**Roy Kramer, Pioneer of College Football Playoff, Passes Away at 96**
Former SEC Commissioner Roy Kramer, a key figure in shaping college football’s playoff system, has died at the age of 96. The Southeastern Conference announced his passing, marking the loss of a significant contributor to the sport.
Kramer served as the SEC commissioner from 1990 to 2002, during which he transformed the conference into one of the wealthiest in the nation by securing lucrative television contracts. His tenure began with the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina in 1991, setting the stage for the extensive expansion that characterizes college athletics today. This expansion allowed him to introduce the SEC Championship Game, further increasing media revenue. In his final year, the SEC distributed $95.7 million to its 12 member schools, a significant rise from $16.3 million in 1990. By the 2023-24 fiscal year, that figure soared to $808.4 million, reflecting the remarkable growth in college sports that Kramer foresaw in the 1990s.
Kramer was also a strong advocate for the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), which shifted the method of determining a national champion from traditional media and coaches’ polls. The BCS operated from 1998 until 2013, when it was replaced by the College Football Playoff, which began as a four-team format in 2014 and expanded to 12 teams last season. Kramer noted that the controversies surrounding BCS selections were not a flaw in the system but rather a sign of its success in drawing attention to college football.
“Roy Kramer will be remembered for his resolve through challenging times, his willingness to innovate in an industry driven by tradition, and his unwavering belief in the value of student-athletes and education,” said current SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.
Born Roy Foster Kramer on October 30, 1929, in Maryville, Tennessee, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Maryville College, where he played football and wrestled. He later obtained a master’s degree from the University of Michigan and served in the Army during the Korean War. Kramer began his coaching career at five high schools in Michigan before becoming an assistant coach at Central Michigan in 1965 and then head coach in 1967. He was named the 1974 national coach of the year after leading Central Michigan to the Division II national championship, finishing his coaching career with an impressive record of 83-32-2 over 11 seasons. He transitioned to athletic director at Vanderbilt in 1978 before taking the helm at the SEC.
Kramer’s legacy in college football is profound, and his contributions will be remembered for years to come.
**FAQ**
**What impact did Roy Kramer have on college football?**
Roy Kramer significantly transformed college football by establishing the SEC as a powerhouse through lucrative television contracts and introducing the SEC Championship Game, as well as advocating for the Bowl Championship Series, which changed how national champions were determined.