SEC Football Slate: It's Eight Games For Now...

[KingWard]

SEC, sans divisions, going with 8-game conference slate in '24

The SEC has decided to eliminate its conference divisions in 2024 while employing a temporary eight-game schedule, commissioner Greg Sankey announced Thursday.

www.espn.com

Too many marquee non-conference deals already made that have to be untangled. This will supposedly be temporary. The disturbing thing to me is that the league repudiated its excellent commissioner in voting this way. Also, league schools want guaranteed extra TV money for the additional game. As Sankey says, "Money follows, it doesn't lead".

 

[Uscg1984]

Well, a 9-game SEC schedule would net more compelling TV matchups for ESPN overall, so it makes sense that it would be a more valuable product than an 8 game slate.

 

[KingWard]

Well, a 9-game SEC schedule would net more compelling TV matchups for ESPN overall, so it makes sense that it would be a more valuable product than an 8 game slate.

I think they'll get there, and I think it will be soon. But looking at this and other articles, lots of these future OOC games don't involve Liberty or Louisiana-Monroe. You're talking Michigan, Ohio State, and Notre Dame. Some things have to get worked out.

 

[HillsToSea]

Good for the money. Doesn’t equal good for the program

 

[18IsTheMan]

It's humorous to me that some folks are so aghast the the SEC is sticking to a 9-game schedule. Folks are writing articles like it's practically scandalous.

Several SEC teams already play a non-conference P5 rival every year. Most of the others routinely play a non-conference P5 team. I find the non-conference matchups to be quite fun. Bama/Texas (though that will soon be a conference game), LSU/FSU, Auburn/PSU, etc. Add a 9th game and those intriguing non-conference games likely go away. UGA opened with #11 Oregon last year, so it's not like the SEC is skating by..

 

[KingWard]

Good for the money. Doesn’t equal good for the program

Everyone carries a share of the burden - in order to share in the blessing. It's coming. It has to. Otherwise the rivalry issues cannot be addressed systemically.

 

[Blues man]

Weak decision in my book. Should have at least approved a 9 game schedule at some point beyond 2024. It should be of the upmost importance to have an athlete play every school in the league if they are enrolled at least 4 years.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Weak decision in my book. Should have at least approved a 9 game schedule at some point beyond 2024. It should be of the upmost importance to have an athlete play every school in the league if they are enrolled at least 4 years.

Why? Why would that imperative with 16 schools if it wasn't imperative when there were 14 schools?

 

[Blues man]

Why? Why would that imperative with 16 schools if it wasn't imperative when there were 14 schools?

The fact that it wasnt with 14 schools doesnt mean that was right. It's been wrong forever imo. Getting away from divisions should make it an easier goal... and it should be a goal.

 

[18IsTheMan]

The fact that it wasnt with 14 schools doesnt mean that was right. It's been wrong forever imo. Getting away from divisions should make it an easier goal... and it should be a goal.

You could still easily play every conference team in 4 years with an 8-game schedule.

 

[Blues man]

You could still easily play every conference team in 4 years with an 8-game schedule.

Let's do it. That's all I really care about, dont care how.
Not to move the goal posts though, would be nice to play all teams home and away. Lol

 

[Deleted11512]

I don't blame the schools for not wanting to change. There's a lot of change going on right now. Most of the top SEC teams have aggressive future non conference schedules. We don't know how the 12 team playoff is going to shake out either. How will the committee treat a 9-3 team? We simply don't know. Keep in mind, we're adding TX/OU. So for teams that have been in the middle pack, you now have to contend with Bama, UGA, OU, TX, LSU as programs with storied histories that have the potential to be elite at any point. Then you've got AU, UT, & UF that are NC winning programs that have been down, that have the potential to get back. They'll need to figure out what they want. An extra team or two in the playoff or a 9 game reg season. Here are a few notable future schedules on the books right now:

USC (in addition to Clem every year):
2025 VT, Coastal
2026 Miami
2027 @miami, App State
2028 UNC
2029 @UNC
2030 NCST
2031 @NCST
2033 @App St
2034 App St, VT
2035 @VT

Bama:
2025 @FSU and Wisc at home
2029 @Nd and Ok St at home
2028 TOSU and @ Ok St

Georgia:
2024 Clem
2025 @UCLA
2026 UCLA, @Lou
2027 @FSU
2030 Clem, TOSU

LSU:
2024 SoCal, UCLA
2025 @Clem
2026 Clem
2031 @Utah
2032 Utah

 

[HillsToSea]

Everyone carries a share of the burden - in order to share in the blessing. It's coming. It has to. Otherwise the rivalry issues cannot be addressed systemically.

I agree it’s Inevitable. Just don’t see it changing the pecking order in the conference. Instead, I believe the strong will get stronger

 

[Deleted11512]

I agree it’s Inevitable. Just don’t see it changing the pecking order in the conference. Instead, I believe the strong will get stronger

Could be the difference in getting 2 and 4 teams in the CFP. YUGE difference there.

 

[Blues man]

I don't blame the schools for not wanting to change. There's a lot of change going on right now. Most of the top SEC teams have aggressive future non conference schedules. We don't know how the 12 team playoff is going to shake out either. How will the committee treat a 9-3 team? We simply don't know. Keep in mind, we're adding TX/OU. So for teams that have been in the middle pack, you now have to contend with Bama, UGA, OU, TX, LSU as programs with storied histories that have the potential to be elite at any point. Then you've got AU, UT, & UF that are NC winning programs that have been down, that have the potential to get back. They'll need to figure out what they want. An extra team or two in the playoff or a 9 game reg season. Here are a few notable future schedules on the books right now:

USC (in addition to Clem every year):
2025 VT, Coastal
2026 Miami
2027 @miami, App State
2028 UNC
2029 @UNC
2030 NCST
2031 @NCST
2033 @App St
2034 App St, VT
2035 @VT

Bama:
2025 @FSU and Wisc at home
2029 @Nd and Ok St at home
2028 TOSU and @ Ok St

Georgia:
2024 Clem
2025 @UCLA
2026 UCLA, @Lou
2027 @FSU
2030 Clem, TOSU

LSU:
2024 SoCal, UCLA
2025 @Clem
2026 Clem
2031 @Utah
2032 Utah

My feeling on this is we have been a leader throughout our time in the SEC in tough ooc schedules. There has been many years when we have been one of the few with two quality ooc opponents. Exceptions are maybe one or two other East teams. The West has come around lately only to beef up their schedules for the current playoff system. They are the ones who used to claim they didn't need to beef up their schedules... until they had too. lol
My feeling is if we can do a 9 game schedule, anyone can... and we can imo. The good thing is there is no need to eliminate any of the games you posted because there are less desirable ones to choose from.

 

[KingWard]

I agree it’s Inevitable. Just don’t see it changing the pecking order in the conference. Instead, I believe the strong will get stronger

That just means they deserve it more.

 

[HillsToSea]

Could be the difference in getting 2 and 4 teams in the CFP. YUGE difference there.

But will it make Carolina better

 

[KingWard]

But will it make Carolina better

That's up to us.

 

[Deleted11512]

But will it make Carolina better

I do not want to add, say, LSU as a ninth game and get rid of Furman...no, I don't. I want to make a playoff. We got plenty of tough games as it is, and we've never sniffed at a NC since joining the SEC.

 

[HillsToSea]

That's up to us.

Certainly. Let me rephrase. Will a nine game conference schedule give Carolina a better chance. Be in a better position to make greater success. Some seem to think so.