Greg Sankey weighs in on potential College Football Playoff expansion to 14, 16 teams

Before the College Football Playoff expansion of 12 teams plays out on the field, reports have indicated another format is on the way. ESPN says the CFP is expected to finalize a 14-team tournament beginning with the 2026 season. So, two seasons of 12 teams before adding two more when the current television deal expires.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey was asked about potential expansion, potentially going against the reported finalization coming in the next 24 hours. He said all discussions of adding teams to the College Football Playoff should be put to the side and all focus should be on the 12-team format.

After all, not a single down of the 12-team CFP era has been played and will not until late August.

“We have 12, so let’s get to 12,” Sankey said on Thursday. “We had some options introduced. I think we ought to be careful in that thinking. It does create opportunity. This year was a really good year when you think about, maybe there were some high-quality teams that that larger number could help.

“But people have talked about 12 and 14. Let’s set those maybe as bookends for the conversation, put them on the shelf where bookends belong for a moment, get this 12 thing right, get it locked in. And then, we’ll go forward.”

Assuming the 12-team playoff was around last season using the original 5+7 model, the SEC would have gotten three teams — Alabama, Georgia, Missouri — into the field. And that does not include Texas after they won the Big 12 Championship game.

Ole Miss would have been the first team out as well, with soon-to-be SEC member Oklahoma right behind them.

Sankey might be trying to tap the breaks but the 14-team playoff is seemingly coming. ESPN’s Heather Dinich reports news should be broken by “midday” on Friday, with all 10 FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreeing on a format.

While the amount of teams in the field is a big topic, Sankey is likely more concerned about the revenue distribution between the conferences.

According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo!, the SEC and Big Ten will receive 58% of the CFP revenue. The ACC and Big 12 will get 32% while the remaining 10% will be sent to Notre Dame and the Group of Five programs.

If/when the College Football Playoff does expand, Sankey has made sure his conference will be well compensated. Based on his words Thursday at the SEC Tournament, he wants to make sure the 12-team gets off the ground running before discussing even more expansion.