Greg Sankey makes it clear that the SEC has not initiated discussion of a 16-team, Big Ten CFP format.

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. – As SEC meetings continue inside the Hilton SanDestin resort on the beaches of Florida, the question remains of how the conference is divided moving forward in future expansion.

Obviously, that’s one of the biggest questions surrounding the overall future of college athletics, as the NCAA tournament recently made moves to expand its field.

If we look at the comments made by SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, it is clear that they will not be in a hurry to make a decision, even if external pressure rises due to opposition conferences.

But, the most interesting part of the current SEC predicament is how many schools are actually on the same page regarding the financial structure that athletic directors and presidents are currently spending.

In fact, the SEC needs to get its house in order. If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that even though things may look good on the outside, the house can be in perceived trouble without the articles that can be created.

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While the Big Ten currently holds the perceived power, it’s almost as if the SEC is playing second-fiddle to a two-piece band. With that, there are some housekeeping issues that need to be addressed.

Now, let’s not pretend that Greg Sankey cares that Lane Kiffin has caused a storm in Baton Rouge since he accepted the LSU job before Ole Miss took a break from the College Football Playoff.

Now, the conference, at the urging of Ole Miss officials, is considering issuing a public disciplinary action against Kiffin over comments he made in a Vanity Fair piece that didn’t sit well in Oxford. The Tigers coach actually said there are parents who are worried about sending their kids to Ole Miss because of past problems.

No, I don’t think the SEC will do anything, at least not publicly. But,

LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin speaks during a press conference at the LSU Football Practice Facility in Baton Rouge, La., on Feb. 4, 2026. (Photos by Gus Stark/LSU/University)

Or how about the Texas head coach? Steve Sarkisian has become one of the hottest quote machines in the conference, targeting Ole Miss in recent weeks. You know, because it seems like an easy shot for the Rebels right now after Kiffin’s departure, which is all over the interference allegations currently being investigated by the NCAA.

Throw in the College Athletic Commission looking into the alleged NIL deals at Oxford, and it’s no wonder why head coach Pete Golding is taking on so many outside forces.

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But, when you really get down to the nuts and bolts of the inner workings within the SEC, most of it comes down to what is thought to be the best way forward for the conference that holds most of the power and its counterparts in the Big Ten.

A discussion on whether the extension of the CFP is the right move

We can argue until we are blue in the face on the subject of expansion. Heck, we already do that on a daily basis thanks to social media and the never-ending discussions that will continue to be hot issues for fans.

But, in terms of bringing the 16-team negotiations to the table, the idea that the SEC initiated the discussion was not lost on Greg Sankey, who was asked about Tony Petitti saying that the 16-team structure would not be discussed at the Big Ten meetings.

“I was surprised, because they brought 16 teams to the table last year. All those 16-team ideas, they weren’t ours,” Greg Sankey said Monday night.

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The sentiments of those athletic directors and presidents OutKick spoke to in recent weeks are divided, but not in a hostile way. Others see it as a smart move to generate revenue within a conference that makes nearly double what its ACC counterparts make in year-end payouts.

“I understand why the coaches want to expand. I never said that we were against 24 teams, I told my colleagues that.”

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey speaks during a press conference before the celebration of the University of Oklahoma joining the Southeastern Conference in Norman, Okla., on July 1, 2024. (Greg Sankey/IMAGN Syndication: The Oklahoman)

When asked if leaders within the SEC would agree on 12 teams being the effective route if they can’t reach an expansion agreement, Sankey didn’t hold back.

“It varies, I don’t think we will have one vote on the number”

But, pretending that the financial burden isn’t felt within the SEC would be a misnomer, given the current race to topple the playing field.

All in all, in the grand scheme of things regarding the expansion that could include the possible elimination of the conference title game, the commissioner knows it is financially supported.

“We have contracts, so we are very serious … We have contracts”