Latest news with #Sankey


The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
SEC suffocates Big Ten's rigged College Football Playoff plan
The Big Ten lacked support from the SEC, a necessary ally, to advance a 16-team playoff that would preassign half the bids to the Big Ten and SEC. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey extinguished what little life remained for the Big Ten's auto-bid-laden plan when he put his foot down last week at his conference's media days. If the SEC doesn't secure one of the expanded playoff plans it desires, Sankey said, then it's comfortable sticking with the current 12-team playoff format. And the SEC doesn't want the Big Ten's plan. Well, that's that then. PART OF PLAN?: NCAA settlement for college sports already faces challenges PLAYOFF PROBLEM?: Why committee could be tested by two SEC teams Big Ten's College Football Playoff plan stalls without SEC support The 12-team playoff will be in place for 2025. The format for 2026 and beyond remains under debate. To expand the playoff, the SEC and Big Ten would need to align behind a plan by a Dec. 1 deadline. Sankey referenced multiple playoff plans the SEC remains willing to consider. Notable by its omission: The Big Ten's plan that would earmark 13 of 16 spots as automatic bids preassigned to conferences. "We're going to have 5+7, 5+9, (or) 5+11," Sankey said. The Big 12 and ACC support the 5+11 plan. The SEC retains interest in it, too. In the math equations Sankey mentioned, the "5" means five automatic bids - one each going to the five-best conference champions. The second number in the equation means the number of at-large bids. "We'll continue to debate whether expansion beyond 12 is appropriate," Sankey said. That debate won't, apparently, include the Big Ten's favored 4+4+2+2+1+3 plan, which would have awarded four automatic bids to the Big Ten, four more to the SEC, two apiece to the ACC and Big 12, and one to the next-best conference champion, leaving three at-large bids. The SEC soured on this auto-bid plan in the spring, and, in Sankey's annual state-of-the-conference address, he offered no sign of retreating toward the Big Ten's plan. No individual conference wields the authority to unilaterally push through an expanded playoff. College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark told reporters last month that playoff expansion would require the SEC and Big Ten to agree upon a plan. What if they can't agree? That's a win for the status quo. "We have a 12-team playoff, (including) five conference champions," Sankey said. "That could stay if we can't agree." Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti will get the next word in this debate when his conference's media days begin this week. But, really, what can he say? Sankey insists the SEC is comfortable staying at 12 if it can't achieve one of its preferred playoff expansion plans. If that's the case, then the Big Ten's pursuit of a 4+4+2+2+1+3 playoff has died on the vine. To which I say, good riddance. The 12-team playoff relies on a committee of subjective and imperfect humans to select most of the field, but subjectivity and imperfection are insufficient grounds to scrap this system in favor of a playoff that would pre-emptively reward conferences based on their history, brand and clout, instead of letting on-field results determine bid allocation. Big Ten, SEC alliance fizzles amid competing interests Early last year, the SEC and Big Ten announced a pact to work together to chart college sports' future. Stakeholders from the two super conferences met multiple times and discussed playoff expansion possibilities. Much like the Big Ten's previous alliance with the ACC and Pac-12, the bromance between the Big Ten and the SEC fizzled in the face of competing interests. There's "no rift" between Sankey and Petitti, the SEC commissioner said on his conference's television network last week, but they have "different views." The Big Ten, according to multiple reports, might be willing to compromise in favor of a 5+11 playoff if the SEC and ACC add another conference game and join the Big Ten and Big 12 in playing nine conference games. That's a fine wish, but the Big Ten lacks the muscle to force another conference to change its schedule. Sankey would like the SEC add a ninth conference game, but his membership has resisted his preference. The Big Ten played its playoff hand, but it lacked the cards to win the bet. "You always want to have a really good set of cards," Sankey said. "You want to have a good hand to play, right? I think we have the best hand." The Big Ten is running out of moves. Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@ and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.


Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Big Ten's rigged College Football Playoff plan shut down by SEC
The B1G rig ran out of gas. The SEC drained its fuel. The Big Ten waged an all-out pursuit to rig the College Football Playoff with a stacked deck of automatic bids. Its plan for playoff evolution stalled after facing resistance from rival conferences. The Big Ten lacked support from the SEC, a necessary ally, to advance a 16-team playoff that would preassign half the bids to the Big Ten and SEC. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey extinguished what little life remained for the Big Ten's auto-bid-laden plan when he put his foot down last week at his conference's media days. If the SEC doesn't secure one of the expanded playoff plans it desires, Sankey said, then it's comfortable sticking with the current 12-team playoff format. And the SEC doesn't want the Big Ten's plan. Well, that's that then. PART OF PLAN?: NCAA settlement for college sports already faces challenges PLAYOFF PROBLEM?: Why committee could be tested by two SEC teams The 12-team playoff will be in place for 2025. The format for 2026 and beyond remains under debate. To expand the playoff, the SEC and Big Ten would need to align behind a plan by a Dec. 1 deadline. Sankey referenced multiple playoff plans the SEC remains willing to consider. Notable by its omission: The Big Ten's plan that would earmark 13 of 16 spots as automatic bids preassigned to conferences. 'We're going to have 5+7, 5+9, (or) 5+11,' Sankey said. The Big 12 and ACC support the 5+11 plan. The SEC retains interest in it, too. In the math equations Sankey mentioned, the '5' means five automatic bids – one each going to the five-best conference champions. The second number in the equation means the number of at-large bids. 'We'll continue to debate whether expansion beyond 12 is appropriate,' Sankey said. That debate won't, apparently, include the Big Ten's favored 4+4+2+2+1+3 plan, which would have awarded four automatic bids to the Big Ten, four more to the SEC, two apiece to the ACC and Big 12, and one to the next-best conference champion, leaving three at-large bids. The SEC soured on this auto-bid plan in the spring, and, in Sankey's annual state-of-the-conference address, he offered no sign of retreating toward the Big Ten's plan. No individual conference wields the authority to unilaterally push through an expanded playoff. College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark told reporters last month that playoff expansion would require the SEC and Big Ten to agree upon a plan. What if they can't agree? That's a win for the status quo. 'We have a 12-team playoff, (including) five conference champions,' Sankey said. 'That could stay if we can't agree.' Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti will get the next word in this debate when his conference's media days begin this week. But, really, what can he say? Sankey insists the SEC is comfortable staying at 12 if it can't achieve one of its preferred playoff expansion plans. If that's the case, then the Big Ten's pursuit of a 4+4+2+2+1+3 playoff has died on the vine. To which I say, good riddance. The 12-team playoff relies on a committee of subjective and imperfect humans to select most of the field, but subjectivity and imperfection are insufficient grounds to scrap this system in favor of a playoff that would pre-emptively reward conferences based on their history, brand and clout, instead of letting on-field results determine bid allocation. Early last year, the SEC and Big Ten announced a pact to work together to chart college sports' future. Stakeholders from the two super conferences met multiple times and discussed playoff expansion possibilities. Much like the Big Ten's previous alliance with the ACC and Pac-12, the bromance between the Big Ten and the SEC fizzled in the face of competing interests. There's "no rift" between Sankey and Petitti, the SEC commissioner said on his conference's television network last week, but they have "different views." The Big Ten, according to multiple reports, might be willing to compromise in favor of a 5+11 playoff if the SEC and ACC add another conference game and join the Big Ten and Big 12 in playing nine conference games. That's a fine wish, but the Big Ten lacks the muscle to force another conference to change its schedule. Sankey would like the SEC add a ninth conference game, but his membership has resisted his preference. The Big Ten played its playoff hand, but it lacked the cards to win the bet. 'You always want to have a really good set of cards," Sankey said. "You want to have a good hand to play, right? I think we have the best hand.' The Big Ten is running out of moves.


USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Big Ten's rigged College Football Playoff plan shut down by SEC
The Big Ten's plan for a rigged College Football Playoff ran out of gas. The SEC drained its fuel. The B1G rig ran out of gas. The SEC drained its fuel. The Big Ten waged an all-out pursuit to rig the College Football Playoff with a stacked deck of automatic bids. Its plan for playoff evolution stalled after facing resistance from rival conferences. The Big Ten lacked support from the SEC, a necessary ally, to advance a 16-team playoff that would preassign half the bids to the Big Ten and SEC. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey extinguished what little life remained for the Big Ten's auto-bid-laden plan when he put his foot down last week at his conference's media days. If the SEC doesn't secure one of the expanded playoff plans it desires, Sankey said, then it's comfortable sticking with the current 12-team playoff format. And the SEC doesn't want the Big Ten's plan. Well, that's that then. PART OF PLAN?: NCAA settlement for college sports already faces challenges PLAYOFF PROBLEM?: Why committee could be tested by two SEC teams Big Ten's College Football Playoff plan stalls without SEC support The 12-team playoff will be in place for 2025. The format for 2026 and beyond remains under debate. To expand the playoff, the SEC and Big Ten would need to align behind a plan by a Dec. 1 deadline. Sankey referenced multiple playoff plans the SEC remains willing to consider. Notable by its omission: The Big Ten's plan that would earmark 13 of 16 spots as automatic bids preassigned to conferences. 'We're going to have 5+7, 5+9, (or) 5+11,' Sankey said. The Big 12 and ACC support the 5+11 plan. The SEC retains interest in it, too. In the math equations Sankey mentioned, the '5' means five automatic bids – one each going to the five-best conference champions. The second number in the equation means the number of at-large bids. 'We'll continue to debate whether expansion beyond 12 is appropriate,' Sankey said. That debate won't, apparently, include the Big Ten's favored 4+4+2+2+1+3 plan, which would have awarded four automatic bids to the Big Ten, four more to the SEC, two apiece to the ACC and Big 12, and one to the next-best conference champion, leaving three at-large bids. The SEC soured on this auto-bid plan in the spring, and, in Sankey's annual state-of-the-conference address, he offered no sign of retreating toward the Big Ten's plan. No individual conference wields the authority to unilaterally push through an expanded playoff. College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark told reporters last month that playoff expansion would require the SEC and Big Ten to agree upon a plan. What if they can't agree? That's a win for the status quo. 'We have a 12-team playoff, (including) five conference champions,' Sankey said. 'That could stay if we can't agree.' Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti will get the next word in this debate when his conference's media days begin this week. But, really, what can he say? Sankey insists the SEC is comfortable staying at 12 if it can't achieve one of its preferred playoff expansion plans. If that's the case, then the Big Ten's pursuit of a 4+4+2+2+1+3 playoff has died on the vine. To which I say, good riddance. The 12-team playoff relies on a committee of subjective and imperfect humans to select most of the field, but subjectivity and imperfection are insufficient grounds to scrap this system in favor of a playoff that would pre-emptively reward conferences based on their history, brand and clout, instead of letting on-field results determine bid allocation. Big Ten, SEC alliance fizzles amid competing interests Early last year, the SEC and Big Ten announced a pact to work together to chart college sports' future. Stakeholders from the two super conferences met multiple times and discussed playoff expansion possibilities. Much like the Big Ten's previous alliance with the ACC and Pac-12, the bromance between the Big Ten and the SEC fizzled in the face of competing interests. There's "no rift" between Sankey and Petitti, the SEC commissioner said on his conference's television network last week, but they have "different views." The Big Ten, according to multiple reports, might be willing to compromise in favor of a 5+11 playoff if the SEC and ACC add another conference game and join the Big Ten and Big 12 in playing nine conference games. That's a fine wish, but the Big Ten lacks the muscle to force another conference to change its schedule. Sankey would like the SEC add a ninth conference game, but his membership has resisted his preference. The Big Ten played its playoff hand, but it lacked the cards to win the bet. 'You always want to have a really good set of cards," Sankey said. "You want to have a good hand to play, right? I think we have the best hand.' The Big Ten is running out of moves. Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@ and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.


USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Greg Sankey not in a hurry to expand College Football Playoff
College football is a constantly evolving sport that has seen a number of changes take place over the last decade and a half. Realignment, the College Football Playoff, the transfer portal, and name, image, and likeness has changed the game. As teams prepare for the 2025 college football season, the game will continue to change as discussion continue about the future of the playoff. When Greg Sankey speaks, whether in Destin or at SEC media days, the college football world listens. While he didn't break down any details on the future of SEC scheduling or the College Football Playoff. He spent time defending the league's eight-game schedule, saying, "I don't believe there's anyone looking to swap their conference schedule and its opponents with the opponents played by the Southeastern Conference teams in our conference schedule, be it eight or nine. There is a rigor here that is unique." One of the biggest issues that college football faces is the constant evolution of the College Football Playoff. There has been a lot of discussion about moving to a 16-team playoff, but the Power Five conferences can't agree on a format. There's a lot of momentum for the 5+11 model, where the Power Four conference champions and the highest-rated Group of Six champion earn an automatic bid, and then 11 at-large bids are handed out. One of those at-large bids would go to Notre Dame if they were ranked inside the top 16. But the Big Ten is hoping for more automatic qualifiers to an expanded playoff. The proposal would give the Big Ten and the SEC four automatic bids to the playoff while the Big 12 and the ACC would each get just two. The Group of Six would still get a spot. There would be fewer at-large bids available to fill out the 16 teams. "The Big Ten has a different view," Sankey said. "That's fine. We have a 12-team playoff, five conference champions. That could stay if we can't agree. I think there's this notion that there has to be this magic moment, and something has to happen with expansion, and it has to be forced, no. I think, when you're given authority, you want to be responsible in using that authority. I think both of us are prepared to do so." No expansion is certainly an option, and it doesn't seem like Greg Sankey is in any hurry to force it. There's plenty of time to figure it out, but a decision will need to be made one way or the other in the coming months, so teams can fill out or adjust their schedules accordingly. One of the sticking points from the Big Ten's side is the conference schedule. The Big Ten is at nine conference games and believes the SEC should follow suit. According to Sankey, strength of schedule is not an issue in the SEC. They're playing nine Power Four games every year anyway. The SEC, which has been at the forefront of the explosion of the sport over the last two decades, doesn't feel the need to do a nine-game conference schedule just to do a nine-game conference schedule. If it makes sense and is in the best interest of the SEC and college football as a whole, the SEC will go that direction. But until then, Sankey is content to stay at eight and keep the current College Football Playoff format. And with so many changes that have occurred in the sport over the last decade, a little continuity isn't a bad thing. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.


NBC Sports
14-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
The SEC and Big Ten currently are at a standstill over the College Football Playoff format
ATLANTA — Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said Monday that despite frequent conversations with Big Ten counterpart Tony Petitti, the two leagues have yet to agree on the College Football Playoff format after this upcoming season and could leave it at 12 teams. The disagreement doesn't stem from a lack of communication. Sankey said he spoke with Petitti four times last week. 'We had a different view coming out of Destin around the notion of allocations,' Sankey said. 'The Big Ten has a different view. That's fine. We have a 12-team playoff, five conference champions. That could stay if we can't agree.' The Big Ten, which has won the last two national championships, favors a 4-4-2-2-1 format, giving four automatic bids to the SEC and Big Ten and awarding the ACC and Big 12 two bids apiece. The SEC, originally thought to be on the same page, switched gears at its spring meetings in Destin. The SEC favors five conference champions and 11 at-large bids, which would presumably favor the top conferences most seasons. The CFP announced in May that teams in the upcoming playoff will be seeded strictly on where they are ranked instead of moving pieces around to reward conference champions. Last season's jumbled bracket, the first with 12 teams, gave byes to Big 12 champion Arizona State and Mountain West champion Boise State, even though they were ranked 12th and ninth, respectively, by the playoff selection committee. That system made the rankings and the seedings in the tournament two different things. The five highest-ranked conference champions will still be guaranteed spots in the playoff. While the CFP contract from 2026 through the 2031 season requires the SEC and Big Ten to consult other leagues about prospective changes to the playoff system, it also provides them with the ability to impose changes they both want. Now it's a matter of getting on the same page. 'I think there's this notion that there has to be this magic moment and something has to happen with expansion and it has to be forced — no,' Sankey said. 'When you're given authority, you want to be responsible in using that authority. I think both of us are prepared to do so. The upfront responsibility in this, maybe where some of the confusion lies, is we have the ability to present a format or format ideas, gather information, see if we can all agree within that room. We don't need unanimity.'