SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says conference must 'rethink' stance on CFP expansion

The College Football Playoff is sticking put at 4 teams… for now. Friday’s announcement that the CFP will fulfill the original contract of 4 teams through 2025 is making waves, including having an impact on the Commissioner of the SEC.

After the announcement, Greg Sankey informed Ross Dellenger with Sports Illustrated that the conference will “rethink” its stance on CFP expansion as the talks continue but aimed at implementing a new system to start the 2026 season.

Sankey went on to say it could mean that the SEC is now opposed to a 12-team format. That would be significant since Sankey and the SEC were a part of the initial group to propose a 12-team model last year.

Sankey also said the SEC is not a conference that needs expansion to 12 teams. With that in mind, Sankey said the conference will undertake “a wholesale evaluation of our position.”

Sankey on y’day’s CFP call: “Part of collaboration is we have to give, adjust, be willing to step out. The (presidents) provided a clear message: ‘This is important – get back together & get it done.’ Yet, when we gathered, there was no alteration of position. And so here we are”

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) February 18, 2022

As he has said in the past, Sankey reiterates that the SEC’s 14 members were not unanimous in support of a 12-team model.

“We don’t need that,” he tells @SINow. “Others do. We have to rethink formats. A wholesale evaluation of our position.”

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) February 18, 2022