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- calendar_today October 14, 2026
SEC Commissioner Discusses College Football Playoff Expansion
Greg Sankey, the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), recently expressed a willingness to consider the expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP). These comments came during SEC Tipoff, a media event focused on the upcoming conference basketball season, where Sankey addressed questions regarding potential changes to the playoff system in college football.
Considerations Surrounding CFP Expansion
Sankey stated that the SEC has "never said" expansion "won't happen" or that the conference would not support it. Referring to last year's media day in Tampa, he recalled raising important considerations related to media interest, game locations, the regular season's structure, and the potential impact of any changes. Sankey emphasized that determining the path forward on these topics is a matter of judgment that requires ongoing discussion and assessment.
Progress Made and Evolving Perspectives
Sankey acknowledged that attitudes and perspectives on CFP expansion and other related issues tend to change gradually. He told reporters, "We'll see where that leads us from a final decision standpoint." He also noted that some progress has been made in relation to playoff scheduling commitments. Sankey suggested that final decisions regarding the CFP could be made "probably sooner rather than later," depending on how discussions and agreements develop across the nation.
Current Playoff Negotiations and ESPN’s Media Rights
The CFP Management Committee is currently holding exclusive discussions with ESPN concerning expansion from 12 to 24 teams. These ongoing playoff negotiations revolve around the possibility of ESPN paying for media rights to broadcast an additional ten games that would be created by such an expansion. At present, ESPN owns the CFP media rights for up to 14 teams through the 2031-2032 football season, broadcasting 11 games under the current playoff format.
If the format expands to 24 teams, the number of televised games could increase to 23, but ESPN would only automatically gain rights to two additional games. The remaining ten games would become available for further negotiation. The Committee recently extended talks with ESPN by five business days, setting a new deadline for a decision on Monday, October 19th. Should the two sides fail to reach an agreement, the committee would have the option to offer those media rights to other networks.
Potential Impact on Conference Championship Games
One effect of a possible cfp expansion to 24 teams is the elimination of conference championship games. Recent media reports estimate the value of the Power Four conference championship games at between $200 million and $250 million. The outcome of the current negotiations could reshape the landscape for these important games and may affect the annual football calendar and the way the champions are decided.
Timeline for Changes Ahead of Next Football Season
For any expanded playoff format to be implemented in time for the next football season, a deal regarding media rights and scheduling would need to be finalized by December 1st. The coming weeks will be crucial as the management committee, ESPN, and other key stakeholders work to determine the future of the College Football Playoff and the broader postseason structure.
Source: tennesseestar.com.
