Big Ten and SEC Leaders Meet to Shape the Future of College Football Playoff: Key Talks on Seeding and Auto Bids

The recent meeting between Big Ten and SEC leaders didn’t lead to any big announcements, but it hinted at important changes coming soon.

After a groundbreaking gathering in Nashville last October, athletic directors and conference leaders from both conferences met in New Orleans to discuss various topics. They focused on potential updates to the College Football Playoff and, for the SEC, the possibility of expanding their own conference schedule.

While no immediate changes were made, it’s apparent that both conferences are serious about reshaping the playoff structure. Here’s a closer look at what we learned.

Support for Changes in Playoff Seeding

Both Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey agreed on the need to revamp the College Football Playoff (CFP) seeding process. They believe that the current method, which often grants automatic first-round byes based on conference championships, should be replaced by rankings.

This issue was highlighted during the first year of the 12-team CFP when teams like Boise State and Arizona State received automatic byes despite having lower rankings than teams like Ohio State, who ended up winning the title. The push for change may take effect by the 2025 season but will need a unanimous vote. Some conferences, like the ACC and Big 12, might resist since they benefited from the current setup last season.

Automatic Qualifiers in the Works?

Another significant point of discussion was the push for more automatic qualifiers in an expanded playoff. While Sankey kept details under wraps, it’s expected that both conferences will advocate for four automatic bids each, with two for the Big 12 and ACC. This plan was rejected last year, but with the Big Ten and SEC’s growing influence, it seems likely to resurface.

These conferences are worried about the playoff selection committee’s consistency in choosing and seeding teams. By introducing automatic qualifiers, they hope to ensure the best teams make the playoffs, reducing the risk of penalizing schools with tough schedules. This issue gained traction last season when three SEC teams—Alabama, Ole Miss, and South Carolina—were left out despite strong seasons.

Having automatic qualifiers could also strengthen potential scheduling agreements between Big Ten and SEC schools, making marquee matchups more attractive.

Nine-Game SEC Schedule Discussions

One ongoing topic at SEC meetings is whether the conference will switch to a nine-game schedule. There have been times when this idea seemed to gain traction, only to fade away at the meetings. This year, however, there are signs it could finally happen.

ESPN’s willingness to finance a ninth conference game has fueled optimism. Previously, the financial incentive didn’t justify the risks, but many now believe the numbers could work out in favor of the conference.

If the SEC secures guaranteed playoff spots with automatic qualifiers, the downside of adding a challenging game diminishes. With more playoff spots, schools would focus on finishing in the top four of their conference instead of worrying about the impact of a tough ninth game on their playoff chances.

Sankey has noted that there’s growing interest in the potential changes, as understanding the selection committee’s criteria is crucial for all conferences involved.