Headed into the beginning of SEC spring conferences, the Huge Ten believed it had a companion in its push to rework the Faculty Soccer Playoff into one thing extra akin to the NFL.

The Huge Ten and SEC have grown considerably nearer during the last yr, having orchestrated a takeover of the Faculty Soccer Playoff that provides them say over whether or not and the way the format will change for 2026 and past. 

The 2 conferences strengthened the bond with historic convention meetups — first in Nashville in October 2024 after which in New Orleans in February. At these conferences, the Huge Ten’s desire to maneuver to extra computerized qualifiers — 4 every for the Huge Ten and SEC, two every for the ACC and Huge 12 — started to resonate with an SEC contingent that had beforehand resisted.  

These concerned within the discussions and individuals within the conferences say as soon as Huge Ten leaders laid out the reasoning for a transfer to extra computerized qualifiers — chief amongst them taking away energy from a perceived inconsistent choice committee course of and permitting for higher non-conference scheduling — it gained traction inside the SEC. The Huge Ten believed a transfer to extra computerized bids would reduce the choice committee “conflicting itself week-to-week,” in response to one supply accustomed to the discussions, and permit for consistency that it did not assume was potential for a 13-person group that modified its membership year-over-year. 

“Make it about the way you compete towards your convention and take out any kind of perceived bias or politicking and campaigning and let it play out how every convention thinks is greatest for them,” is how one Huge Ten supply defined the pitch. 

Nonetheless undecided, SEC holds the important thing to Faculty Soccer Playoff as 5+11 format features steam

Brandon Marcello

It helped that the Huge Ten caught the SEC in an ideal storm throughout that February assembly after the convention skilled three faculties (Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina) simply miss the playoff minimize in a course of SEC leaders felt did not correctly weigh the problem of taking part in within the convention. The thought of dramatically lessening the choice committee’s energy did not sound so unhealthy now after the SEC solely received three groups into the primary yr of the 12-team CFP.

Huge Ten sources described these shared conferences with the SEC, which featured each commissioners and athletic administrators from all member faculties, as “important” in garnering help for a transfer to a 16-team playoff with extra computerized qualifiers. At Huge Ten conferences in late Might in California, a number of Huge Ten sources have been bullish about the place issues stood between the 2 conferences of their push for playoff growth. The priority wasn’t what the SEC would do however as an alternative attempting to construct a consensus with the ACC and Huge 12, which had each opposed the 4-4-2-2-1-3 mannequin regardless of a firmly held perception that they did not want both to in the end obtain their objectives.

The important thing, then and now, was the SEC. 

And because the SEC kicked off its annual conferences down in Sandestin, Florida, final week, there was no motive for concern. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey was cautious together with his wording in describing the thought however did not precisely cover his help of it, both. He stated the SEC was ” however not dedicated,” a typical Sankey transfer to nod at what he needed however give himself cowl. 

But because the week on the seashore closed, the SEC was trending away from the 4-4-2-2-1-3 mannequin and as an alternative was rallying across the Huge 12’s most well-liked 5 + 11 mannequin that featured the highest five-ranked convention champions receiving computerized bids and the opposite 11 going to the highest ranked at-large groups. It was a surprising reversal that caught a number of Huge Ten sources off guard and will arrange a doubtlessly fascinating heavyweight battle between the 2 strongest conferences if the SEC turns into entrenched on the 5+11 thought.

How did we get there? It begins with a robust group that’s typically ignored in these discussions.

SEC coaches forcefully towards AQs, 9 convention video games

Six of the 10 highest-paid soccer coaches in America reside within the SEC, together with the sport’s highest-paid coach, Georgia’s Kirby Good. Nationwide championship-winning coaches like Good are virtually demigods of their group, revered for his or her success on Saturdays and their skill to herald tens of millions of {dollars} in income when every little thing goes properly. 

However when it comes time to creating huge selections that might form their on a regular basis actuality, even the highly effective, outspoken coaches like Good and Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin not often get what they need. Simply have a look at Good’s impassioned speech concerning the switch portal final week and why nothing has modified regardless of overwhelming help on the FBS head coach degree. 

