Univ. of Alabama AD Greg Byrne believes that the SEC Championship game “should be no more” and “would prefer to proceed directly from the regular season to the CFP,” according to Blake Toppmeyer of USA TODAY. Byrne called the SEC Championship a “great event,” adding he does not “like the idea of it going away, but I think it’s reality, with an expanded playoff.” Byrne is “not alone in his opinion” as Univ. of Texas AD Chris Del Conte earlier this offseason “indicated his preference to dump the SEC championship game.” Toppmeyer writes when coaches “don’t think the juice of the SEC Championship is worth the squeeze,” and when prominent ADs “think it’s time to end the game, you must take seriously that conference championship games are an endangered species.” However, the SEC championship generates “gobs” of money. Toppmeyer: “How, then, to offset that lost revenue if the SEC championship went bye-bye?” Byrne proposed the idea of expanding the playoff. He said, “If you’re going to a 16-team playoff, you’re adding more games. I would imagine it would be pretty good content.” The playoff will remain at 12 for at least the 2026 season. Toppmeyer: “Byrne’s lane: Sixteen-team playoff. No SEC championship game. Start the playoff sooner. Conclude the playoff sooner” (USA TODAY, 4/2).
Alabama AD Byrne OK losing SEC Championship game for expanded CFP
