It may not be probable, but it is possible that the SEC Championship Game will not exist in 2026. There are multiple intertwined reasons why. The main one is the SEC and the Big Ten want more guaranteed College Football Playoff slots. Both conferences want four Playoff slots in what is widely expected to become a 14-team field. The Big Ten's intentions have been clear. Greg Sankey has been coy about specifics, but many Playoff experts expect the two conferences will pursue eight slots.
What is now discussed as the 4-4-2-2-1+1 model has usurped the Big Ten previous and unsuccessful lobby for a 3-3-2-2-1+3 model. The 'three slots' to the Big Ten and the SEC were defeated because approval required a unanimous vote of all conferences, plus Notre Dame. Format changes for the 2026 season will not require unanimity.
If the Big Ten and the SEC pull off implementing the 4-4-2-2-1+1 format, eight teams from the Big Ten and SEC will be joined by two teams each from the Big 12 and the ACC, along with one at-large slot. A push for more at-large slots could increase the field to 16 teams.
What happens to the SEC Championship Game?
Many SEC fans agree with Kirby Smart's take on SEC Championships, "I value SEC championships. I hold them in high esteem because the work it requires to do that is incredible.”
SEC Championships will not go away, but they may not be decided in a Championship Game. The regular season could determine the SEC Champion. Instead of tie-breakers being used multiple teams could share a season's championship.
Instead of one big post-season game, the ACC is considering multiple games. One idea is for the top ACC team to get a bye to the playoffs. Instead, the ACC's No. 2 and No. 3 teams would compete for the league's second guaranteed Playoff slot. Another ACC idea is three post-season games, in which the ACC's No. 1 team plays the No. 4 team and No. 2 plays No. 3, with the winners advancing to an ACC Championship Game.
Conference championship games are major financial boosts for the SEC and Big Ten, and such money will not be casually discarded. However, two 'play-in' games, with 2 vs. 5 and 3 vs. 4 could match or exceed the broadcast revenue of one 'Big Game'.
There are other possible scenarios and each conference will determine what works best for their situation.
The SEC and the Big Ten met to discuss these issues in October. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for Feb. 19. Per Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, "... the Big Ten and SEC believe they have authority over any change to the playoff format starting with the 2026 postseason, the first of a new six-year extension of the CFP."