Destin, Fla. - College football playoff models with top five conference champions and 16 teams of 11 global teams are gaining traction after the SEC spring meeting this week, but the next step in playoff expansion in 2026 and beyond will depend on the sport's leaders being able to make decisions quickly.

A key component is the SEC's choice in eight league games or moving to nine games, and ACC sources say the league can be revisited in their league if pushed by the playoffs. The key to these planning decisions is one thing that each meeting seems to agree on: Start with how the CFP selection committee ranks its teams, starting with determining and applying the strength of the program.

"I do think there is a need to change," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said on Thursday of the ranking agreement at the end of the league's spring meeting. "...How do you make these decisions? It's hard, we believe the committee does it, and I respect the people there, so it's not a criticism of the people. It's a decision to understand the decisions. We have to be better aware of these criteria that determine these decisions."

Currently, the intensity of the plan is one of several factors that are not weighed in the committee’s ambiguous agreement – ​​the FBS Commissioner wrote at the start of the 2014 four teams’ playoffs. In some sports directors and ACCs in the SEC, moving to certain sports games in nine meeting games is feasible - if the committee does not fine two or three against power opponents, the committee does not fine.

Some SEC sports directors stressed this week that if the conference wins four playoff spots, they will only prefer the nine-game league schedule - also the top ten model of choice.

"If we don't believe in the decisions about who joins and the metrics around and what is what, then some of my colleagues have a hard time playing nine games," said Trev Alberts, athletic director at Texas A&M. "We have a timeline getting tighter and we recognize that. It seems like everything is in the head. It's a little frustrating in a sense, and it feels good in the other way, because in the end, we actually feel like we're actually going to get some processing."

The CFP leader has set a deadline for determining future formats on December 1, and Sankey said he wants to make a arrangement decision in 2026, but has not specified when. FBS Commissioner and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua is scheduled to meet on June 18 in Asheville, North Carolina.

Ask if Sankey's meeting will be unified in one format at that time.

“We’ll see it,” Sanki said.

Several ACC sources said the conference preferred the 5+11 models, and 12 Chief Executive Brett Yormark publicly supported the conference at this week's spring meeting.

"This has always been our top pick," Yormark told ESPN. "It's fair and performance on the spot. I'm not surprised that the SEC coach likes it."

Big 12 administrator agrees.

"The construction of CFP is not about giving one or two more value to a meeting. It should be the best way to make a real national championship," said UCF Sports Director Terry Mohajir. "I think 5+11 is the best way to do that, it can get the best team."

If Sankey could have his athletic director on the same page as his coach, who expressed strong support for the 5+11 this week (but with eight conference games), the top ten could be the only league in the room that pushed the automatic qualifiers.

"(We) are important, and that's a little bit important in this decision," Sanki said.

Big Ten and the SEC both have most control over the playoff format in 2026 and beyond, with other FBS commissioners and Bevacqua agreeing to sign a new six-year contract.

"If we do want to play in the national championships, we do have to get everyone on the same page, and everyone has to work together," said Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin.

The ACC’s consideration of the nine-game league schedule has been in place for several years for several reasons. Several schools already have existing competition with SEC schools, and in addition, built-in agreements have been reached with Notre Dame. The ACC doesn't necessarily have to decide this in the 2026 season. According to sources, this is something that can be phased out.

Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said his two main priorities were that the move forward of the playoff discussion was access and “a clear understanding of what is getting you in, what doesn’t understand.”

"I know I talked a lot last year that I read about two losses, and it's about three losses," Bourne said. "Lest for granted, ultimately, it depends on you and the drama you are on the scene, and you have to recognize that, but I also believe that when you look at the bullet points of the CFP, the intensity of the schedule is the first bullet listed. It's important to try to understand the importance of the room clearly. Our meeting is questionable on the scene because it's doubtful.

On Thursday afternoon, the SEC provided media members with a six-page package that included color-coded charts using multiple metrics to illustrate the alliance’s main schedule. Sankey said the task of determining the timeline components of CFP is to balance “man and machine”, referring to the old BCS computer formula.

"Whether you agree or not, that's what we're looking at," Sankey said of the package. These include ESPN's record strength, Bill Connelly's SP+, Kenneth Massey's metrics, ESPN's football power index and ESPN's scheduling strength. “This doesn’t mean that each of them should be inserted into the CFP, but I think you have to consider what it means, because the other rating and evaluation tools we’ve looked at are very similar to these results.”

Although the problem arises on the issue, the CFP's governing board is notorious for missing its own deadline. Sandbaby did not rule out the possibility of the remaining 12 CFPs in 2026.

"Can I see a scene? Sure, I can see a scene." "But is this the most likely scenario? Come back more. I said - really - we're interested in the model. We're not committed to that model, and you've seen this week's game and people have different ideas."

The question is whether the Power 4 League can quickly put its differences aside.

“We need to work together,” Sanki said. “The emotional maturity required now is higher than ever.”

Andrea Adelson of ESPN contributed to the report.