contiguous states and there’s not this need.”

Sankey continued, comparing what he apparently sees as a bit of a desperation move from the Seminoles to the machinations of the SEC adding Texas and Oklahoma.

“And, in fact what’s happened over the last three years, I think, has explained why we did what we did,” Sankey said. “We’ve not been reacting. We’ve not been in a position of trying to figure something out in short order, we were able to make a decision and there were other calls before Oklahoma and Texas reached out. But the decision that was right, that fits, can continue to elevate all 16 now from where we’ve been. And we’ve been in a pretty great spot.” 

Sankey hasn’t been shy in throwing some barbs the Seminoles’ way

After Alabama’s SEC Championship upset over Georgia last season, the College Football Playoff committee found itself facing a major decision. It could’ve put the one-loss Crimson Tide, the one-loss Bulldogs or undefeated ACC champion Florida State in the four-team field – ultimately choosing the former.

That move led to plenty of debate about whether the four “best” teams or four “most deserving” teams made the CFP. Florida State became the first undefeated Power Conference champion to miss out on the national semifinals, and Georgia didn’t get a chance to defend its two straight titles after losing in the SEC title game.

FSU made its thoughts clear on the CFP’s decision, voicing its displeasure with the move to send the Seminoles to the Orange Bowl against Georgia. Speaking at SEC Media Days Wednesday afternoon, commissioner Greg Sankey spoke about the difference between the two schools’ handling of the situation, seemingly calling out how Florida State approached it all.

“Think last year. [Georgia] was one of the four best teams. Period,” Sankey said on 1010 XL radio. “There’s people in your listening audience saying, ‘Oh, there he goes again.’ We didn’t stomp our feet, we didn’t, like, fly banners over places. That was one of the four best teams.

“They lost one game in two years. Bad second half, second quarter, third quarter. And in the future, if they’re 9-3 compared to a 10-2 or 11-1 [game], the standard’s not 10-2 or 11-1. It’s the best teams.”

The decision to leave Florida State out of the field was due to a few factors, according to Boo Corrigan, who served as the selection committee chairman at the time. A big one was the injury to quarterback Jordan Travis, who got hurt late in the season and was out for the year.

After FSU missed out on the CFP, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced an investigation into the committee, and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to the College Football Playoff to get more information. Former CFP executive director Bill Hancock responded, pointing out the tough decision the committee had.