Decision on future of SEC football schedule could come this week: What you need to know

Where things stand as the SEC makes plans for its football schedule

The future of the SEC football schedule may be decided among those taking part as the conference hosts its annual spring meetings in Destin, Fla., this week, according to remarks made by SEC commissioner Greg Sankey.

Sankey said the conference is "poised" to reach a final decision on the schedule debate at the spring meetings, and while the commissioner says he has a preference, he's declined to say what it is publicly, and nothing is certain as of yet.

Whatever decision is made, the SEC is not thinking only of its revenue when making it, according to Sankey, who said that "Money follows, it doesn't lead."

He added, "If all you do is chase money, you make really bad decisions, and I'm watching that in college sports right now... We don't do that here."

2023 College Football Schedule

Despite there being some interest in the SEC adding a ninth conference game to the football schedule, opinion inside the conference is split around the idea.

SEC teams currently play an eight game football schedule in two divisions with six divisional games and two cross-divisional opponents, with each team getting one permanent opponent and seven rotating opponents.

Should the SEC ever add a ninth conference game, each team would have three permanent opponents per season instead of one. 

There is concern among some SEC members that by adding a ninth game the league could have fewer bowl-eligible teams by season's end.

But Sankey has also reminded schools that the SEC recorded historic TV ratings during the Covid-19 season in 2020 when the league played a temporary 10-game schedule.

Predicting each SEC football team's permanent opponents

And while the ninth game would add revenue, it would also take away a home game against a non-conference opponent.

These are all considerations that the SEC will take up at its annual meeting. Whether there is a vote on the matter or not is an open question as everyone gathers in Destin.

(SI)

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