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SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey acknowledged the growing support for a 24-team College Football Playoff, which would expand the current 12-team format. He noted that various proposals have been discussed over the years, including 16 and 32 teams.
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BIRMINGHAM − News broke more than two weeks ago that some of college football's most important power brokers, including the commissioners of the ACC and Big 12 Conferences, had thrown their support behind a 24-team College Football Playoff, which would double the current field of 12.
But it appears the report came as no real surprise to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.
"I don't know that anything changed. (Late MSU coach) Mike Leach wanted 64. People have had different opinions," Sankey said Monday at the Associated Press Press Editors Southeast Regional meeting at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. "We've had those advocating 32, 28, 16, and 24 was one of those hybrid numbers that popped up."
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The Big Ten first pitched the notion of a 24-team playoff that included mix of at-large bids with multiple bids allocated to various conferences, in differing numbers. It was met without support from the SEC, however, and now the two conferences are primarily in control of the future of the CFP format. Along with Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormack and ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, also reportedly in support of a 24-team playoff is Notre Dame Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua.
The 12-team format enters its third year with the 2026 season. The CFP's management committee will meet next month to discuss the future of the playoff.
Greg Sankey expressed that the support for a 24-team playoff is not surprising and mentioned that various formats have been proposed over the years.
The proposal has garnered support from key figures in college football, including the commissioners of the ACC and Big 12 Conferences.
The current format includes 12 teams, while the proposed format would expand to 24 teams, doubling the number of participants.

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"We'll have more conversations where the First Amendment will be alive and well," Sankey added.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: SEC commish Greg Sankey addresses growing support for 24-team CFP