Report: SEC Discussing Intra-Conference Football Playoff

The schools are going over the matter at the upcoming league meetings.

Author:
Russ Heltman
May 24, 2022 10:34 AM EDT

CINCINNATI — SEC leaders are reportedly discussing plans to hold their own conference-only postseason football tournament. ESPN's Pete Thamel reports that SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and the league's athletic directors will discuss the proposal at next week's SEC league meetings in Destin, Florida.

Sankey and the rest of the conference left the unsuccessful College Football Playoff expansion talks very frustrated and that spurred some outside-the-box thinking. The league balloons to 16 teams when Oklahoma and Texas join in 2025.

"We have an incredibly strong league," Florida AD Scott Stricklin said. "One that will be even stronger once Oklahoma and Texas join. The focus should be on how we as a league use that strength to further position the SEC as we face new realities. Commissioner Sankey has encouraged our athletic directors to think creatively, and an SEC-only playoff is a different idea that we should absolutely consider an option."

The rough thinking about the fledgling idea is that the tournament would be eight teams, culminating in an SEC Championship Game around New Year's Day. Where that leaves the other Power conference teams and the FBS as a whole is a mystery.

One thing is certain—the SEC is fed up with inaction surrounding CFP expansion, and they are ready to take matters into their own hands if needed. The current CFP format expires after the 2025 season

Make sure you bookmark All Bearcats for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more.

You May Also Like:

Look: UC NFL Rookies Pose in New Uniforms at Rookie Premiere

Top 2023 UC Target Amare Snowden Places Bearcats in Top-Six Schools

Bearcats Fall Slightly in Latest Way-Too-Early Top-25 CFB Rankings

Kyle Washington, Tari Eason Named UC's Best Modern Incoming/Outgoing Transfers

Desmond Ridder: 'I'm Going to put my Best Foot Forward' in Atlanta Falcons QB Battle

Bearcats Crack ESPN's List of Top-10 Defenses Over Next Three Years

Bearcats Offer Top-Two 2024 Ohio Prospect

Alec Pierce Inks Contract With Indianapolis Colts

A Closer Look at New Bearcats Defensive End Noah Potter

Watch: Alec Pierce, Jerome Ford, Myjai Sanders Practicing at NFL Rookie Minicamps