The SEC Championship game is meaningless. We knew the headline would get you in, but let’s take a closer look at how a proposed expansion of the new CFB Playoff has the chance to ruin a game we all look forward to.
SEC Championship History
The SEC Championship Game was first introduced in 1992. It redefined college football. It was the first conference championship following the NCAA’s decision to allow conferences with 12 or more teams to split into divisions and host a title game. The SEC seized this opportunity by creating East and West divisions and setting up a championship game between the winners. This move set a new standard for college football postseason structure, leading the way for other conferences. Initially hosted at Legion Field in Birmingham, the game eventually moved to the Georgia Dome and now resides at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, quickly becoming one of college football’s premier events.
The first Saturday in December is Must See TV. Everyone and anyone with a pulse on college football knows who is playing and is watching intently. According to a new report, it is all about to change. And to be honest, it sucks.
The SEC Championship Game Doesn’t Matter
Proposed CFB Playoff Expansion
According to Ross Dellenger, a proposed 16-team College Football Playoff (CFP) format is gaining traction among key leaders in the Big Ten and SEC. The new model would provide increased automatic bids for the Power 4 conferences.
- Four teams from the SEC and the Big Ten
- Two from the ACC and the Big 12
- One of the top-ranked Group of Five (G5) programs
- Three at-large selections
This expanded format aims to provide broader representation across conferences while ensuring powerhouse leagues like the SEC and Big Ten maintain a strong playoff presence. This is the cost of Alabama, Ole Miss, and/or South Carolina not making the Playoff in 2024.
The Numbers aren’t Calling for a Change
An additional “bright idea” being floated is internal play-in games for the Big Ten and SEC. This would help create additional “conference play-in games” by pitting the 3rd vs. 6th and 4th vs. 5th to determine who makes the final 16. While it’s framed and argued as a way to boost excitement and media value, it feels unnecessary and downright dumb.
We want to see the best. That is what made 3:30/2:30 on CBS special and what makes ABC’s handling of the SEC in 2024 so great. The SEC has differentiated itself as a cut above the other conferences. Don’t believe me? Check out these numbers.
- From 2021 to 2023, SEC games averaged over 76,000. Even in 2024, despite playoff-related fan fatigue, the game still drew 74,916, higher than all other conferences. The Big Ten, on the other hand, had attendance hovering around 67,000, the ACC ranged from 53,000 to 62,000, and the Big 12 hit a low of 55,889 in 2024.
- The SEC dominated the secondary market in terms of ticket prices. In 2021, average resale prices soared to $850, with premium seats exceeding $2,000. Even in less hyped years, prices held strong, averaging $689 in 2022 and starting at $320 in 2023. Meanwhile, the Big Ten averaged around $467, the Big 12 at $341, and the ACC at $161.
- Television ratings further highlight the SEC’s dominance. The SEC Championship Game regularly delivers some of the highest viewership numbers in college football. In 2021, Georgia vs. Alabama attracted over 15 million viewers, surpassing the Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC title games. The SEC’s appeal on TV, driven by high-profile teams and intense matchups, helps sustain its reputation as the premier conference championship. In contrast, other conferences struggle to capture similar national attention.
What Are They Thinking?
What the hell is Greg Sankey thinking? The idea of four guaranteed spots in the College Football Playoff sounds nice. The three—let’s call it two, thanks Notre Dame—extra spots could give SEC teams like Florida or Auburn a shot at the big stage. But here’s the problem: the SEC Championship is special, and you want to take it away.
We’ve looked at the numbers, and the data backs it up. But think about how it felt the last time your team won the SEC Championship? What was the atmosphere like? We were there in 2018, and let me tell you, it was electric—standing room only, full of energy. No one left early to beat traffic while Jalen Hurts brought the Tide back to beat Georgia. Now, we’re more focused on playoff spots and national championships. Look at Ohio State—didn’t even make the Big Ten Championship game, but no one in Columbus seemed to mind.
Expanding access is excellent in theory, but there’s no reason Sankey should even entertain this proposal. Yes, more teams will make the playoffs in the short term, but it’s a loss for fans, schools, coaches, and players in the long run. The SEC has always set the bar for excellence, and we just hoped that wouldn’t be used to water down the very thing that made it great, just like Dellenger’s proposal suggests.
Main Photo: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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