The SEC and Big Ten Are Reshaping the Playoff—Where Does That Leave Clemson?
College football is changing fast, and Clemson fans should be paying attention.
This week, college football’s power brokers are meeting in New Orleans to discuss the future of the College Football Playoff (CFP). On the surface, it’s about expanding from 12 teams to 14 or 16. But dig deeper, and you’ll see the real issue: financial survival.
With schools now required to set aside $20 million for player compensation, athletic departments are scrambling to find more revenue. The solution? More games, more TV deals, and more control for the sport’s two biggest conferences the SEC and Big Ten.
The key proposal on the table? A Championship Weekend Play-In Model that could redefine how teams qualify for the playoff.
What Is the ‘Championship Weekend Play-In Model’?
Right now, conference championship games feature just the top two teams in each league. That might be over soon.
Instead, under the proposed play-in format, Championship Weekend would look like this:
The top two teams in each conference still play for the title.
But the next six teams also compete in play-in games, seeded by conference standings.
Here’s what it would have looked like in 2024:
SEC Play-In Weekend
- SEC Championship: Georgia vs. Texas
Play-In Games:
- Ole Miss vs. Tennessee
- Alabama vs. Texas A&M
- LSU vs. South Carolina
Big Ten Play-In Weekend
- Big Ten Championship: Oregon vs. Penn State
Play-In Games:
- Michigan vs. Ohio State
- Minnesota vs. Indiana
- Iowa vs. Illinois
The four play-in winners plus the conference title winner would automatically qualify for the CFP. The losers could still be in the mix for at-large bids.
Why are the SEC and Big Ten doing this? Because more games mean more TV revenue. It’s a simple equation:
More Games = More TV Time = More $$$
Where Does This Leave the ACC and Clemson?
Here’s where things get messy for Clemson and the ACC.
The SEC and Big Ten control the majority of TV revenue and will likely secure more automatic bids in an expanded CFP. If these two leagues dominate the selection process, what happens to Clemson and other ACC teams?
Right now, ACC schools, including Clemson, receive around $40 million per year in media revenue. But if $20 million of that goes to player salaries, that leaves very little for facilities, recruiting, and program development.
Meanwhile, SEC schools like South Carolina are getting $52.5 million per year, and because their revenue share for player salaries is a lower percentage, they have more money left to invest in other areas.
That’s a huge disadvantage for Clemson and other ACC programs.
Should Clemson Stay in the ACC or Look for a Way Out?
This is the biggest question Clemson fans need to ask right now.
For years, I’ve argued that Clemson should wait and see how things shake out before leaving the ACC. But if this new SEC/Big Ten model gives more playoff bids to their teams, Clemson has to seriously reconsider its future.
Right now, Clemson dominates the ACC and would likely claim one of two ACC playoff spots if the format expands. But if the SEC and Big Ten get four or more automatic bids each, would it be easier for Clemson to make the playoff as an SEC team?
Think about it:
In the ACC, Clemson needs to be one of the top two teams to make the CFP.
In the SEC, Clemson could finish third or fourth and still make the playoff.
Yes, joining the SEC would mean a tougher regular-season schedule. But with the playoff expanding, is being battle-tested in the SEC better than being dominant in a weaker ACC?
Final Thought: Clemson Fans Should Demand Answers
If Clemson stays in the ACC, the conference needs guarantees that its teams will get fair CFP representation.
If the SEC and Big Ten structure the playoff to favor their teams, Clemson must consider jumping ship.
At the end of the day, college football is changing. And if Clemson doesn’t position itself on the right side of history, it could get left behind.
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