Eli Drinkwitz fires back at justification for 8-game SEC football schedule model: 'Is that a joke?'

With the conference’s expansion, the SEC is trying to figure out what kind of schedule model they will use for college football scheduling going forward. There have been plenty of arguments for and against the two most likely models: a nine-game or an eight-game model. But one of the recent arguments brought to Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz at the SEC spring meetings had the Tigers’ headman scratching his head. When asked whether or not Drinkwitz would use the possibility of the scheduling model to entice students to join this program, the Tigers’ head coach had this to say.

“Is that a joke? I’m being serious. Like, what kids do we have that are staying for five years now? I just got a list of the transfer portal,” said Drinkwitz. “Like, that’s one of the most ridiculous arguments I’ve heard about why we should have non-divisions and rotate people through the league. I don’t even understand that argument.

“That is trying to justify your reasoning without having real facts. Like, oh, we’ll throw this one out there. But look at college football and how much it has changed in the last three years and how much roster turnover there is. Outside of a few walk-ons, who really love your program, there’s very few guys are going to stay here.”

The eight-game option is essentially a round-robin style scheduling format. Teams would be allowed a revolving schedule of seven SEC opponents of their choice. The eighth SEC opponent would be their primary rival, which they would play every season. But to Drinkwitz’s point, scheduling plays little, if any, role in recruiting, especially with the number of players electing to leave college early and head to the NFL.

Drinkwitz does have a preference out of the two schedule models, though. For him, the best option is the nine-game option. And the Missouri head football coach addressed his stance on that topic as well.

“Well, based on the last information I was given, which the last time it was really discussed at length with the coaches that I’m aware of was last year at this meeting, I’m on the nine-game schedule,” said Drinkwitz. “I like the setup of three permanents. I think the more permanents that you have, the more that you can measure your program against consistent opponents. I also think it preserves the basis of the SEC.

“The Southeastern Conference is the best conference in college football because of its fans and the passion of its fan base. And I think you run the risk of losing that with the short-sightedness of, well, this schedule is not fair for me. It’s not fair for me if I have to play eight.”