Greg Sankey releases statement on CFP expansion to 24 teams in 2027
By Jacob Moss
Published:
The expansion of the College Football Playoff to 24 teams became official on Monday morning after reports emerged that the sport’s leaders had agreed to a five-year contract with ESPN to bring the expanded format to fruition starting in 2027.
This latest development comes just weeks after SEC commissioner Greg Sankey publicly voiced his support for the move after spending months opposing it, provided the conference’s concerns were taken into consideration.
With the 24-team format now apparently set in stone, Sankey released an official statement Monday afternoon endorsing the decision to double the current playoff field, describing the expansion as an opportunity to create “meaningful opportunities for student-athletes and universities.”
“Expanding the College Football Playoff is about more than adding teams,” the statement reads. “It is about creating meaningful opportunities for student-athletes and universities, rewarding competitive excellence and challenging schedules, increasing fan access to championship competition by expanding the number of on-campus playoff games, and strengthening the importance of the entire season from opening weekend through the national championship.”
Sankey also emphasized that the decision to expand to 24 teams also “advances those priorities while preserving what makes college football special” and “supports the long-term future of our sport.”
Despite Sankey’s support for this monumental shift, many fans, analysts and coaches have all voiced concerns about CFP expansion and what it could mean for the future of the sport.
Unfortunately, decision-makers at the highest levels of college football don’t appear to have given much weight to these concerns, as the expansion is moving forward despite significant public backlash.
Only time will tell whether the move proves to be as beneficial as Sankey believes it will be, and whether college football can continue to withstand these massive changes without losing the support of the fans who love the sport.
