NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Are the SEC and Big Ten interested in maintaining the current 12-team College Football Playoff format beyond next season?

Neither of the conference leaders provided a clear response to that question on Thursday.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey had a succinct reply when asked about his hopes for the format’s future.

“We’ll see,” Sankey stated.

During a summit held Thursday, athletic directors and commissioners from the Big Ten and SEC discussed various issues, including the future playoff format, increasing inter-conference matchups, and the implications of a House legal settlement that would enhance revenue-sharing for athletes.

The leaders didn’t hold back on their opinions regarding private investment, with both Sankey and Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti criticizing the idea of outside investors influencing college football.

While they had little to say about their playoff format preferences, the tone of their meeting suggested they want the playoff committee to offer a substantial number of at-large bids to both the Big Ten and SEC. Otherwise, they might act decisively against the current format.

“Who qualifies and how the committee assesses strength of schedule is something I’ll be watching closely,” Petitti noted about this season’s playoff process.

The current playoff structure guarantees automatic playoff spots for the top five conference champions, with the remaining seven spots filled through at-large selections determined by a 13-member committee.

“I’m keen to see how the evaluation of those at-large bids unfolds,” Sankey shared.

Teams ranked 5th to 8th will host first-round playoff games, while the top four conference champions will receive byes.

This format ensures at least five conferences are represented, but it does not guarantee multiple bids for any one conference. While it is theoretically possible for a conference to place eight teams, a more realistic scenario would see four to five teams qualifying from a single conference.

The current format is set for this season and the following one, with potential adjustments after that. Although the playoff will not shrink below 12 teams, it may expand further, and the method of allocating bids may change.

“We’ll focus on the future format after completing this first cycle of the expanded playoff,” Sankey explained.

While the Big Ten and SEC don’t have exclusive authority over the playoff format, they hold significant leverage in shaping its future.

“We play an important role and need to ensure we are key participants in these discussions,” Sankey remarked regarding the influence of the Big Ten and SEC on future playoff rules.

From the appearances at Thursday’s meeting, it looks like the leaders of both conferences aim to stand united in determining the future of the playoff format.

No representatives from other conferences attended the summit, and Sankey emphasized that the SEC and Big Ten are not pursuing a complete detachment from the other conferences.

“That perception is misleading,” Sankey stated. “…We understand we’re part of a larger ecosystem, but we’re also interested in what we can accomplish together.”

By working collectively, they could steer the future playoff format in a direction that better meets their needs if they choose to advocate for change.

Could We See More Big Ten vs. SEC Matchups?

Sankey shared his reflections while in Ann Arbor, Michigan, last month, pondering the idea of increasing SEC-Big Ten matchups.

Traditionally, the SEC and Big Ten haven’t engaged in many non-conference games, but this is changing. This season saw four such matchups, with three held on campus and one—between LSU and Southern California—occurring in Las Vegas.

Three contests are already scheduled for 2025: Oklahoma hosting Michigan, Ohio State playing Texas, and Wisconsin visiting Alabama following a home game against the Crimson Tide this year. Additionally, five clashes between Big Ten and SEC teams are planned for 2026.

Both Sankey and Petitti expressed an interest in bolstering the frequency of these cross-conference games. Such matchups generally attract large television audiences and enhance the overall strength of both conferences’ schedules.

Four SEC teams currently hold rivalry games annually against Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponents: Florida vs. Florida State, South Carolina vs. Clemson, Kentucky vs. Louisville, and Georgia vs. Georgia Tech. Sankey acknowledged these established rivalries and does not wish to disrupt them.

“We have to respect our in-state rivalries in non-conference scheduling,” Sankey explained, “but we also had a broad conversation about the potential for more matchups in football and basketball.”

The two commissioners also explored the idea of expanding Big Ten vs. SEC competitions to other sports beyond just football and basketball.

While individual schools traditionally have the freedom to schedule non-conference football games autonomously, Petitti and Sankey are considering whether the conference offices should play a role in facilitating these matchups.

“The discussion revolves around whether a structure should be implemented”

“Is there a possibility for the two league offices to collaborate and increase those matchups?” Petitti mentioned, leaving his question unanswered.

Similar to the discussions about the playoff format, the response seems to be: We’ll have to wait and see.

(This article has been updated with new information.)