SEC rallies around push for strength of schedule respect, setting stage for CFP format clash

New York Times

a day ago

DESTIN, Fla. — The SEC now appears to be the critical decision maker in the debate over the next College Football Playoff format. And on the final day of its spring meetings, while the conference didn't reveal its preference, it made clear its priority: schedule strength.
Commissioner Greg Sankey began his wrap-up press conference by handing out six pages of data arguing that the challenge of the SEC's regular season deserves more consideration. The packet touted the SEC as having the hardest schedule every year from 2015 to 2024 according to five computer formulas. It also showed the SEC only had two teams ranked outside the top 50 in three different metrics, a testament to the conference's depth.
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The title page read, 'A REGULAR SEASON GAUNTLET,' followed by the subtitle, 'When looking at the leading metrics that factor in strength of schedule, the conclusion across all of them is clear: No other conference has a regular season as grueling as the SEC's.'
This all came against the backdrop of the SEC emerging as the swing conference in the decision over a CFP format. The field is expected to expand to 16 teams for 2026 and beyond. The Big Ten favors a format where it and the SEC get four automatic bids, the ACC and Big 12 two automatic bids each, and the conferences outside the Power 4 one bid for the top-ranked champion. The ACC, Big 12 and Group of 5 favor the so-called '5+11' model, with five automatic bids for the highest-ranked conference champions and the rest at-larges.
The SEC, meanwhile, came away from four days of meetings without a formal stance nor a decision on whether to expand to a nine-game conference schedule. That decision is intertwined with the format, with some athletic directors saying they don't want to go to nine games unless they have automatic bids. But the Big Ten, if it were to relent on the automatic bids, would want the SEC to move to nine games, so that the two conferences are playing the same number.
The SEC does still appear inwardly torn on what to do. But Sankey, asked whether he felt his league moved any closer to a decision on either this week, said yes. When asked how much, he appeared to send a message that got back to schedule strength.
'The strength of our conference and how that's evaluated is really something we want to be a priority. I think that's important for us,' Sankey said. 'The extent we can have clarity, maybe that can keep us advancing. Maybe if we lack clarity, maybe that causes us to take a step back in our decision making.'
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What the SEC needs to see specifically to be satisfied is unclear. The CFP is currently decided by a selection committee, which looks at data but ultimately makes its own decisions in setting the final rankings. In 2024 the SEC had three 9-3 teams (Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina) that were left out of the field. And while the on-field postseason results seemed to validate the snubs (the SEC went 2-3 in the Playoff), Sankey and his conference are looking for some unclear level of assurance in order to support the 5+11 model.
'How will a 9-3 SEC team be evaluated against others who may have one or two losses?' Sankey said. 'The rigor of this schedule is unique, and it stands alone by comparison. How is that best respected in this national evaluation system?'
Failing that, Sankey could back the Big Ten's proposal. And since the SEC and Big Ten have codified power to decide the format, the SEC going that way would seal it.
Sankey didn't disagree with that premise when a reporter stated that it was apparent what the Big Ten wants, and apparent what the other conferences want, meaning the SEC was —
'Kind of important,' Sankey said, interrupting. 'We're a bit important in that decision.'
Coming into this week, it was known that most SEC athletic directors favored the Big Ten proposal, and that was borne out in many of their interviews. Texas A&M AD Trev Alberts, for instance, said he would only vote for going to a nine-game conference schedule if the SEC was 'protected' in the next CFP format.
But as the meetings went on, it was clear there were reservations. Sankey said he spoke to coaches mainly about the 5+11 model and that the coaches were open to it. And Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks, asked an open-ended question about the possible formats, argued that the 5+11 format would give the SEC a chance to get more teams in, rather than fighting for two or three at-large spots after filling out its four automatic bids.
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'If you look historically, if you look at how many we would have gotten in, I'm always going to want the decision that gets the most SEC teams in,' Brooks said. 'If you look at our track record as a conference, we should have a good number, between hopefully five and six and maybe even more, who fall in that criteria of the top 16. I think you have to look at the historical data as a guiding star for how you make that decision moving forward.'
A day later, Sankey presented some of that data to the media members. He was asked whether it was meant to lobby the next selection committee or support the idea of the SEC getting automatic bids. Sankey didn't choose either option, saying it just showed the 'need for change.'
'We need better understanding of the data. Not simply that the committee has a high approval rating and works well,' Sankey said. 'There's a balance between just the machine or just the human element. Can that be achieved? That's a fair question that we should look and figure out, can we learn from our past experiences and have a balance.'
The next meeting of CFP leaders is June 18 in Asheville, N.C. Sankey was asked about the chances the SEC would be able to present a preference at that meeting.
'We'll see,' he said.