ATLANTA, Ga. — Because the clock ticks on a Dec. 1 deadline to find out a format for the School Soccer Playoff in 2026 and past, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey reiterated the likelihood it might keep at 12 groups if his league and the Huge Ten cannot agree on what mannequin can be finest.
Sankey stated he and Huge Ten commissioner Tony Petitti spoke 4 out of 5 days final week and acknowledged the SEC’s “completely different view” popping out of its spring conferences in Destin, Fla. Whereas the Huge Ten has favored a mannequin that rewards conferences with assured spots and play-in video games to find out them, the SEC coaches most not too long ago stated they’d now choose a 16-team format that features the 5 highest-ranked convention champions and 11 at-large bids.
“The Huge Ten has a unique view,” Sankey stated following his opening remarks on the primary day of SEC media days on the School Soccer Corridor of Fame. “That is effective. Now we have a 12-team playoff, 5 convention champions. That may keep if we will not agree.”
Earlier than agreeing to a brand new media rights cope with ESPN in March 2024, the 9 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame management needed to first signal a memorandum of understanding that outlined in broad phrases what the following contract would appear like. Sankey stated the doc offers the Huge Ten and the SEC the majority of management over the playoff’s future format. It is an settlement some have privately questioned, however Sankey emphasised the position the Huge Ten and SEC have within the room.
“Until you are going to tear up the MOU — which possibly different individuals wish to do due to their considerations in regards to the decision-making authority,” Sankey stated, “however very clearly in that memorandum of understanding is [the authority] granted to the mixture of the SEC and Huge Ten in the end now we have to make use of that authority with nice knowledge and discretion.”
That does not imply they are going to agree.
“I believe there’s this notion that there must be some magic second, and one thing has to occur with growth, and it must be pressured,” Sankey stated. “While you’re given authority, you wish to be accountable utilizing that authority. I believe each of us are ready to take action. … We do not want unanimity, and in the end, if not, there is a stage of authority granted to the Huge Ten and SEC collectively. However there’s quite a bit to that. It is not you simply present up and pound your fist and one thing occurs. I hope that kind of narrative might be diminished, however we’ll preserve speaking.”
The SEC will even proceed to maintain speaking about its 2026 schedule, and whether or not to maneuver from eight to 9 league video games — additionally a key element within the CFP discussions, as a number of sources within the Huge Ten have stated they would not think about a 5+11 mannequin except the SEC and the ACC each transfer to 9 league video games. Sankey stated each group within the SEC performed a minimum of 9 video games in opposition to Energy opponents, and a number of other performed 10 of their 12 video games in opposition to Energy opponents. And the identical might be true this fall.
“I do not imagine there’s anybody seeking to swap their convention schedule and its opponents with the opponents performed by the Southeastern Convention groups in our convention schedule, be it eight or 9,” Sankey stated. ” There’s a rigor right here that’s distinctive.”
Sankey stated as soon as they decide on their schedule, the convention workplace is “fairly able to go.”
“It will not linger terribly for much longer,” Sankey stated. “Now we have to make selections in regards to the ’26 season and regulate if we’ll go to 9 video games, and there need to be video games eliminated or rescheduled, and if we keep at eight, most likely a little bit bit simpler on that a part of the logistics.”
Sankey addressed a variety of subjects on Monday, saying he would not assume school athletics has skilled a lot change up to now 100 years because it faces now.
“Let me be clear,” he stated, “from my perspective, school athletics shouldn’t be damaged. It’s underneath stress. It’s strained.”
Because the Home settlement begins to place a brand new monetary burden on campuses, Sankey stated the SEC has additionally thought-about “exterior financing concepts” as late as final week. He stated the SEC’s stance on personal fairness hasn’t modified, and it isn’t the best transfer for the league presently.
“Now we have been most likely two-and-a-half, three years into visits with banks, personal fairness, with enterprise capital,” he stated. “You may go down the vary, personal capital is one other phrase that is been used. That is not been the best route for us. We have not seen the idea that works. That does not imply we cannot think about alternatives. If there are alternatives for mutual profit, these would peak our curiosity, however the notion of simply leaping to one thing as a result of there is a pot of cash there appears an uninformed route and easily taking propositions the place there’s not the sort of readability round what in case you do not meet your excessive finish predictions, what’s left then? These are issues that proceed weigh closely on our thoughts.”