NEW ORLEANS — On Wednesday, the commissioners of the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference announced their intent to advocate for a move towards “straight seeding” in the upcoming College Football Playoff. This approach aims to reduce leniency for the lesser-ranked conference champions and align closely with the rankings set by the playoff selection committee.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey expressed readiness to approve this seeding adjustment, emphasizing the necessity of unanimous agreement amongst the conference leaders. This proposed change focuses on the immediate future, specifically for next season.
During a joint meeting in New Orleans that involved 34 athletic directors from both conferences, Sankey and Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti highlighted that their leagues will play a pivotal role in reshaping the College Football Playoff framework following the 2025 season. Although they refrained from discussing the specifics regarding future alterations—potentially including playoff expansions and additional automatic invitations for their conferences—they recognized the need for broader participation in deliberations.
Sankey stressed that discussions about changes should involve leaders from all conferences, with a meeting scheduled for next week in Dallas to address the College Football Playoff. He reassured that while the SEC and Big Ten are influential, they are also dedicated to considering the interests of all conferences in any proposals.
Reflecting on the recent addition of Texas and Oklahoma into the SEC, Sankey noted that this shift has altered the landscape of college sports but acknowledges that the expansion was not a result of his conference’s initiative. He highlighted that the introduction of the 12-team playoff last season had beneficial implications for the regular season and increased engagement.
The prior college football season marked the first year under the expanded 12-team playoff format. This new structure received a generally positive reception, though some criticism arose over the provision that allowed the top four ranked conference champions to receive byes after all four teams—Arizona State, Boise State, Georgia, and Oregon—were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Underlining the support for straightforward seeding, Petitti stated that such an arrangement would ensure that rankings correspond directly to seedings. This would allow the committee to select the top 12 teams in order based on their evaluations and established criteria, enhancing clarity for fans.
An exception is anticipated for teams that rank within the top five for conference champions but fall outside the top 12, granting them entry into the playoffs, as was the case with Clemson last season when they ranked 16th.
While the current contract for the College Football Playoff from 2026 to 2031 obligates the SEC and Big Ten to engage with other conferences regarding playoff adjustments, it also equips them with the authority to implement desired changes collectively. The dynamics of this influence are expected to become clearer after the upcoming meetings in Dallas, where a consensus will be crucial for any seeding modifications in 2025.
Moving forward, changes will likely be spearheaded by the SEC and Big Ten, necessitating agreement between the two to make significant recommendations to other leagues. Sankey also revealed that his conference is exploring the possibility of shifting to a nine-game regular season, akin to the Big Ten, which could boost the strength of schedule for SEC teams.
In the meantime, Petitti downplayed reports of friction among conference commissioners, stating that considerable collaboration has occurred, especially regarding the House settlement aimed at allowing direct payments to players, marking an unprecedented level of cooperation among conferences to ensure proper implementation of these changes.
