Brian Kelly on future SEC scheduling model: 'The more SEC games, the better for me'

Tennessee is trekking down to the Bayou to face LSU in Baton Rouge for the first time since 2010. It’s just the latest example of SEC cross-divisional opponents not playing one another for a long time, bringing up the question of future conference scheduling. And for Tigers head coach Brian Kelly, it provides an easy answer.

Kelly was asked if he has a preference of eight or nine SEC games during Wednesday’s SEC teleconference. The answer was easy for him, saying the more conference games on LSU’s schedule, the better. He did not get into specifics as to how he’d want the nine-game schedule to look but he’s in favor of adding one in the future.

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“I came to the SEC to play SEC games,” Kelly said. “The more SEC games, the better for me. That’s just my personal opinion, I want to play SEC teams. The more we can play SEC-caliber teams, the better it is for me.”

In the current format, the only SEC East team LSU is guaranteed to see on an annual basis in Florida. The two have been rivals for quite some time and played every year since 1971.

Within the same timeframe, the Tigers have only played Tennessee 17 times and when you look at another historic program within the East in Georgia, there’s only been 18 matchups. Some of the top schools within the SEC are just not playing often enough.

SEC schedule change not up to Brian Kelly

While Kelly can give his opinion on the matter, he knows it’s not ultimately his decision. LSU athletic director Scott Woodward will be the one who votes on the change when the time is right.

“Now, that’s not my call,” said Kelly. “My athletic director makes that call but that’s my personal preference.”

Change will come when Texas and Oklahoma join the SEC with the 2025 season being the latest arrival date. There’s a good chance divisions are abandoned by the conference, with pods of some sort being formed.

From there, teams will have to vote on having an eight-game or nine-game conference schedule. Plenty, such as Kelly, are in favor of the latter, while others argue to keep the schedule as it is. A major decision is in the near future for the SEC and its athletic directors.