The future of the College Football Playoff remains a hot topic, and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is making it clear where he stands. Speaking Monday at the APSE Southeast Region meeting in Birmingham, Sankey reaffirmed his unwavering support for a 16-team playoff model, even as the Big Ten pushes for a larger 24-team bracket.

"That focus hasn't changed," Sankey stated at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. "We're open to the conversation, but there are a lot of ideas out there that have to be supported with analysis and information, not speculation."

With the playoff having just expanded from four to 12 teams in 2024, the debate over the next step is already heating up. The current 12-team format will remain in place through the 2026-27 season after decision-makers failed to agree on further expansion. Now, all eyes are on what comes next, with a decision on the 2027 format expected later this year.

Sankey emphasized that any changes to college athletics must be backed by solid research—something he believes the SEC has done to support a move to 16 teams. He questioned whether the Big Ten's proposed 24-team model would truly offer a meaningful difference, calling it an unknown that needs more study.

The implications of this debate go beyond just the playoff bracket. It affects the entire college football calendar—when the season starts, the role of conference championship games, and when the season wraps up in January. "We're trying to inform that with research," Sankey explained. "We want to understand, through some analytic support, games that matter in an expanded environment, and games that might not matter."

As an example of what works, Sankey pointed to Oklahoma's dramatic late-season push into the playoff last year, calling it "good for college football." Meanwhile, an NCAA committee has recommended a 12-game schedule over 14 weeks starting in 2027, and the American Football Coaches Association has proposed changes that could reshape the season. For now, the SEC is holding its ground, and the countdown to a final decision is on.