Which could mean a “rethinking” of the playoffs for the SEC and CFB

The recent failure to expand the CFB playoffs could lead to even greater dominance in SEC football. The carefully crafted proposal of a format of 12 teams was not fueled by the SEC, which was looking for change. For the past two years, SEC Commissioner Greg Senkey has spoken to everyone who listened to the SEC, pleased with the format of the four teams.

Now that efforts are being made to do what was best for the college, the SEC can and probably should return to what is best for the SEC.

SEC football teams have won 12 of their last 16 national championships. Other conferences are so afraid of the SEC authorities that they have forced the three “powerful fives” to create an “Alliance” that is already falling apart. The only other conference that doesn’t need support for viability, Big Ten needs nothing to concede to Pac 12 and ACC. Ohio Athletic Director Gene Smith said in February that B1G would not move from nine to eight conference games to facilitate more games with the Pac 12 and ACC teams. Smith was sharp, saying:

If we just looked at the cost of TV, we are more valuable to Pac-12 and ACC than they are to us

Because television value is the most important thing, the likelihood that the top ten will expand is more than will govern the Alliance’s agreement.

If the CFB playoff expansion with 12 teams failed, said Greg Senkey it’s time to “rethink” all formats. It is unlikely that Sanki meant adjusting the plan of the 12 teams. What Sankey needs to be prepared to consider could be the SEC’s boldest move.

The move won’t stop at 16 teams when Texas and Oklahoma finally come out of the Big 12. The SEC could become the first “Super League” to grow to 20 teams.

SEC Football is the “Big Dog” followed by the Big Ten

With 20 teams, the SEC could market its own playoff series of six or eight teams and get a massive media rights deal. The top ten that drew Notre Dame and three other Power Five teams, including perhaps USC and UCLA could have an SEC version of 18 teams.

The SEC and the Big Ten could hold their separate post-season playoffs, with the winners playing each other for the national championship.

Reliable experts from the College of Football have suggested that one of the two scenarios is the most likely next direction for student football.

What would other current 27 Power Five and Group of Five teams do in the scenario described? They could build an alternative playoff structure, similar to NIT’s in relation to the NCAA basketball tournament.

Would a genuine alliance of 38-40 teams from the SEC and B1G extensions be the best for a football college? Maybe not, but if that happens, Pac 12 and the ACC should blame only themselves.