Much of the talk about the College Football Playoff semifinals this season has been the decline in television ratings.

Some contribute that to lopsided scores, but the prevailing opinion has been that the decision to play these games on New Year’s Eve simply wasn’t a popular one among fans.

So it may come as a surprise that SEC commissioner Greg Sankey held firm to the idea that the Sugar Bowl should be play as scheduled on New Year’s Day, even if it means an inferior television time slot for College Football Playoff semifinal games.

He explained his position to USA Today’s Nancy Armour while in Arizona on Sunday:

“The Big 12 and the SEC worked to establish a contract, an agreement that that’s when (the Sugar Bowl) would be played,” Sankey said. “That is important to us and I think it’s clearly important to our fans.

“We’re going to protect that position.”

Armour reports that the ratings for the semifinal games were down 13 percent this season from the New Year’s Day positioning of last season’s games.

Sankey indicated that there has been a concerted effort to make the College Football Playoff on New Year’s Eve work, and that there wouldn’t be a move from that position.

Even if it means that less important games are played at times during which more people would be interesting in watching.

“That’s a value judgment,” Sankey said.

“I think both sets of game are important,” Sankey added. “There are six games that are part of this format now, and each of those are important in their own way. The playoffs are important as well, and they do attract meaningful interest — even thought there was a decline in TV ratings this year.”

That may sound like it is against the best interest of college football, but we must remember that Sankey’s job, first and foremost, is to protect the best interest of the SEC specifically.