Big Ten, SEC broke college football. Now they won’t stop whining about it

Key Points:

• Tensions run high among Big Ten and SEC commissioners and coaches, who are increasingly frustrated with the current College Football Playoff (CFP) system despite their conferences dominating the Top 12 rankings.
• Florida canceled a high-profile home-and-home series with Notre Dame shortly after the CFP announced its expansion to a 24-team playoff in 2027, contradicting expectations that the expanded playoff would encourage more marquee nonconference games.
• Illinois scheduled a home-and-home series with Notre Dame, a move touted by Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti as an example of stronger nonconference scheduling, though critics question the competitive value given Illinois's recent performance.
• SEC coach Eli Drinkwitz expressed support for the expanded playoff but criticized the loss of conference championship games, questioning the relevance of conference affiliations under the new system.
• SEC commissioner Greg Sankey publicly complained about Big Ten criticisms, fan dissatisfaction with officiating, and ESPN analysts' commentary, highlighting ongoing discord and dissatisfaction within college football's leadership amid the evolving NIL and playoff landscape.