Let's be real. College football does have a Power Four. At the top is a Power Two of the SEC and the Big Ten. Below the Power Two are the ACC and the Big 12, and the gap in power is not small. Then there is a basically insignificant Group of Six.
The CFP Playoff format is expected to expand to 16 teams in the 2026 season. The SEC's Greg Sankey and the Big Ten's Tony Petitti will decide the final format. All the other conferences can whine and posture arguments about 'good of the game', but having ceded decision authority to the Power Two, their protestations have no standing. Months ago, it was agreed that the SEC and the Big Ten have the authority to determine the future Playoff format, constrained only by artificial limitations suggested through consultation with other conferences.
Greg Sankey is getting blasted for what will transpire. He is, however, following the demands of SEC Presidents and Chancellors, some of whom believe the opposite of claims that the SEC is taking too much.
Currently the 2026 formats being debated are the 4-4-2-2-1-3 plan, with the SEC and the Big Ten getting four teams each. The ACC and the Big 12 would get two. The highest ranked 'other' would get one, and there would be three at-large selections. Notre Dame would also be guaranteed one of the bids as long as the Fighting Irish are ranked in the top 16.
The other, less likely option is a 5-11 format, with five bids going to the five highest-ranked conference champions and 11 at-large bids.
Some interesting perspective comes from Brett McMurphy.
McMurphy's info somewhat reinforces the opinion of some SEC administrators that the four guaranteed bids going to SEC teams is unfairly too few. Greg Sankey certainly agrees, "If you actually go back and do the research, that kind of format could cost us positions depending on the number of teams," Sankey said Monday, on the eve of the SEC's annual spring business meetings. "I don't see the critics actually digging in to understand that reality. I don't see the critics actually analyzing, like I just described, how schedules are evaluated. Critics can run to the microphones and share their opinions. We're trying to find a format to determine -- whatever number it is -- the best teams in college football."
College Football and 'Good of the Game'
Another recent Greg Sankey response to complaints being coordinated by the ACC and Big 12 Commissioners was, " You can issue your press statements, but I’m actually looking for ideas to move us forward. (The SEC) didn’t need the playoff. That was for the good of the game.”
Even more 'good' for the game would be a format that best served the Playoff's original purpose of selecting the best teams to compete for a National Championship. Sadly, Greg Sankey may be the only power broker who chooses to remember that goal.