![[Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]Sec Media Days](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/5add81fbba3c12d1361febabd01f7ecb99d09bd495f65a8048500b2f09f58630.jpg "[Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]Sec Media Days")
SEC Commissioner, Greg Sankey made some interesting comments at SEC Media Days. College football pundits are still mulling over his words. Sankey defined the SEC as a “super league.” No SEC football fan will disagree with that reality.
Sankey elaborated by stating,
"The Southeastern Conference is stronger now than at any other time in our history."
The additional statement is not open for debate. What can be argued is how much stronger will the SEC chooses to become, in the context of how much larger it makes sense, for the SEC to grow.
How many new SEC football teams?
A few weeks ago, we contemplated an SEC future with 24 teams. A counter opinion is considering how ‘super’ the SEC is, how many more teams does it need? The first inclination to an answer is provided in estimates of dollars for media rights. But, maybe not, because any new SEC football program must produce more added media dollars, than it takes after the league’s distribution is diluted by the new program.
A better answer to how many future SEC teams, may not exist until an expanded Playoff format is determined. Using Sankey’s words, those future discussions and decisions will be when the SEC needs to be the most ‘thoughtful’ and ‘nimble’ while showing the SEC’s strength.
If, when the Playoff format negotiations restart, the SEC and the Big Ten are a serious threat as a future Big Two, with potentially 40 or so teams and their own Playoff – Greg Sankey is likely to get what he most wants. That is an eight or 12-team CFB Playoff field (instead of SEC and Big Ten playoffs) with no automatic qualifiers.
Sankey acknowledged the power held by the SEC and the B1G.
"The reality is there will be two conferences at the FBS level with 16 teams that have competed consistently at the highest level. That’s a new dynamic."
What can change the dynamic is a decision by Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have passed on joining the Big Ten – at least for now. According to The Sporting News, Notre Dame is negotiating with NBC for a new deal that would pay the Irish ” $75 million annually.”
Flush with that much cash, Notre Dame can maintain its independent status. Such a result would mean Notre Dame’s Jack Swarbrick could side with Greg Sankey for a Playoff having no automatic qualifiers.
Predicting an end game is impossible. What can be foreseen is SEC football will remain strong and quite possibly will become even stronger.