Sarkisian Criticizes CFP’s SEC Dominance, Backs Champs

**Sarkisian Expresses Concerns Over SEC Dominance in CFP, Advocates for Conference Champions**

**AUSTIN, Texas –** As the College Football Playoff (CFP) prepares for a significant expansion, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has voiced strong opinions regarding the system’s historical bias towards the Southeastern Conference (SEC), emphasizing the need for conference championships to carry more weight in selection.

Speaking to media in Austin, Sarkisian recently reflected on the 2023 season’s final CFP rankings, specifically highlighting his discomfort with the hypothetical scenario of three SEC teams potentially filling a four-team playoff bracket. His comments underscore a broader debate about access and fairness in college football’s premier postseason event.

Sarkisian pointed out that the official final CFP rankings for the 2023 season, released on December 3, 2023, featured a substantial SEC presence among the nation’s top programs. While the four playoff spots ultimately went to undefeated Big Ten champion Michigan, undefeated Pac-12 champion Washington, Big 12 champion Texas, and SEC champion Alabama, the broader top 15 included five SEC teams: No. 4 Alabama, No. 6 Georgia, No. 9 Missouri, No. 11 Ole Miss, and No. 13 LSU. This depth, Sarkisian suggested, showcases the conference’s strength but also its potential to overshadow other leagues.

“When you have five teams in the top 15, ultimately, the argument could be made that some of those teams would have potentially jumped some other conference champions,” Sarkisian stated, advocating for a system that truly rewards on-field success across all conferences. He firmly believes that a conference championship should carry more significance than simply being a highly-ranked team from an already prestigious conference. He warned that the sheer volume of highly-ranked teams from a single league, like the SEC, can undermine the achievements of champions from other leagues, such as the Big Ten or the now-defunct Pac-12.

Sarkisian’s advocacy comes at a pivotal moment, as the CFP is set to expand to a 12-team format beginning with the 2024 season. The new structure aims to address some of these concerns by automatically qualifying the six highest-ranked conference champions. The remaining six spots will be filled by the next highest-ranked teams, regardless of conference affiliation, ensuring a broader inclusion while still allowing for multiple teams from top conferences to compete. The top four conference champions will receive first-round byes.

While the new 12-team format guarantees spots for conference champions, the at-large bids still open the door for a dominant conference like the SEC to potentially send multiple teams, keeping Sarkisian’s concerns relevant.

The irony of Sarkisian’s position is notable, as his Texas Longhorns are themselves preparing to join the SEC in 2024, alongside Oklahoma. This move will place Texas directly into the fiercely competitive landscape Sarkisian is cautioning the CFP against disproportionately rewarding. His comments could be interpreted as a strategic push for a system that maintains a clear pathway to the playoff for conference champions, even within a powerhouse league like the SEC.

The SEC has long been considered the premier conference in college football, consistently boasting top recruiting classes, significant media contracts, and a remarkable track record of national championships. This historical dominance contributes to its teams often receiving higher rankings and more favorable consideration in playoff selections.

As college football enters a new era of playoff expansion, coaches like Sarkisian are pushing for the system to evolve beyond pure ranking metrics, ensuring that the hard-won trophies of conference champions across the country receive the recognition they deserve. The debate over how best to balance competitive integrity with fair access remains a central theme in the sport’s ongoing transformation.