SEC commissioner Greg Sankey isn’t letting the Big Ten’s complaints about the College Football Playoff rankings slide. On Monday, he basically told the conference’s coaches to put SEC teams on the schedule if they want to prove a point, as first reported by ClutchPoints.
The back-and-forth started after the committee’s first rankings put five SEC programs in the top 10: Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Texas and Ole Miss. The Big Ten landed just two, Indiana at No. 4 and UCLA at No. 8. Indiana’s Curt Cignetti questioned how SEC teams were being judged, and Illinois’ Bret Bielema said his 6-3 squad would be a top-15 team if it played in the SEC.
Sankey Brings Receipts
Appearing on “The Paul Finebaum Show,” Sankey noted that one of those coaches had canceled a non-conference game against an SEC opponent, then made his pitch: “we’re ready to schedule those non-conference games.” That shot was aimed at Illinois, which announced on November 3 that Notre Dame would replace Missouri on its 2027 and 2028 schedules.
The IAHHM Take
This is the barbershop debate of college football, and both sides have a case. The SEC keeps winning the eye test and the money games. The Big Ten keeps pointing out that the SEC rarely leaves home to prove it. Sankey’s line lands because it’s simple: stop talking, start scheduling.
Still, the committee’s own rules lean on strength of schedule, head-to-head results and common opponents. If the top leagues keep ducking each other in September, December is always going to feel like a popularity contest. More cross-conference games would be better for fans, better for TV and way better for settling arguments.
The next CFP rankings drop tonight at about 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. While you wait, revisit how Alabama humbled Lane Kiffin’s LSU.
Who’s right here, Sankey or the Big Ten coaches?
Source: ClutchPoints
