Greg Sankey talks 5+11 CFP model with SEC coaches, rues timing

The SEC is exploring a major shift in its College Football Playoff format, moving away from automatic qualifiers to a 16-team model that would include five conference champions and 11 at-large bids. During spring meetings, discussions highlighted conflicting perspectives: coaches favored a system with five automatic qualifiers and eight games per conference schedule, while athletic directors pushed for nine games and four automatic qualifiers. The decision is expected by Dec. 1, but the timing poses challenges due to interdependent scheduling decisions, creating uncertainty about how the SEC will balance its preferences with other league concerns.