Headed into the start of SEC spring meetings, the Big Ten believed it had a partner in its push to transform the College Football Playoff into something more akin to the NFL. The Big Ten and SEC have grown significantly closer over the last year,

On this edition of " SEC Football Unfiltered ," a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams unpack the leading playoff formats under consideration. Here's what the hosts think of the top 16-team formats being debated: What it is: In this model,

Facing criticism from all sides, including from its own football coaches, the SEC appears to have changed its mind on how to shape the College Football Playoff.