SEC moving to 9-game schedule strengthens odds of Big Ten supporting 5+11 playoff model

Now that the SEC has added a ninth conference game, it would increase the possibility of the SEC and Big Ten agreeing on an expanded 16-team College Football Playoff format in 2026, sources told On3.

“It certainly helps,” a Big Ten athletic director said.

The Big Ten has played nine conference games since 2017. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has been pushing for nine conference games, and if the SEC’s presidents vote for the change, would the Big Ten consider supporting the SEC’s preferred 5+11 College Football Playoff format?

“We’ll consider anything that makes sense,” a Big Ten source said. “The SEC going to nine games would be a step in a direction of conformity to be sure.

“It depends what criteria is used by the (CFP) selection committee. My concern is it’s hard to get an apples to apples (comparison) w/(at-large) teams ranked b/w 12 & 16 (opposed to automatic bids).”

Currently, the two leagues are divided on a future College Football Playoff format. The SEC and Big Ten have the authority to determine and/or expand the playoff in 2026, but the two leagues can’t agree which model.

The SEC favors the 5+11 model – five automatic bids to the highest ranked conference champions plus 11 at-large bids – while the Big Ten prefers a 4-4-2-2-1 model, providing multiple automatic bids to the Big Ten and SEC (four each); ACC and Big 12 (two each); one to the highest ranked Group of 6 champion plus three at-large bids.

Nov. 30 is the deadline for changing the playoff format for the 2026 season. If the SEC and Big Ten can’t agree on a new format, the 2026 playoff will be the same 12-team format used in 2025.