What one should bear in mind is that what’s most vital to a soccer coach could possibly be simply one of many many points their athletic director is coping with at any given time. Go up one other degree and take into consideration every little thing a college president or chancellor should deal with each day. The upper up the meals chain you go, the extra enticing further income that an expanded CFP and a transfer to 9 SEC convention video games would possibly look. 

This time was totally different, although. 

The SEC soccer coaches popping out so strongly towards AQs, each publicly and privately, caught SEC leaders without warning, in response to a number of sources. The joint dialog between athletic administrators and soccer coaches grew to become heated at occasions, as some ADs, banking on the additional $5 million or so in income a ninth SEC recreation would deliver, grew to become pissed off over the tides turning towards their most well-liked outcomes. Nearly all of the coaches vehemently opposed the thought of a play-in weekend, believing it might diminish the significance of the SEC Championship Sport. The play-in playoff idea, a key element of Huge Ten commissioner Tony Petitti’s playoff plan, is one other doubtlessly sizable supply of latest income that some ADs want to get their arms on.

“Having soccer coaches within the room was actually good,” Mississippi State AD Zac Selmon advised CBS Sports activities. “We’re contemplating all choices and what’s greatest for our establishments and the SEC.” 

Selmon stated his place on computerized qualifiers “advanced rather a lot” after the joint conferences with the Huge Ten however that he nonetheless wrestled with whether or not that was the perfect path for the SEC, a notion solely amplified down in Sandestin after discussing together with his colleagues.

“I grew up in sports activities, and if you wish to win a championship, you must go earn it, and I nonetheless assume that is precisely how it’s within the SEC,” Selmon stated. “In the event you get into the CFP, you have earned your manner there, and it is best to. 

“In some years, we might have a mannequin the place there’s seven SEC groups within the expanded CFP. Is that good for the sport? I do not know, however it reveals the energy of our league. There’s nonetheless work to be carried out on what choices, however I at all times really feel consolation understanding Commissioner Sankey has carried out an unbelievable job carrying the load. The identical for us at Mississippi State with Mark Keenum, the chair of the (CFP) Board of Managers. I nonetheless assume there’s work to be carried out on your complete ecosystem simply due to the disparity in our league is a gauntlet.”

How will choice course of change?

From the beginning of the SEC’s week on the Gulf Coast, it felt like a focused assault on the present CFP choice course of. 

A number of coaches got here out towards a course of that led to extra Huge Ten (4) than SEC (3) groups within the playoff.

“There isn’t any outcry, saying it is unfair when the SEC will get 13 of 16 groups in (the NCAA) basketball match through the use of RPI,” Good stated. “I’ve a tough time considering Ole Miss, South Carolina and Alabama weren’t a part of the perfect groups within the nation.”

Lane Kiffin, who advocated for merely taking the 16 greatest groups and eliminating computerized bids altogether, needed the choice course of tweaked. 

“Someway, the components of how they work out the groups has to vary,” Kiffin stated. “I am not simply saying that as a result of we misplaced three video games and did not make it; I am saying that as a result of different sports activities do a a lot better job of determining the standard of the staff over simply the losses, determining the standard of wins that they’ve, their energy of schedule that they play.”

When pressed on what particularly he’d wish to see carried out to emphasise these issues, together with from an analytics or components standpoint, Kiffin admitted he did not actually have a solution. 

“You bought to make use of among the indexes,” he stated. “I am not going to faux I perceive all of them and which of them are the perfect, however I do know different sports activities have figured that out higher than us.”

Therein lies a part of the issue shifting ahead. The SEC does not like how the choice committee dealt with final yr’s playoff discipline. Guess what? The Huge Ten has related issues, which is why it’s attempting to deemphasize the committee’s influence with the introduction of extra computerized qualifiers. Within the Huge Ten’s plan, the committee would primarily concentrate on seeding. It will solely have to pick three at-large groups — if it expands to 16 groups — quite than the seven groups it presently picks. 

