'Be Prepared': SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey Hints At Further CFP Changes

Ahead of the 2024 season, when the new CFP format is slated to go into effect, Greg Sankey took time to address the recent conference realignment, and how it could effect both timing and formatting of the new postseason tournament.

Dating back to 2012, the Texas A&M Aggies have only switched conferences one time.

That year, coach Kevin Sumlin joined forces with up-and-coming prospect Johnny Manziel to officially don a new era of Aggie football post-Mike Sherman. Texas A&M ended up finishing fifth overall — their highest final ranking since 1956 — and gave fans an impression of greatness, but unfortunately, it wasn't replicated in the years that followed. 

Now that  and  are in College Station, the Aggies will look to end up with another top-5 final ranking, as their last one came two years ago following an Orange Bowl victory over North Carolina. Before they can do that, however, they'll need to make the playoff. 

Jimbo Fisher and Conner Weigman are in College Station, the Aggies will look to end up with another top-5 final ranking, as their last one came two years ago following an Orange Bowl victory over North Carolina. Before they can do that, however, they'll need to make the playoff. 

Yes, you read that correctly. With the new CFP format set to take place in 2024, if the Aggies want to finish with a top-5 final ranking, they'll need to qualify for the playoff. Instead of four teams, the NCAA has agreed upon a 12-team "six-and-six" format for teams, making it both easier to qualify and more disappointing if a team doesn't.

That format would see the six major conference champions earning an instant bid on the CFP, followed by the top-6 teams without a conference championship — which leaves room for the Aggies even if they aren't able to overcome Alabama or Georgia for the SEC title. 

That was, until the Pac-12 was kicked to the curb by its own members. 

"The circumstances have changed, and we need to reconsider the format," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey told ESPN.com. "I'm not convinced we need to reconsider the number of teams, and I've been clear that I would have been OK with an eight-team playoff with no conference champion access, but, again, the circumstances have changed in a meaningful way, and my inclination is we need to reexamine the current format."

If you go by the numbers, Texas A&M would have made the 12-team format both in 2012 and in 2020, before and after the final rankings. It would have been amongst the first-four out in 2016, which would have stung even more, but what about in the eight-team format? 

Using that method would eliminate automatic bids for conference champions, and it makes sense. With one less conference in contention — assuming the Pac-12 either disbands or merges with another conference – there wouldn't be any reason automatic bids to remain at six, leaving the NCAA with a question on its hands: 

Should the amount of teams go down to 10 or even eight? 

Sankey mentioned his stance on the eight-team format with no automatic bids. He would have been "OK" with it, but that doesn't necessarily signal any change coming. His latter comments, might however. 

The SEC's commissioner also stated that fans and media should "be prepared" for change, especially given the high-tension situation regarding conference realignments. If that happens, it could spell trouble across the SEC and the NCAA regarding who gets in and who doesn't. Eight teams suddenly seems much more exclusive than 12, and the Aggies' bar only goes higher. 

Luckily, Texas A&M would have qualified for the eight-team playoff in 2012 and 2020, too. So, if they can replicate that performance in the coming years, it could find itself amidst the teams contending for a national title.

And maybe this time, they'd come away victorious. 

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