Sankey: CFP expansion not a foregone conclusion — SkimNews
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- Greg Sankey said the CFP's 30-day negotiating window with ESPN doesn't guarantee the playoff will expand from 12 to 24 teams, despite signaling growing interest in a larger field.
- The SEC has pushed back on expansion momentum throughout the spring and summer under Sankey, requiring research-backed decisions with some key questions still unresolved.
- As part of a potential 24-team field, Sankey reportedly wants all teams to play at least 10 Power 4 games to standardize nonconference scheduling across conferences.
- Ohio State, Arizona State, and Oklahoma all played marquee nonconference road games Saturday — including OSU at Texas, ASU at Texas A&M, and Oklahoma at Michigan — that Sankey cited as the model matchups worth protecting.
- SEC presidents met in Birmingham last month to discuss playoff strategy and overall postseason structure, leading to the conference's decision to participate in ESPN's marketplace negotiations.
- When asked about the conference's lawsuit against LSU over its plan to add former NFL players to its roster, Sankey deflected with "I'm happy to talk about football."
Why it matters: Sankey's push for a 10 Power 4 games minimum and standardized nonconference scheduling would force every conference to adopt tougher scheduling standards before any expansion happens, reshaping how the Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12 build their slates. A 24-team field versus the current 12 would redirect tens of millions in CFP revenue to a far wider pool of programs, reshaping access and competitive balance across college football.
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