Conversely, if a 5 +11 mannequin is adopted, it’d give the committee extra energy — and put much more strain to get it proper — in selecting 11 of the sphere’s groups. 

The restricted quantity of information factors accessible in soccer makes it difficult to provide you with school soccer’s model of NET or RPI. Nonetheless, it’s clear that modifications can — and certain will — be made to an ambiguous course of to seek out the perfect groups that does not formally take energy of schedule under consideration. As former Huge East commissioner Mike Tranghese, a member of the inaugural CFP choice committee, advised CBS Sports activities in December: “They stated, ‘We wish to get the perfect groups.’ However nobody advised us tips on how to discover the perfect groups.”

Florida AD Scott Stricklin, one other former member of the choice committee, was even extra forceful in his rebuke of a system he as soon as willingly participated in, saying, “A committee isn’t supreme to decide on a postseason. I query whether or not it’s acceptable for faculty soccer.”

Selmon desires “extra clearly outlined metrics” and to make the choice course of much less subjective. He does not know the precise components to repair the issues however is assured it may be carried out. 

“I can choose up my telephone and have meals delivered right here in 5 minutes. I might most likely purchase a home in about 10 minutes. We have got tremendous computer systems that may have a look at issues which might be occurring in Vegas with odds. They are often fairly dialed in,” Selmon stated. “So I feel we’d like some extra goal metrics to say that is what the pathway seems like earlier than we are able to absolutely get to a system everyone feels good about no matter what seat you are sitting in, what league you are in, and assume that is for the great of faculty soccer.”

On the conclusion of the SEC spring conferences, the convention handed out a seven-page packet entitled, “A Common Season Gauntlet,” that highlighted “no different convention has an everyday season as grueling because the SEC’s.” Throughout the packet, the SEC identified totally different metrics used, whether or not the metrics have been goal or predictive and the place the convention ranked. The intent was apparent: The SEC, utilizing quite a lot of metrics, believes it has been the clear greatest convention during the last decade and that extra of these metrics must be factored into the choice course of. 

As Sankey put it,” “I do assume there is a want for change. How do you clarify among the selections which have been made?”

What now?

On Monday, Sankey reiterated his long-held perception that the SEC does not want computerized qualifiers. Showing on the “Dan Patrick Present,” the SEC commissioner, who has been the unwitting face of the automated qualifiers debate, made clear that is not his desire. 

“I would give no allocations,” Sankey stated. “This entire 5-7 factor that exists now, I would just make it the 12 greatest groups. I used to be clear on that. After we get into rooms, we make political compromises, if you’ll.”

Sankey and the opposite convention commissioners are anticipated to have a name Tuesday to additional focus on the newest CFP discussions. They will meet in particular person on June 18 in Asheville, North Carolina. Sankey advised the SEC presidents and chancellors final week it was vital to collaborate with the opposite conferences and that the SEC could not “bulldog” a format on the others, as one SEC president advised CBS Sports activities. 

Every week in the past, growth to 16 groups with a number of AQs per energy convention felt more and more like a foregone conclusion. With it got here a potential Huge Ten-SEC scheduling alliance and a play-in weekend the place the conferences might create further must-see tv programming. 

Now, the 5 + 11 mannequin has extra steam than ever. It appears increasingly uncertain that the SEC will transfer to a nine-game convention schedule in 2026. (The Huge Ten, in response to Yahoo Sports activities, has already voiced personal displeasure over shifting to five+11 if the SEC sticks to eight convention video games.) SEC soccer coaches harshly rejected the play-in championship weekend thought. 

Will the SEC keep this stance and throw chilly water on its burgeoning relationship with the Huge Ten? Or, as time passes and selections get made with out coaches within the room, will the SEC ultimately make its manner again to a mannequin that ensures it 4 spots within the playoff? 

Solely time will inform, however the trade is already grappling with the aftershocks of the SEC’s week in Sandestin that could possibly be essentially the most impactful spring conferences in a very long time.