### Big Ten and SEC Officials to Discuss Future Football Scheduling and Playoff Bids

Next week, Big Ten and SEC athletic directors will convene in Nashville, Tennessee, to explore a potential football scheduling partnership and deliberate their preferences for automatic bids in the future iterations of the College Football Playoff (CFP). ESPN reports that this meeting is part of the ongoing efforts of the Big Ten-SEC joint advisory group, formed in February, which includes university presidents, chancellors, and athletic directors from both conferences.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti are scheduled to engage with the athletic directors for a single day. A source from the Big Ten expressed optimism about the meeting's potential to drive progress on several issues. An important factor in any future scheduling partnership is whether the SEC ultimately opts for nine conference games, a move that has not been a primary focus of recent conversations according to an SEC source. Currently, the Big Ten already plays nine league opponents, and some Big Ten athletic directors are expected to push back against any agreement if the SEC does not match this number.

"There is hope that we can definitely move the needle and make some progress on different things," a Big Ten source said, emphasizing the need for parity. "If we're all going to figure this out, we've got to be on equal footing."

Discussions will also touch on preferred formats for automatic playoff bids when the next CFP contract begins in 2026.
Both conferences seem to favor securing up to four automatic bids each. Nonetheless, there's uncertainty about the future structure of the CFP, which is crucial for decision-making regarding scheduling partnerships.

"I'm for anything that gives us the maximum number of postseason opportunities," a source from the SEC stated, dismissing bowl games as significant postseason options.

Amidst the discussions, some voices have suggested minimizing or eliminating the role of the 13-member CFP selection committee. An SEC source noted the value in reducing subjectivity through automatic conference spots, a notion that has already sparked considerable debate. Concerns linger over the possible allocation of eight guaranteed spots for the SEC and Big Ten in a 14-team playoff, which has already faced resistance from other conferences.

March saw the announcement of a new six-year, $7.8 billion contract between the CFP and ESPN, effective through the 2031-32 season. From the 2026-27 season, ESPN will pay $1.3 billion annually under this contract, covering either 11 or 13 playoff games in a 12- or 14-team field. Protections for conference champions from the ACC, Big Ten, SEC, and Big 12, as well as for Notre Dame and the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion, are enshrined in the new agreement.

Looking forward to the Nashville meeting, sources are cautious about predicting concrete decisions but are hopeful for productive discussions. Big Ten athletic directors are set to prepare talking points in a regular meeting on Wednesday, aiming to lay the groundwork for actionable outcomes.