Latest news with #GregSankey
The Herald Scotland
21-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
As SEC, Big Ten squabble, the College Football Playoff wins
College Sports Inc. isn't your typical family unit, where it's better if parents get along. When the SEC and Big Ten - the joint heads of college sports' household - squabble, like they are now over the College Football Playoff's future format, it offers a runway for a compromise solution to emerge. And compromise could result in a sensible playoff. The SEC is the only conference powerful enough to check the Big Ten's playoff-bending power, and vice versa. Conference commissioners exited a Wednesday summit in North Carolina without aligning on a playoff format for 2026 and beyond. The Big Ten and SEC are not united behind the same format, with each exercising its checks-and-balance powers. A few potential formats have surfaced, without consensus. That's well enough, for now. That we have no playoff format for 2026 yet means the two conference power brokers didn't sync up and stampede their way to a rigged playoff that explicitly preassigns rewards to the "Super Two" conferences - though not for the Big Ten's lack of trying. The Big Ten favors a rigged 16-team playoff format that would preassign four automatic playoff bids to the Big Ten, four more to the SEC, two apiece to the ACC and Big 12, and one more auto bid remaining up for grabs for another conference champion, along with three at-large bids. This plan also could include play-in games to determine the automatic bids. The ACC and Big 12 disavow this format that preemptively stacks the deck against them, but they carry water pistols. Only the SEC possesses the bazooka to fend off this format that would reward a conference's preseason clout and prestige as much as in-season merit. The SEC, at first, expressed openness to the Big Ten's auto-bid idea, but support for the plan faded after the SEC's coaches and athletic directors gathered in May for conference meetings, where they gained more information about formats under consideration. By the time those SEC meetings ended, the mood within the conference seemed to shift in favor of a 5+11 playoff format that would more explicitly weight strength of schedule. This model would preserve auto bids for the top five conference champions and leave open 11 at-large bids. The ACC and Big 12 also favor a 5+11 format. So, what's the issue? Well, the Big Ten won't submit to this plan - not just because it prefers a different postseason format, but because it reportedly would like the SEC to tweak its regular-season schedule. The Big Ten and Big 12 play nine conference games. The SEC and ACC play eight. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey wants a ninth conference game, but his membership feels squeamish about adding another conference game that would guarantee another loss for half its members. The conference insists its teams already endure an unparalleled gauntlet, and yet no conference plays more cupcake opponents than the SEC. To that end, Illinois coach Bret Bielema cried foul and conveyed the Big Ten's mood when he spoke to reporters this week at an event in Chicago. "I don't think there's any way we could do a 16-team playoff if (the SEC) is not at nine (conference) games," Bielema said. If the Big Ten and SEC don't align behind a playoff expansion format, the playoff could remain at 12 teams in 2026 and beyond, CFP executive director Rich Clark told reporters Wednesday. Would that be so bad? The four-team playoff lasted for 10 years. I wouldn't mind getting a second look at the 12-team playoff before ramrodding through another format. Anyway, we haven't even seen the 12-team playoff yet since commissioners tweaked the seeding rules earlier this year. If playoff expansion occurs, I retain hope the conference infighting and checks-and-balances underway between the SEC and Big Ten will uncork a compromise that expands the playoff without rigging it, and also incentivizes teams to play tougher regular-season schedules, with fewer cupcake opponents. What could a compromise look like? ? The SEC stands its ground on a 5+11 format that more explicitly weights schedule strength when determining at-large bids. The Big Ten accepts this format, if ... ? The SEC agrees to add a ninth conference game, or otherwise requires members to play a minimum of 10 games against Power Four opponents. Currently, most SEC teams play nine games against Power Four competition, while most teams from the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC play at least 10 opponents from that tier. A Dec. 1 deadline looms to determine a 2026 format. If the Big Ten and SEC remain entrenched in their preferences, compromise could be the only path forward to a 16-team playoff. A compromise that would expand and improve the postseason, while bolstering the regular-season schedule, would be well worth this offseason bickering between Mom and Pop. Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@ and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
College football leaders evaluating Week 0 start to season
