The College Football Playoff (CFP) is set to undergo a major overhaul, with the current postseason format expiring at the end of this year. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) commissioner, Greg Sankey, has expressed openness to revising the format during a recent meeting. However, he declined to specify how his conference thinks the playoff should be structured.
Proposed Models
One widely discussed model would allocate:
- Four automatic bids each to the Big Ten and SEC conferences
- Two automatic bids each to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Big 12
Sankey acknowledged that there is no agreement on a specific model within his room at this time, stating, "We’re open-minded about it. There’s no agreement on a specific model within our room at this time."
Considerations for Smaller Schools
Sankey emphasized that any new format should consider:
- Conference priorities
- Opportunities for smaller schools
He noted that some models might focus on creating more chances for these schools to compete in bowl games rather than relegating them to lower-tier matchups after missing out on New Year’s Six appearances due to poor performance earlier in their seasons.
Changes to Seeding Model
The CFP committee announced that it will implement a straight seeding model starting next year, moving away from the previous ranking system of teams from No. 1 through eight followed by five at-large selections. Notably, Notre Dame will receive an automatic bid regardless of its standing.
Ongoing Discussions and Frustrations
In addition to discussing potential changes, playoff expansion plans are set for introduction following an upcoming NCAA court ruling regarding name-image-likeness compensation rules affecting student athletes nationwide. Sankey expressed frustration over recent comments made by ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips and Big 12 Conference President Brett Yormark.
Phillips and Yormark have stated they remain committed to supporting their original proposal despite concerns raised within Power Five conferences regarding:
- Fairness and equity implications associated with expanded field size
- Increased competition among larger programs
- Diminished chances for smaller programs to compete against top-tier opponents without sacrificing valuable home dates along the way.
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
