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    "headline": "Sankey tells Big Ten coaches to schedule SEC games rather than complain",
    "dek": "Indiana's Curt Cignetti said ESPN's affection for the SEC shaped the first College Football Playoff rankings. The SEC commissioner answered that he does not lobby the committee and that Illinois cancelled its own series with an SEC school.",
    "prose": "The first College Football Playoff rankings of the season came out this week.[^1] Two Big Ten coaches accused the selection committee and ESPN of favouring the SEC.[^2] SEC commissioner Greg Sankey fired back.[^3]\n\n## The Big Ten side\n\nIndiana coach Curt Cignetti said ESPN favours the SEC and that this influenced the first rankings.[^4] Indiana was ranked fourth in those rankings.[^5] The team held an 8-1 record at the time.[^6] CentralJersey.com reported Cignetti's claim and the ranking together.[^4][^5] Pro Football Network projected a 94.0 percent chance that Indiana reaches the playoff.[^7]\n\nThe network's commercial ties are a matter of record. ESPN holds exclusive rights to SEC football through the 2033-34 season.[^8] It holds the rights to the College Football Playoff through 2031-32.[^9] The rankings themselves are set by the selection committee, not by ESPN.[^10]\n\n## The SEC side\n\nSankey said he does not lobby the selection committee.[^11] He invited the Big Ten's coaches to schedule nonconference games against SEC teams.[^12] He pointed to Illinois, which cancelled a scheduled nonconference series with Missouri.[^13] The Comeback reported his reply as a direct answer to the two coaches' claims.[^3]\n\n## What is at stake\n\nThe next set of rankings was due on 10 November.[^14] The playoff expands to 24 teams in 2027.[^15] Until then, the field is smaller and the order of the rankings decides who plays. The Comeback reported that the dispute began with the release of the first rankings.[^1] It reported that two Big Ten coaches, not one, made the accusation.[^2]\n\n## Where it stands\n\nEach side has stated its case in its own words. Cignetti says the network's preference reached the rankings.[^4] Sankey says he does not call the committee and that the Big Ten could test the SEC on the field by scheduling it.[^11][^12] The committee, not the network, publishes the list.[^10] The two reports in this set do not record a reply from Cignetti to Sankey's invitation, and neither names the second Big Ten coach.[^2]",
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