Report: College Football Playoff weighing new revenue model that would favor Big Ten, SEC

The Big Ten and SEC are continuing to push to elevate themselves above the rest of the leagues in College Football Playoff format negotiations. The latest turn, according to Yahoo Sports‘ Ross Dellenger, is a push to get a bigger stake in the revenue.

The Big Ten and SEC are reportedly seeking to split 58% of the base revenue, while the Big 12 and ACC would be given 32% to share. That leaves 10% left for Notre Dame and the rest of the conferences.

Under current CFP models, the Power 5 — soon four — conferences shares 80% of the base revenue relatively evenly.

In the new financial distribution, Dellenger estimated that the Big Ten and SEC would make something in the ballpark of $750 million combined annually, with around $450 million for the Big 12 and ACC and around $115 million for Notre Dame and the remaining teams.

The four-team CFP paid out around $460 million, annually, in total across all the leagues. With a new, 12-team model set to pay out $1.3 billion from ESPN for the broadcast rights, leagues and teams would still likely end up making much more in revenue, even if it’s a smaller proportion.

The Big Ten and SEC have tried other ways to set themselves apart

In a proposed 14-team CFP model, only the champions of the SEC and Big Ten would be eligible for the two byes in the postseason tournament, according to Dellenger.

In recent weeks, the Big Ten and SEC reportedly began working together in examining the future of college football and athletics. So far, the resulting moves, particularly with respect to the College Football Playoff, have signaled an intent for the leagues to elevate themselves further above the other Power 5 (soon four) leagues.

To wit, it’s been proposed that in a 14-team CFP model, the Big Ten and SEC would each get three automatic bids, while the Big 12 and ACC would get two each. Additionally, an auto bid would be given to the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion before three at-large teams to round out the field. The deal would also guarantee a spot to Notre Dame if the Irish finish ranked in the Top 14.

A move to make the champions of the respective two leagues — in most years perceived as two of, if not the top two teams in the sport — effectively a permanent No. 1 and No. 2 seed would be another level of hegemony.

There’s also an urgency to get a playoff deal done for beyond the 2025-26 playoff, as currently college football has no postseason mechanism to crown a champion without the playoff. A new deal, and subsequent TV deal, likely need to be sorted out in the coming months, putting the pressure on all involved to find an acceptable compromise.

And as college and conference administrators keep pushing forward to make a new CFP beyond the remaining two years on the contract, it seems clear one thing has been constant: The Big Ten and SEC pushing for ever-bigger portions of the pie.