SEC Commissioner Sankey: CFP Expansion to 24 Teams Not Yet Decided
Greg Sankey said the College Football Playoff's move to open negotiations with ESPN does not guarantee the field will grow to 24 teams.
Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey said the College Football Playoff's decision to open a 30-day negotiating window with ESPN does not mean an expansion to a 24-team field is certain, according to ESPN.
The negotiating window, opened last week, has been seen as a signal of growing interest among conference leaders in expanding the playoff format. However, Sankey cautioned that the move should not be interpreted as a done deal.
"Expansion is not a foregone conclusion," Sankey said, according to ESPN, without elaborating further on the specific concerns or conditions that remain unresolved.
The CFP has already grown in recent years, expanding from four to 12 teams. Discussions about further expansion to 14 or 16 teams have circulated among conference officials, but a move to 24 teams would represent a significantly larger change to the postseason structure.
ESPN currently holds broadcast rights to the College Football Playoff, and the negotiating window is expected to shape future decisions about the tournament's format and television agreements.
No final decision on the format change has been announced, and further details are expected as negotiations continue.
Sources
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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