Assuming the CFB playoffs go to 12, there would be 7 remaining spots for the highest ranked teams in CFB.
It's not a secret that the SEC desires to remain the perennial conference in college football. Coaches like Dabo (ACC) and Saban have vocally expressed their opposition to CFB playoff expansion.
By possibly expanding to 15 or 16 teams, the SEC would be able to solidify it's SoS and solidify the argument that more SEC teams should be ranked in the top 12 (this assumes that the 5 other teams are also ranked in the top 12).
While adding more teams may have the effect of watering down "profit sharing," in the SEC, having 3 to 5 teams in the playoffs may more than make up what would be lost by expanding.
Essentially, this move may drive revenue into the SEC on a whole new level. While not addressed above, it may also lead to the fall of another P5, the cannibaliziation of the B12, and force other P5's to expand to 16 teams to complete with the new SEC SoS.
Makes me wonder if the SEC wouldn't have expanded if the playoffs stayed at 4 teams.
Just my superfluous thoughts.