Trending Now - SEC Coaches Clash With Sankey Amid Push for Expanded CFP
WHO:
Newsweek - Joel Klatt reported that the majority of SEC coaches and athletic directors favor an expansion of the CFP to 24 teams.
Fox News - SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has served as the commissioner of the SEC since 2015.
Fox News - Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is a member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
WHAT:
Fox News - SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and members of his conference could soon approve the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 24 teams.
Fox News - Tony Petitti, the Big Ten commissioner, publicly offered his strongest support yet for a 24-team CFP format during the Big Ten spring meetings.
Fox News - The proposed 24-team playoff model has gained traction across the ACC and the Big 12, both of which have shown support for the proposal.
Fox News - The majority of SEC coaches (90%) and all athletic directors (100%) favor a 24-team model for CFP expansion, according to Joel Klatt.
Fox News - The proposed 24-team playoff model would eliminate automatic qualifiers in favor of a selection-based format featuring the 23 highest-ranked teams and one Group of 6 representative.
Fox News - The AFCA has backed the proposal for a 24-team playoff model.
WHERE:
Fox News - The SEC's annual spring meetings will be held in Destin, Florida.
Fox News - The Big Ten spring meetings took place in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
WHEN:
Fox News - If the SEC supports the 24-team format, implementation could happen as early as the 2027 season.
WHY:
Fox News - There is a sentiment among Big Ten coaches that the SEC meetings could feature significant disagreement regarding CFP expansion, indicating potential contention between Greg Sankey and SEC coaches.
Fox News - There is a growing sense within Big Ten circles that the SEC meetings could feature significant disagreement regarding CFP expansion.
Fox News - The coaches are pushing for a 24-team model, while Greg Sankey has publicly stated something different.
HOW:
Fox News - If the athletic directors and coaches can get their university presidents on board, Greg Sankey may not be able to oppose the majority opinion, as he has 16 bosses in the SEC.
Fox News - The final decision on CFP expansion may depend on university presidents, as they have the ultimate say in the matter.
(UPDATED May 23, 2026 07:45 UTC)
The College Football Playoff could soon expand to 24 teams, with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and his conference members poised to approve the change. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has expressed strong support for this format during the Big Ten spring meetings, and the proposal is also gaining traction among the ACC and Big 12. However, there are concerns among Big Ten coaches that the SEC meetings may reveal significant disagreements on this issue, and if athletic directors and coaches can rally their university presidents, Sankey may find it difficult to oppose the majority opinion.
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(UPDATED May 23, 2026 06:02 UTC)
A significant majority of SEC coaches, with 90 percent in favor, along with all athletic directors, are supporting a proposal for a 24-team College Football Playoff expansion, as reported by Joel Klatt. This new model would replace automatic qualifiers with a selection-based format that includes the 23 highest-ranked teams and one representative from the Group of 6. The SEC's annual spring meetings in Destin, Florida, could lead to a decision on this expansion, which might be implemented as early as the 2027 season, although the final say will rest with university presidents.