Home / Sports / AD: SEC Title Game 'Run Its Course'
AD: SEC Title Game 'Run Its Course'
3 Apr
Summary
- Alabama AD suggests SEC championship game has fulfilled its purpose.
- The SEC championship game has generated over $50 million annually.
- Expanded playoff may necessitate changes to conference championship games.

Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne has publicly stated that the SEC championship game, the longest-running in FBS football, has "run its course." Established in 1992, the game has been a substantial revenue producer for the conference, generating upwards of $50 million annually. However, with the College Football Playoff now featuring a 12-team format, the value and impact of conference championship games on playoff selection and preparation are being re-evaluated.
While the SEC championship game has historically been for playoff seeding, its results have occasionally prompted debate. Furthermore, holding these games in early December delays the CFP start and creates an uneven rest period for competing teams. Coaches like Oregon's Dan Lanning have advocated for an earlier playoff conclusion. Eliminating championship games could allow the CFP to begin and end sooner, potentially concluding in early January. This change would also require renegotiating television rights contracts, as league title games are deeply embedded in current deals.