The SEC and Big Ten have been running college football like a Fortune 500 company—calling shots, cashing checks, and flexing their muscle from the sidelines to the boardroom. But their latest power play in the College Football Playoff (CFP) expansion talks just hit a roadblock. Turns out, when money’s on the table, even the so-called “lesser” conferences aren’t rolling over. And now, the SEC and Big Ten might have fumbled an easy $8 million bag.
On February 12th, ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Rece Davis recently broke down the latest CFP meeting in New Orleans, where major discussions were expected regarding potential changes to the 12-team playoff format. One of the most debated points? Whether to scrap automatic bids for conference champions and move to a full seeding system. “I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Thamel said bluntly. “And here’s the reason why—unanimous approval could cost conferences outside the SEC and Big Ten some serious money.”
That’s where Boise State and the Mountain West come in. Under the current structure, if a Group of Five team secures a top-four seed, they not only get a first-round bye but also bring in extra millions for their conference. This year, Boise State’s high ranking meant the Mountain West pocketed an additional $8 million—something they wouldn’t just give up without a fight.
“I don’t think collectively, the other leagues really going to risk that amount of money for one year of straight seeding?” Thamel stated. The SEC and Big Ten might have the clout, but they don’t hold all the cards. For conferences like the Mountain West and ACC, protecting access to playoff money isn’t just about fairness—it’s about survival. That’s why even with the Big Ten pushing for change, resistance from smaller conferences has made it nearly impossible to reach the unanimous agreement required to adjust the system for 2025.
2026: The real power shift begins in CFB
The SEC and Big Ten took the L for now, but 2026 is when the real fireworks start. That’s when the CFP format resets again, potentially expanding to a 14-team format. And every power player in the sport gets a seat at the table to renegotiate the rules. And if you think the SEC and Big Ten are going to sit back and play nice, you must be new here.
“The future of the sport for the next six years is going to start to reveal itself at these meetings,” Thamel said. “There are going to be huge discussions—automatic qualifiers, seeding, home games—everything’s on the table.” The 2024 season playoff was one wild ride. It literally gave the best season of college football. At the same time, it had too many flaws and leaks. The top-4 seed is getting flushed out before the semifinals because of poor seeding structure and whatnot. One of the biggest plays in the SEC and Big Ten’s playbook? Killing off automatic bids completely. The Big Ten has been leading that charge, pushing for a straight-up rankings-based system that guarantees their top teams the best spots. The SEC, always playing it slick, has been a little more patient—waiting to see how the chips fall before making its next move.
The SEC and Big Ten don’t just want more playoff teams. They want the whole thing set up in a way that guarantees their squads the best path, the best money, and the best chance to dominate for years to come. Less automatic bids mean more chances for their extra teams to sneak in. More seeding control means better matchups for their contenders. They’re playing chess, not checkers.
For now, the CFP stays put. The SEC and Big Ten tried to shake things up. But the smaller conferences stood their ground and kept their bag secure. But don’t get it twisted—this fight is far from over. When 2026 rolls around, the big dogs will be back at the table. Ready to rewrite the rules in their favor. The question is, how far are they willing to go to make it happen?
One thing’s for sure—money runs college football. And everybody wants their cut.
The post ESPN Insider Predicts $8M Reality Check for SEC and B1G as CFB Braces for Drastic Playoff Shift appeared first on EssentiallySports.
