Greg Sankey supports CFP expansion to 24 teams, while MAC commissioner warns gains may vary | SEC, Yardbarker

Sankey explains the SEC position

Sankey argued that expansion offers more than additional teams and revenue. He said it could reward strong competition and demanding schedules, give fans access to more on-campus playoff games, and make the full season matter.

He also said the new structure supports student-athletes and universities while preserving what makes college football distinctive. The SEC’s position is that the format can help secure the sport’s longer-term future.

A larger field could help the SEC

The College Football Playoff shared a hypothetical 24-team bracket for last season. It included seven SEC programs: Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Georgia, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Texas and Alabama. The actual 12-team bracket had five SEC teams, more than any other conference. With conferences receiving $4 million for each playoff team, the SEC earned $20 million from those appearances.

Steinbrecher warns of wider risks

The expansion agreement moves the playoff from 12 teams to 24 in 2027. The article also reports a five-year, $1.7 billion agreement between ESPN and the CFP. MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher warned that adding teams does not guarantee greater financial returns for every conference or school. He said the format’s success should be judged by whether it strengthens college football overall, not simply by the size of the field.

The article raises concern that expansion could weaken qualities that attract fans if the conferences handle the change poorly. It also argues the SEC may benefit financially while giving insufficient weight to the rest of college football.