Jeff Lebby endorses 'what's best for the league' in future SEC scheduling

The SEC continues to play just eight conference games in a given season, despite national debate on whether or not the league should expand to a nine-game conference schedule. Now, Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby is the latest to add his thoughts on the debate.

Lebby was asked about scheduling at SEC Media Days. There, he chose not to share what he personally prefers. Rather, he argued that they should do what’s best for the conference as a whole.

“For us, from a scheduling standpoint,” Lebby said. “It is at the end of the day to me, it is going to be what’s best for the league. I think all of us as coaches have our own opinions. But the conference, at the end of the day, is going to do exactly what we need to do to strengthen our position. That, to me, is exactly what it’s gonna look like.”

There are a few benefits to adding a ninth conference game. Notably, it’s going to be a better game for both TV and in-stadium attendance purposes in most cases. After all, fans would rather watch a conference game. On top of that, it would help the SEC to preserve some of its rivalries that are in danger thanks to the size of the conference.

On top of that, other conferences have argued the SEC is playing an easier set of schedules by playing fewer conference games. However, the SEC has pushed back about the strength of their schedules, and arguing it allows for more interesting non-conference games.

Jeff Lebby and Mississippi State, for instance, will play Southern Miss, Arizona State, Alcorn State, and Northern Illinois in 2025 for their non-conference slate. Beyond that, the Bulldogs have four games against Power Four opponents. That includes two home-and-home series, against Minnesota and Texas Tech.

Greg Sankey addresses debate between 8, 9-game SEC schedules, stance moving forward

At SEC Media Days, Greg Sankey took the time to address the debate between eight and nine conference games. There, he set his stance on the debate moving forward, comparing the SEC to other conferences in how they handle non-conference scheduling.

“It is absolutely fully 100% correct that in the SEC we play eight conference games while some others play nine conference games. It’s also correct that last season, all 16 members of the Southeastern Conference played at least nine games against what you would label power opponents. We had several that played 10 of their 12 games against power opponents. Some conferences have that. Some don’t. The same will be true. This year we have Washington State. We’re obviously transitioning in the Pac-12 that’s included in that group, and we again have several of our football teams that have 10 of those power games embedded within their schedule,” Sankey said.

“I don’t believe there’s anyone looking to swap their conference schedule and its opponents, the opponents played by Southeastern Conference teams in our conference schedule, be it eight or nine. I handed out a bunch of stats and created a stir and dust in this show. There’s a rigor here that is unique in the SEC. We’re not lacking for quality competition among our 16 football teams, but we’re going to continue to evaluate whether increasing the number of conference football games is appropriate for us. And as I’ve said repeatedly, understanding how the CFP will evaluate strength of schedule, and even strength of record as critically important in our decision making.”

For now, it seems like change will come slowly to the SEC. Whether or not that change to nine conference games does come one day, though, remains to be seen.