--- title: "College Football Conferences Express Discontent Over Strength-of-Schedule Criteria" url: https://newscentral.site/college-football-conferences-express-discontent-over-strength/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Sports" published: 2026-10-23T09:07:17.000Z updated: 2026-10-23T09:24:47.471Z id: 6f5debbc-d7d4-4d77-893b-04858b43d658 source: "Yahoo Sports https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/sec-big-ten-rigged-college-090717455.html" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/college-football-conferences-express-discontent-over-strength/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # College Football Conferences Express Discontent Over Strength-of-Schedule Criteria Top college football conferences are reportedly unhappy with the strength-of-schedule criteria used by the College Football Playoff committee. Reports are emerging of discontent from top college football conferences over the strength-of-schedule criteria for the College Football Playoff (CFP). The SEC and Big Ten have been at the forefront of a major shake-up in the sport's landscape. This comes after several high-profile upsets and surprising losses suffered by powerhouse teams such as Ohio State, Oregon, and Michigan. These setbacks have left many wondering if these top-ranked programs are truly deserving of their lofty rankings. Meanwhile, the likes of Texas and Arch Manning have been making waves with impressive victories over strong opponents like Ole Miss. The Gamecocks at South Carolina also pulled off an upset against Tennessee in a game where expectations were low. The strength-of-schedule criteria has become increasingly important as the CFP selection committee prepares to choose its 12-team playoff contenders. But now, it seems that some of these conferences are looking for special treatment to mitigate the impact of their own teams' losses. The perception that some conferences are receiving preferential treatment in college football scheduling has been a contentious issue for several years. The Big Ten and SEC, often accused of being power-hungry, have been criticized for their handling of conference schedules. A closer examination of the current situation reveals a system where certain teams are given more favorable matchups than others. This is particularly evident when looking at the selection process for the College Football Playoff (CFP) poll rankings. Notre Dame's unique status as an independent team with access to the CFP, regardless of their conference affiliation, has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike. The Irish are eligible for a spot in the playoff if they are ranked among the top 12 teams in the final CFP poll. The Big Ten and SEC's dominance in college football scheduling has led some to accuse them of gaming the system to ensure their own teams' success. This perception is further fueled by the fact that these conferences often get to choose their opponents, resulting in a predictable outcome for many games. The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee has been criticized for its perceived bias towards Power Five conferences, particularly the SEC and Big Ten. This perception is fueled by the fact that these conferences often get to choose their opponents, resulting in a predictable outcome for many games. A closer look at the CFP's voting philosophy reveals that wins are the primary factor in determining playoff teams. Since the inception of the CFP in 2014, this has been the consistent approach, and it is unlikely to change even with the introduction of a new 12-team format. The upcoming season presents an opportunity for the selection committee to potentially shake things up by deviating from its traditional voting methods. However, given that the committee's philosophy has remained unchanged over the years, it seems unlikely that they will suddenly adopt a new approach for the final season of the 12-team format. In fact, some might argue that the committee should give the Power Five conferences a taste of their own medicine by not automatically favoring them. This could be seen as a way to level the playing field and make the playoff process more competitive. The SEC and Big Ten's nonconference scheduling agreement is also set to be implemented, which will reportedly come at a standalone cost to television partners. This move aims to further emphasize the importance of strength of schedule in determining playoff teams. The SEC and Big Ten have long been accused of dominating college football, and now it seems they're taking control of the postseason as well. In a surprising move, these two power conferences are pushing for an expanded College Football Playoff (CFP) to 24 teams. This expansion would give the SEC and Big Ten even more influence over the playoff selection process, potentially cementing their status as the top dogs in college football. The rest of the conferences might see this as a way to ensure they're represented in the playoffs, but it's clear that the SEC and Big Ten are calling the shots. The irony here is that these two conferences have been accused of rigging the system for themselves, and now they're taking steps to further solidify their power. By expanding the CFP, they'll be able to control the narrative and dictate who gets into the playoffs. It remains to be seen whether this move will ultimately benefit or hurt college football as a whole, but one thing is certain: the SEC and Big Ten are driving the bus when it comes to the sport's postseason. --- Source: [Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/sec-big-ten-rigged-college-090717455.html) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/college-football-conferences-express-discontent-over-strength/