SEC-Big Ten partnership can ensure ‘Power 2’ gets most College Football Playoff spots

The power-hungry nature of the Big Ten and SEC only intensified Monday when ESPN reported the possibility of a partnership with the two conferences' schedule allotments beginning with the 2026 season.

Several sources spoke anonymously about what the potential arrangements could look like and how they could impact the newly expanded College Football Playoff. Beginning in December 2024, the postseason expands from four teams to 12. First-round matchups will be played on the campus of the higher seed before transferring to neutral sites as the Playoff progresses.

The new agreement would allow at least eight Big Ten and SEC schools to qualify for playoff berths, assuming the SEC follows the Big Ten's lead and transitions to a nine-game conference schedule.

Ultimately, the would-be partnership is the next step toward a “Power 2” league. The SEC and Big Ten already own the vast majority of TV rights and revenue share. SEC games are broadcast primarily on ABC and ESPN, while the Big Ten’s newest package includes three games every Saturday at noon, 3:30, and 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX, CBS, and NBC, respectively.

Whatever ends up coming to fruition re-emphasizes market control, which traditional college football purists in this new-look, NIL-crazed era can’t be fans of.

Only time will tell what the future holds for college football. But, it remains to be seen whether or not the new era catches on.

Related Links

• Full College Football Schedule 2024
• Big Ten Football news and rumors
• SEC Football news and rumors
• Big 12 football news and rumors