SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti announced that they support changing the seeding process for the 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) starting this fall. Their influence is significant, but any modifications for the 2025 season require unanimous approval from all 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua. “I’m ready to vote for a seeding change, but it must be unanimous,” Sankey stated.
Under the current format, the top four conference champions receive the highest seeds and a first-round bye. This system sparked controversy last season when ninth-ranked Boise State and 12th-ranked Arizona State earned No. 3 and No. 4 seeds, while third-ranked Texas and fourth-ranked Penn State were placed at No. 5 and No. 6 because they were not conference champions. A proposed alternative, backed by Petitti, would base seeding strictly on the selection committee’s rankings while still ensuring spots for the five highest-ranked conference champions. This approach would allow the committee’s top four teams regardless of conference title status to receive byes and create an opportunity for Notre Dame to earn a top-four seed. “We support moving to a straightforward seeding system without ranking-based limitations,” Petitti said.
The SEC and Big Ten met ahead of an upcoming gathering in Dallas, where all FBS commissioners and Bevacqua will conduct a full review of the CFP’s inaugural 12-team format. As the two most powerful conferences, the SEC and Big Ten will play a crucial role in shaping the playoff structure once a new contract with ESPN begins after the 2025 season. Negotiations have also involved guaranteed spots for conference champions and protections for Notre Dame.
Looking beyond 2025, sources from both conferences indicate a preference for expanding the CFP to 14 teams. The Big Ten is particularly aligned on automatic qualifiers, with one popular proposal granting four guaranteed spots each to the SEC and Big Ten, two to the Big 12 and ACC, one to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion, and one at-large bid which could go to Notre Dame if ranked high enough. While Sankey refrained from discussing automatic qualifiers directly, he emphasized that all aspects of the format remain under discussion.
Petitti noted that the SEC and Big Ten must eventually find common ground on future changes, but that all conferences will have a say in the process. “Any modifications will require us to reach consensus before making recommendations to our colleagues,” he explained. Next week’s CFP meeting in Dallas will primarily focus on 2025, with 2026 discussions playing a minor role.
Sankey expressed interest in better understanding the selection committee’s past decisions, particularly inconsistencies in valuing conference championships and strength of schedule. “The committee’s choices have ripple effects,” he said, adding that these issues are an ongoing topic of discussion. Petitti echoed these concerns, agreeing that the committee has followed the system set by commissioners but that adjustments could provide greater clarity for fans.
In addition to CFP matters, SEC and Big Ten leaders discussed broader issues, including NCAA governance and the House vs. NCAA settlement. Legal representatives were present to ensure compliance with antitrust laws. Petitti described these governance talks as highly collaborative, emphasizing that all conferences are working together.
Sankey stressed that the SEC and Big Ten have taken a responsible leadership role in CFP decisions. “We are following a decision-making structure that was agreed upon by all parties last year,” he said. “It is our responsibility to use that authority wisely.”
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