As the back end of the college football season keeps expanding for upper-echelon teams, a proposal is now on the table to turn the early Week 0 window for select games into the new start to the season. By moving the season up one week for all teams, not just those who obtain a waiver for an early start, the college football season would gain a 12th week as soon as 2026. It would also give teams an option for an additional bye week during the season. All of the discussion about when to start the season comes as changes to the College Football Playoff format have been tabled for now. After moving to a 12-team playoff last season, the postseason could expand to as many as 16 teams with five automatic qualifiers and 11 at-large teams. The proposed changes to the front and back ends of the schedule have come at the current gathering of Division I conference commissioners this week at Asheville, N.C. 'My view is we should have a consistent start date,' SEC commissioner Greg Sankey told Yahoo Sports. 'The adage is teams make their most substantial improvement between games one and two. I think we should have a consistent start date. Labor Day weekend has been a good start date for college football.' The new start date proposal would move Labor Day weekend to the second week of the season. There are four games scheduled for Week 0 this season (Aug. 23): Kansas State and Iowa State will meet in Dublin, Ireland, while Fresno State is at Kansas, Sam Houston is at Western Kentucky and Stanford will play at Hawaii. Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Reuters
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
College football leaders evaluating Week 0 start to season
June 20 - As the back end of the college football season keeps expanding for upper-echelon teams, a proposal is now on the table to turn the early Week 0 window for select games into the new start to the season. By moving the season up one week for all teams, not just those who obtain a waiver for an early start, the college football season would gain a 12th week as soon as 2026. It would also give teams an option for an additional bye week during the season. All of the discussion about when to start the season comes as changes to the College Football Playoff format have been tabled for now. After moving to a 12-team playoff last season, the postseason could expand to as many as 16 teams with five automatic qualifiers and 11 at-large teams. The proposed changes to the front and back ends of the schedule have come at the current gathering of Division I conference commissioners this week at Asheville, N.C. "My view is we should have a consistent start date," SEC commissioner Greg Sankey told Yahoo Sports. "The adage is teams make their most substantial improvement between games one and two. I think we should have a consistent start date. Labor Day weekend has been a good start date for college football." The new start date proposal would move Labor Day weekend to the second week of the season. There are four games scheduled for Week 0 this season (Aug. 23): Kansas State and Iowa State will meet in Dublin, Ireland, while Fresno State is at Kansas, Sam Houston is at Western Kentucky and Stanford will play at Hawaii. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
College football leaders revisit moving up season to Week Zero
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — College leaders are again exploring an earlier football kickoff date. Executives this week re-examined an issue that has, for years, been under discussion: making Week Zero a permanent playing date for college football teams. FBS leaders held more conversations on the long-discussed concept during the annual three-day gathering of Division I conference commissioners here this week. Advertisement Commissioners expect the conversation to continue in the coming weeks and months. While there is growing support for the move, no formal proposal has been introduced. That's not the case for FCS. The division is expected to formalize a proposal that permits schools to begin playing on Week Zero — a decision that would add a 12th regular season game to the schedule starting in 2026. For FBS, the decision is more complex. Some do not support shifting the season-opening week from Labor Day weekend — a holiday coinciding with a smorgasbord of college football. However, such a move creates an additional bye week for teams that choose to play on what would be the new Week 1 — an incentive that provides more rest during a college football season that continues to get extended. Advertisement 'My view is we should have a consistent start date,' SEC commissioner Greg Sankey told Yahoo Sports on Thursday. 'The adage is, teams make their most substantial improvement between Games 1 and 2. I think we should have a consistent start date. Labor Day weekend has been a good start date for college football. 'The fact we are taking another look at it could be interesting,' Sankey said of permanently playing on Week Zero. 'I'm not opposed to that. I want to make sure it's a broad view of the issues and not something narrow.' For now, schools wanting to play on Week Zero must be granted a waiver by NCAA governance committees. Under NCAA bylaw 17.11.4, FBS teams cannot play their first game until the Thursday before Labor Day. However, an exception to the rule was instituted in 2016 (NCAA bylaw 17.11.4.1), allowing Hawaii and teams that visit Hawaii the option to play on the Saturday before Labor Day weekend. Two years ago, there was the introduction of a foreign travel exemption (NCAA bylaw 17.11.4.3), allowing Navy to face Notre Dame in Dublin, Ireland. Advertisement Eliminating waivers across all NCAA areas has been a focal point for university leadership over the last several years, as they often result in difficult-to-defend legal challenges. 'We had a good discussion about the calendar and a uniform start date for FBS instead of continuing to deal with waiver requests, case by case,' American commissioner Tim Pernetti told Yahoo Sports. 