The conferences can further shape the playoff as they see fit and plot ways to further gerrymander the selection process in their favor.
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
—A revised commandment from George Orwell’s Animal Farm.
If college football has become dominated by powerful forces, then there are two key players in the game right now: Greg Sankey and Tony Petitti, the commissioners of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Big Ten, respectively. These leaders appear to be strategizing for a total takeover reminiscent of Orwell’s 1945 narrative. Their next move could come as soon as next week when both leagues meet to make decisions impacting the sport, primarily serving their own interests.
Animal Farm serves as an allegorical critique of Joseph Stalin’s consolidation of power following the 1917 Russian Revolution. The pigs lead a revolt against the humans but soon relish their newfound authority. The original principle of equality among animals morphs into a new form of corrupt governance, with Napoleon at the helm.
In the realm of college athletics, traditional NCAA control has largely been dismantled in favor of conference autonomy. Within this landscape, the SEC and Big Ten are amassing power at the expense of other leagues. This shift began with their poaching of teams from the Big 12 and Pac-12, leading to significant revenue inequalities.
An upcoming meeting on October 10 in Nashville for leaders from both conferences has been announced, under the pretext of a Big Ten-SEC advisory group established last February. This initiative raised concerns among those outside the two leagues, as the gathering of these powerful factions usually does not bode well for others.
The meeting will reportedly address challenges facing college sports, such as recent judicial rulings, ongoing litigation, and varying state laws. However, it’s also likely to focus on future scheduling agreements and preferences for automatic playoff bids, potentially enhancing the already significant advantages for the SEC and Big Ten.
What’s at stake is the further manipulation of the playoff system to favor these two conferences, even though they already have a substantial edge. Current agreements ensure a 12-team playoff format for the next two seasons, but the details for the period from 2026 to 2032 are flexible. Automatic bids are currently allocated to five conference champions and seven at-large teams, with the SEC and Big Ten expected to dominate these spots.
Earlier this year, the Big Ten and SEC experimented with power plays regarding playoff slots, proposing expansions that would ensure these leagues receive automatic bids while limiting opportunities for others. This led to changes in revenue sharing that overwhelmingly benefitted the Big Ten and SEC, as well as a relinquishment of control over future playoff formats.
Oddly enough, other conferences complied with these power grabs due to fears that the SEC and Big Ten could detach completely, effectively undermining the collegiate football landscape.
Now, these two conferences will dictate what’s deemed best for the sport—essentially, what suits their interests.
The Nashville meeting appears to be the next phase of this power consolidation, with plans likely to favor the SEC and Big Ten further in playoff structures and selection processes. This could lead to a scenario where automatic bids are heavily skewed, granting each league three spots, while the Big 12 and ACC receive only two.
Concerns over the subjectivity of playoff selections persist, but adjustments in scheduling agreements between the Big Ten and SEC can artificially inflate their strength of schedule metrics, thus sidelining other leagues. This could create a situation where playoff bids predominantly go to the SEC and Big Ten based on skewed data, allowing them to claim objectivity.
Ironically, the SEC and Big Ten may not even need to enforce rules to guarantee their dominance; they will likely secure the majority of playoff spots annually. Their reluctance to trust the existing selection process speaks volumes about their obsession with control—preferring to legislate their advantage rather than earn it through competition.
As these two leagues quietly fortify their grip on power, they incrementally take more control, leaving little room for other conferences to react. Just as the pigs in Animal Farm justified their privileged status with deceptive logic, the SEC and Big Ten may continue to mold the narrative to benefit themselves while convincing others of their altruism.
Expect the conference tables in Nashville to be filled with favors for the SEC and Big Ten, solidifying their dominance even further.
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