"The SEC finally looks like it’s moving to nine conference games. It wasn’t long ago that former Alabama coach Nick Saban was the only coach in the SEC who wanted a nine-game conference schedule. There was a time, as recently as the SEC spring meetings of 2022, when Saban said the league not only needed nine conference games — but it should mandate at least one non-conference game against another power conference opponent. Fast forward to Wednesday in New Orleans, and now everyone seems to be on board. Presidents and athletic directors see the final piece to the puzzle, and how it completes the final coat of paint on the completely rebuilt and reimagined college football. The SEC moving to nine games allows for alignment between the two super conferences of college football. The Big Ten has been playing nine conference games since 2016, and the discrepancy between the two conferences has been a postseason qualification argument since." SEC nine-game schedule critical for College Football Playoff expansion
Sorry, didn't read the article just yet. But... Sankey better have negotiated for more freaking money for any extra games. That has to be a part of a new contract with ESPN. More money per team.
So 9 conference games means half the sec starts the format with an extra road game. What are the odds Florida is one of those teams. ( Yes I'm paranoid)
That would mean in some seasons with Georgia in Jacksonville that could be 5 away SEC games and only 3 true home games. Hopefully they use some sense and make sure UGA is considered “away” in those years so it’s still kind of 4 and 4 with the neutral site as the “5” away game.
a 9 game schedule will mean they will need to move Fl v jawja to home and home imnsho since we play half assed u every year
if 9 SEC games, what will happen with FCS games? W I hadn't even considered the uneven split between home and away. Thanks for that insight!
if the Big10+ can make it work so can the SEC Fl vs jawja might have to move on campus to get the correct number of home games needed to support the program $$ since we play half assed u every year as well
Or budget intwo year increments for 3 and five. I dont see an overall loss in revenue, i see another game with premium income instead of tickets that you cant even give away.
“SEC ADs & coaches did discuss the potential to moving to nine conference games both Monday and Tuesday. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey says they have not made a decision but it does sound like several people in the room, at first against nine games, are re-thinking their position.” Why did some finally re-think their position…..$$$$. The B1G has a more lucrative tv contract because they already play 9 league games. The SEC would’ve probably moved to 9 games last season when Texas & Okie joined but the alphabet network refused to kick in additional $$$ for it. The SEC rightfully did not give them the extra games for free as part of the current contract. Correct me if I’m wrong. With UF playing UGA every year in Jax at the Gator Bowl. When the SEC moves to 9 games. Why would both then not have 4 home/away games and one neutral site? UF plays f$u every year, with the game at home every other year. 2 of the 3 ooc games need to be at home every year in order to have 6 home games. So UF could still do a home/home series with another quality program.
Either all teams need a nuetral site game with 4 and 4 or we should consider changing our schedule. Playing the puppies is tradition but also lends to a disadvantage for both teams now that theres no east and west. Its just skews both schedules and we are all lumped into one race for the sec. Schedules cant be equal as it is.
I despise all patsy games. If it were boxing, it could not be sanctioned. Kids that sustain lifelong injuries from being put on the field against vastly superior athletes should be able to sue.
Exactly, right now with 8 games UF and uga (but who cares about that scum) are disadvantaged every other year in home games, if they go to 9 it will be everyone else being hurt as it would be 4H / 4A / 1N
I don't think everyone else would be hurt, they would have 1 extra home game every other year, while we choose to play that game at a neutral site. Since we have FSU every year, we would have to schedule 2 Walk-over St games per year to have 6/7 home games or if we schedule a team not named FSU that required a return visit, it would have to be in non-consecutive years.
Go back to the 2 divisions... and rotate two teams from each side (every year) from the east to west. It works, and it's the only way to get an easy to make schedule that works fairly for everyone. It's so easy, even a caveman can do it. And it makes too much sense.