'A consistent start date is a key element to the future of FBS.' Whether that standard start date will be in its current position or move up a week remains murky. Over the last three years, Week Zero has been central to discussions related to a long-discussed shift of the regular season by a week. Three years ago, College Football Playoff leaders spent several meetings discussing moving up the regular season by a week, which would shift rivalry games off of Thanksgiving, make conference championship weekend on that holiday and free up an extra weekend in December to hold rounds of a rapidly expanding playoff. Advertisement The latest conversations around Week Zero are, for now, not centered on a full shift in the regular season, though some hope, eventually, that will happen. The move from FCS to begin regularly playing on Week Zero may serve as a trigger for FBS. The two divisions often hold games against one another early in the season — quasi-preseason games for power programs looking to fine-tune a new team before bigger matchups on Labor Day weekend and beyond. Week Zero has been a popular playing date for a handful of teams, though the number is declining. Twelve games involving an FBS team were played on Week Zero in 2022. There are four FBS games scheduled for Week Zero this year — the same as last season.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
College football leaders rehashing moving up season to Week Zero
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — College leaders are again exploring an earlier football kickoff date. Executives this week re-examined an issue that has, for years, been under discussion: making Week Zero a permanent playing date for college football teams. FBS leaders held more conversations on the long-discussed concept during the annual three-day gathering of Division I conference commissioners here this week. Advertisement Commissioners expect the conversation to continue in the coming weeks and months. While there is growing support for the move, no formal proposal has been introduced. That's not the case for FCS. The division is expected to formalize a proposal that permits schools to begin playing on Week Zero — a decision that would add a 12th regular season game to the schedule starting in 2026. For FBS, the decision is more complex. Some do not support shifting the season-opening week from Labor Day weekend — a holiday coinciding with a smorgasbord of college football. However, such a move creates an additional bye week for teams that choose to play on what would be the new Week 1 — an incentive that provides more rest during a college football season that continues to get extended. Advertisement 'My view is we should have a consistent start date,' SEC commissioner Greg Sankey told Yahoo Sports on Thursday. 'The adage is, teams make their most substantial improvement between Games 1 and 2. I think we should have a consistent start date. Labor Day weekend has been a good start date for college football. 'The fact we are taking another look at it could be interesting,' Sankey said of permanently playing on Week Zero. 'I'm not opposed to that. I want to make sure it's a broad view of the issues and not something narrow.' For now, schools wanting to play on Week Zero must be granted a waiver by NCAA governance committees. Under NCAA bylaw 17.11.4, FBS teams cannot play their first game until the Thursday before Labor Day. However, an exception to the rule was instituted in 2016 (NCAA bylaw 17.11.4.1), allowing Hawaii and teams that visit Hawaii the option to play on the Saturday before Labor Day weekend. Two years ago, there was the introduction of a foreign travel exemption (NCAA bylaw 17.11.4.3), allowing Navy to face Notre Dame in Dublin, Ireland. Advertisement Eliminating waivers across all NCAA areas has been a focal point for university leadership over the last several years, as they often result in difficult-to-defend legal challenges. 'We had a good discussion about the calendar and a uniform start date for FBS instead of continuing to deal with waiver requests, case by case,' American commissioner Tim Pernetti told Yahoo Sports. 'A consistent start date is a key element to the future of FBS.' Whether that standard start date will be in its current position or move up a week remains murky. Over the last three years, Week Zero has been central to discussions related to a long-discussed shift of the regular season by a week. Three years ago, College Football Playoff leaders spent several meetings discussing moving up the regular season by a week, which would shift rivalry games off of Thanksgiving, make conference championship weekend on that holiday and free up an extra weekend in December to hold rounds of a rapidly expanding playoff. Advertisement The latest conversations around Week Zero are, for now, not centered on a full shift in the regular season, though some hope, eventually, that will happen. The move from FCS to begin regularly playing on Week Zero may serve as a trigger for FBS. The two divisions often hold games against one another early in the season — quasi-preseason games for power programs looking to fine-tune a new team before bigger matchups on Labor Day weekend and beyond. Week Zero has been a popular playing date for a handful of teams, though the number is declining. Twelve games involving an FBS team were played on Week Zero in 2022. There are four FBS games scheduled for Week Zero this year — the same as last season.
