The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection process is poised for a significant evolution, as SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey emphasized the need for refined criteria in a recent discussion. In a post shared by ESPN’s Pete Thamel on X at 11:14 PM UTC on May 28, 2025, Sankey highlighted the importance of factors like strength of schedule and the weighting of wins, signaling that these elements will likely play a more prominent role in future CFP evaluations. His comments come on the heels of recent changes to the CFP format and ongoing debates about fairness in team rankings, particularly for powerhouses in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Sankey’s Call for Adjustments
Sankey’s remarks, as reported by Thamel, underscore a growing concern within college football’s governing bodies about the current CFP selection framework. “We spend so much time on format issues, we didn’t spend enough time on adjustments,” Sankey stated, pointing to a need for deeper focus on how teams are evaluated beyond their win-loss records. His emphasis on strength of schedule and the quality of wins aligns with long-standing discussions in the sport, particularly after the 2024 season exposed discrepancies in how the CFP committee weighed these factors.
Last November, Sankey made waves by sharing a graph on X that highlighted the SEC’s dominance in strength of schedule among the CFP Top 15 teams. The data, reported by On3, showed that the SEC’s six ranked programs—Georgia, Alabama (No. 7), Tennessee (No. 11), Texas A&M (No. 15), Ole Miss (No. 9), and Texas (No. 3)—led the field in average strength of schedule ranking. This was a not-so-subtle push to support the SEC’s two-loss teams, which were ranked behind several undefeated or one-loss teams from other conferences like the Big Ten and ACC. Sankey’s advocacy appears to be gaining traction, as his latest comments suggest a more data-driven approach to CFP selections is on the horizon.
A New Era for the College Football Playoff
Sankey’s focus on criteria adjustments comes at a pivotal moment for the CFP. Just six days prior, on May 22, 2025, the CFP announced a major structural change, adopting a straight seeding model for the 12-team playoff format, as reported by ESPN. Under this new system, the selection committee’s top four teams—regardless of conference affiliation—will earn the top four seeds and a first-round bye. This shift marks a departure from the previous model, where the four highest-ranked conference champions automatically secured the top seeds, a rule that had drawn criticism after all four teams with byes in the inaugural 12-team CFP lost their first games.
The updated format also opens the door for independent teams like Notre Dame to secure a first-round bye if ranked in the top four, a change that reflects the CFP’s commitment to rewarding overall team quality. According to Rich Clark, executive director of the CFP, the adjustment was made “in the best interest of the game” after evaluating the first year of the expanded playoff. Financial commitments to the top conference champions remain intact, with $8 million allocated to the four highest-ranked champions ($4 million for reaching the playoff and $4 million for reaching the quarterfinals), ensuring continuity for conferences under the new system.
The SEC’s Push for Fairness
Sankey’s comments have sparked reactions among fans and analysts, as seen in the replies to Thamel’s post on X. User @Kully75 suggested that the SEC should address its own scheduling practices, such as playing FCS opponents late in the season or increasing conference games to nine, like other major conferences. “Sankey does a fantastic job for the SEC and is the envy of the other conferences and is by far the best lobbyist,” the user noted, acknowledging Sankey’s influence while calling for internal improvements.
Indeed, the SEC has been under scrutiny for its scheduling habits, but Sankey’s advocacy for strength of schedule as a key CFP criterion could shift the narrative. The On3 Massey Ratings, which rank teams based on game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory, have historically favored SEC teams due to their grueling conference slate. For example, in the 2024 season, teams like Tennessee and LSU saw their rankings fluctuate based on the quality of their opponents, with Tennessee’s road win at Oklahoma boosting its standing despite offensive struggles in conference play.
What’s Next for College Football?
Sankey’s push for a more nuanced CFP selection process could have far-reaching implications. By prioritizing strength of schedule and the weighting of wins, the committee may better account for the challenges faced by teams in competitive conferences like the SEC, where a two-loss record often reflects a tougher slate than an undefeated record in a less competitive league. This data-driven approach mirrors strategies used in other fields, such as machine learning, where feature selection—eliminating irrelevant variables to improve model accuracy—is critical for performance, as noted in a recent article by Number Analytics.
As the 2025 college football season unfolds, all eyes will be on how the CFP committee implements these adjustments. Will strength of schedule become the defining factor in separating closely ranked teams? Can the SEC leverage its scheduling rigor to secure more playoff spots under the new straight seeding model? Sankey’s comments suggest that the conversation is far from over, and with his influence, the future of the CFP may look very different come December.
For now, college football fans can expect a more equitable and transparent selection process—one that rewards teams for taking on tough challenges, just as Sankey has long advocated. As the sport continues to evolve, the balance between format and criteria will remain a critical topic, ensuring that the best teams, not just the luckiest, have a shot at the national championship.
