Greg Sankey issues warning about regular season if CFP expands: ‘You want to be careful’

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey is urging caution regarding the future of the College Football Playoff, specifically warning that further expansion could jeopardize the integrity of the regular season.

Speaking Monday in Miramar Beach, Florida, at the start of the SEC spring meetings, Sankey pointed to a cautionary tale from the professional ranks: the Buffalo Bills' handling of quarterback Josh Allen. To keep his start streak alive, Allen took only one snap in the final game of the regular season before exiting, despite the Bills already having secured their playoff spot. According to details on why the Bills pulled their star quarterback, this is exactly the type of scenario Sankey fears will become common in college football.

The Tipping Point

While the Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC have gravitated toward a 24-team playoff model, Sankey remains wary of how such a significant increase could alter the landscape. "What’s the tipping point there?" Sankey asked. "We’ve used examples from professional sports when professional sports have added to their postseason, it’s always been a small adjustment. Four to 12 was monumental, but I think it was justifiable. You want to be careful about how far you go."

Sankey expressed concern that if the bracket grows too large, teams may begin resting starters in late-season matchups once their playoff status is locked. Furthermore, high-stakes games that are essential in the current 12-team format might lose their significance in a 24-team structure.

Finding the Balance

Despite his warnings, Sankey acknowledged that expansion isn't inherently negative. He noted that the move to a 12-team field kept programs like Oklahoma alive in 2025. Facing two losses by November, the Sooners were forced to win out, defeating ranked opponents like Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, and LSU to secure a playoff spot. Under the old four-team system, those aspirations would have been over, but the expansion allowed Oklahoma to host a playoff game.

"You go to 24, and maybe one or two of those games don’t matter in the same way," Sankey added. "Rivalry games will matter, I would argue, but if you’ve got somebody that needs to rest because they’re in the 24, those are the things we want to try to understand."