Paul Finebaum Urges the SEC to Make a Major Move originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The SEC and Big Ten are widely regarded as the two best conferences in college football. Since 2006, these conferences have claimed every national championship except for three.
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This offseason, as discussions regarding the College Football Playoff are underway, there has been speculation that the SEC might leave the NCAA if its demands are not met. This speculation follows conversations about a potential expansion of the College Football Playoff and a proposed move to a straight-seeding model starting in 2025.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey criticized both the Big 12 and ACC for supporting this proposed shift, stating that he does not need lectures from these conferences about what is best for the game. Instead, he emphasized that he is seeking ideas to advance the sport.
Sankey suggested a new governance model for college sports that would grant the SEC, along with the other three power conferences, increased control. He indicated that the SEC has requested more autonomy for the four power conferences.
While he noted that he does not have the authority to unilaterally leave the NCAA, he has been questioned by others about why they continue to remain in the organization.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey.Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
On “The Paul Finebaum Show,” SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum stated that the SEC needs to prioritize its own interests over other conferences.
“Let’s quit sitting around and trying to be collegial,” Finebaum said. “Let’s quit sitting around trying to sing ‘Kum ba yah,’ making sure the ACC is taken care of. Make sure the Big 12 is taken care of. Let’s make sure the two or three-team Pac-12 (is taken care of). Basically, I think somebody said it earlier, it’s kill or be killed.”
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Finebaum acknowledges that his perspective may sound harsh, but he believes it reflects the way big business operates. He cited Wal-Mart as an example, noting that it would never consider sharing an equal market share with Target; rather, Wal-Mart would likely prefer to drive Target out of business. Finebaum feels that the SEC should adopt a similar mindset.
There is increasing momentum toward a potential expansion of the college football playoff to 16 teams. One frequently discussed model proposes that both the SEC and Big Ten would receive four automatic bids, while the ACC and another unspecified conference would each get two, leaving only four bids available for the remaining teams in college football. This could resolve the issue.
However, it remains unclear when a vote on this proposal will take place or what the future holds for college football.
Related: Rece Davis Reveals His Ideal College Football Playoff Format
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.