Greg Sankey Stirs the CFP Pot Again, Advocating for No Automatic Qualifiers

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey re-ignited a heated College Football Playoff debate Monday morning, reiterating his controversial stance against automatic playoff qualifiers during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show.

“I’d give no allocation [automatic qualifiers],” Sankey bluntly stated, acknowledging the political give-and-take typically involved in playoff negotiations.

His comments underscore the ongoing friction between the SEC and the Big 12, which intensified after the SEC and Big Ten floated a 4-4-2-2-1 model playoff proposal that heavily favored their own leagues.

The controversial model would grant eight guaranteed playoff spots to the SEC and Big Ten, leaving the Big 12 and ACC with limited access, prompting immediate pushback from Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark and ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips.

In response, Yormark and Phillips rallied around a more balanced “5+11” approach, offering automatic bids to five conference champions and distributing 11 at-large spots, a model designed to ensure meaningful access and competitive fairness for leagues beyond the SEC and Big Ten.

Sankey further stirred the pot Monday, arguing the current playoff selection criteria actually discourage scheduling challenging non-conference matchups. He pushed for a coordinated effort to revise scheduling incentives, noting he’d be “happy” to engage in broader discussions to “get scheduling right.”

This backdrop sets the stage for Tuesday’s critical call among Power Four commissioners, seeking common ground amidst escalating tensions. Sankey acknowledged these rifts openly, asserting, “Disagreements are fine and make us better. We have a responsibility to work together.”

While the commissioners debate behind closed doors, one thing remains clear: the playoff format isn’t just a negotiation—it’s shaping up as an existential battle over the future landscape of college football.