Greg Byrne says the quiet part out loud about the SEC Championship Game's future

It will come off as sour grapes after Alabama lost 28-7 to Georgia in last year's SEC Championship Game, ultimately putting their College Football Playoff hopes in serious jeopardy, but Greg Byrne's recent comments about the future of the SEC Championship Game aren't wrong. He's just not the guy fans across the country want to hear from about it.

In a recent interview with On3, Byrne stated that the SEC Championship Game has "run its course" and that the "ship has sailed.":

Greg Byrne believes the SEC Championship Game has run its course

The fact that Alabama's playoff hopes were at all in doubt after losing to Georgia shows you that playing conference championship games in this new era of college football is nonsensical. When fanbases are actively rooting against having to play an extra game that could impact their playoff health - or negatively affect their standing - then you know something is majorly wrong.

Unless you are a College Football bubble team or the only way you are getting into the playoff is by winning the conference title game, there's no real benefit to it. You can either play an extra game or take an extra week off. What do you think every coach in America would choose, given the choice?

Alabama ultimately made the playoff anyway - and rightfully so - despite a pitiful performance in Atlanta against Georgia. Had they not, there would be even more pressure across the country to put an end to these games.

Neither Alabama nor Georgia had their standing impacted by playing in the title game. Duke won the ACC Championship Game, and that didn't even get them into the playoff field. So what is the point, exactly?

Well, it's simple.

Money.

As is the point of everything done in college football.

The SEC Championship Game is still a massive money maker, drawing big crowds and a ton of T.V. eyeballs across the country.

For that reason only, don't expect the SEC Championship Game to go anywhere anytime soon.