Opinion: SEC, Big Ten become mob bosses while holding College Football Playoff hostage

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – College Sports Inc.’s two mob bosses sat together in a show of strength Thursday, and although no horse’s head sat on the table in front of them, their message resonated.

If Greg Sankey and Tony Petitti don’t get what they want, on your (horse’s) head be it.

That’s especially true of the College Football Playoff.

Sankey and Petitti, the heads of the SEC and Big Ten families, respectively, said they’ll closely evaluate this current playoff format that’s on the books for this year and next while determining the format they want for 2026 and beyond.

They stated no explicit ultimatums to the playoff selection committee, but fine-tuned ears could not miss their hints: Give us the at-large bids, award us the desirable seeds, or we’ll get to work on tilting the playoff more in our favor.

Consider this current 12-team playoff format a two-year glory period that enjoys no guarantee of lasting past the 2025 season.

The playoff format for 2026 and beyond rests in the ruthless palms of Sankey and Petitti. Technically, the other conferences retain a voice, a voice that registers as a whisper. Sankey and Petitti wrested control of the playoff’s future format last spring.

So, here’s the deal: This season’s playoff will be a litmus test, and Sankey and Petitti will read the test strip.

“This just has to go incredibly well,” Sankey said. “This has to be a successful launch.”

I’m envisioning a playoff selection committee member holding a sign that reads: MuSt SeLeCT B1g aNd SeC TeAMs, oR ThEY’Ll hAvE my HeAd. HaVe MeRcY oN My sOuL!

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, left, and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey attend the game between LSU and Southern California at Allegiant Stadium.

SEC, Big Ten quietly threaten playoff selection committee

If this trial run of the expanded playoff works beautifully…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/opinion-sec-big-ten-become-100608367.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2024-10-11 10:06:08

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