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SEC postures in playoff format discussions

On3 imageby:Brent Hubbs•05/30/25•

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greg sankey (3)
Denny Simmons/The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

With SEC spring meetings coming to a close, the message from the SEC is simple, we are different. 

The league reminded everyone of that on Thursday when they handed out a pack of analytics to the media about how challenging the regular season is in football. 

Commissioner Greg Sankey’s message was two fold. One, it was directed to the college football playoff committee noting that their selection process is flawed or is at least questioned in how they view strength of schedule. 

Two and more importantly, the messaging sets the stage for the one of the biggest showdowns in college football over the next six months. What does a 16 team college football playoff look like. 

How that looks is a major point of contention. 

Going into spring meetings, it was believed that the SEC preferred the 4 automatic qualifier model. Multiple athletic directors like Texas A&M’s Trev Alberts and Florida’s Scott Stricklin stated that was their preference as the week started in Destin.

However in head coaches meetings the 5+11 Model was discussed as a real possibility. Why? Because for fourth or fifth straight year, the coaches have made it clear they aren’t interested in a nine-game league schedule. 

They don’t want another week in the gauntlet of the league thus their interest in the 5+11 model. 

In response that the Big 10, who is all in on the 4 automatic qualifier model, is not interesting in supporting an expanded playoff model that doesn’t include the SEC playing nine league games. 

While coaches aren’t interested in nine league games, athletic directors are and they are for one main reason. 

Cash. 

A ninth league game would likely mean somewhere around 80 million dollars to the league in additional television revenue.  

And just like that SEC Meetings are over, no real decisions were made. Sure, there was the agreement of $500,000 as a flat fine for rushing the field/court. But mostly the week long event was what it normally is — four days of politicking. 

There was transfer portal politicking. There was the gloom and dome from some like LSU AD Scott Woodward.

“I do have grave concerns about where this is going and what’s going to happen even within our conference & even within the Power 4,” Woodward said. 

There was the announcement of start times and handing out big checks, but the story of the week in Destin was the league’s posturing over the future of the college football playoffs. The result could be a showdown with the Big 10 over format. It could mean more money and nine league games much to the dismay of SEC coaches. 

Time will tell and there is a timeline on it. The playoff format has to be decided by December 1st and the SEC has to make a scheduling decision sooner rather than later because as it stands right now there is no 2026 football schedule. 

Different than everyone else or not. Decision time is coming for the SEC.

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