Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark has indeed been quite vocal this week, engaging in a rather pointed, albeit indirect, back-and-forth with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, primarily centered on the future format of the College Football Playoff (CFP). This unfolded during the respective spring meetings for their conferences.

Here's a breakdown of the dynamic:

Greg Sankey's Initial Jab: Ahead of the SEC's spring meetings, Greg Sankey made a public statement that was widely interpreted as a shot at the Big 12 and ACC commissioners. He said, "I don't need lectures from others about the good of the game — I don't lecture others about good of the game — or coordinating press releases about the good of the game." This was seen as a clear dismissal of any suggestions from other conferences regarding the direction of college football, implying that the SEC knows what's best.

Brett Yormark's Response and Stance: When asked about Sankey's comments at the close of the Big 12's spring meetings in Orlando, Yormark responded with characteristic directness and a touch of dry wit:

• "I agreed with Greg's follow-up statement that I'd be entertained by it, and I was," Yormark deadpanned.
• He continued, "We all have thick skin here. But the neat thing about our relationship amongst the commissioners is we're going to battle. That's part of life. We're going to agree to disagree. We're kind of in that mode right now, but I have a lot of respect for my peers, and I know they have a lot of respect for me and Jim [Phillips, ACC Commissioner], and we'll end up in the right place."

The Core of the "Battle": CFP Format: The underlying tension revolves around the College Football Playoff format.

• SEC/Big Ten's Initial Preference: The Big Ten and SEC had initially pushed for a model that would grant them significantly more automatic qualifiers (e.g., four each) into the expanded CFP, leaving fewer spots for other conferences.
• Yormark's Advocacy for 5+11: Brett Yormark has been a strong proponent of the "5+11" format, which would give automatic berths to the champions of the four "Power" conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC) plus the highest-ranked Group of Five champion, with the remaining 11 spots being at-large selections by the CFP committee.
• "Earn it on the Field": Yormark reiterated his support for the 5+11 model, emphasizing the Big 12's desire to "earn it on the field" rather than relying on "gimmes" or guaranteed spots based purely on conference affiliation. He stated that while the 5+11 format might not be "ideal" for the Big 12 (as it only guarantees one spot), it's "good for college football" and "what's fair."
• Public and Coach Momentum: Yormark also noted that the "public is voting yes for it" and that even SEC football coaches reportedly prefer the 5+11 model, suggesting a disconnect between some coaches and their conference leadership.

Beyond the CFP: Scheduling Alliances: Yormark also subtly stood up to the SEC and Big Ten by dismissing the idea of the Big 12 entering into a scheduling alliance with any particular conference, as the SEC and Big Ten have discussed. He stated, "No. We're fine. We love our out-of-conference schedule. We don't necessarily have an alliance with any particular conference. We play them all." This reinforces the Big 12's independent path and its focus on broader competition rather than consolidating power with the two biggest leagues.

In essence, Brett Yormark's actions this week demonstrated a clear resolve to advocate for what he believes is fair and beneficial for the broader landscape of college football, directly challenging the perceived power grab by the SEC and Big Ten in shaping the sport's future. He showed he's not intimidated by Sankey's rhetoric and is ready to "battle" for the Big 12's interests and the integrity of the game.

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