Skip to main content
Texas

Bad Take Tuesday: The SEC's Eight-Game Schedule Is a Joke

by:RT Young•07/15/25
Greg Sankey answers when vote will happen on College Football Playoff expansion
Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to another Bad Take Tuesday.

For this week’s edition, we’re looking in the mirror, where a quote from The Dark Knight applies: “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

[Sign up for Inside Texas for $1 and get PLUS access up to the Ohio State game!]

The SEC and Greg Sankey should have already adopted the nine-game schedule. In fact, they should be playing 10 conference games. They did it in 2020. Texas should flex its muscle as much as possible and make them. The conference needs to double down on what makes you the best. Sankey “addressed” eight versus nine games yesterday at SEC Media Days, and I can tell you where this is going already: the can gets kicked down the road, and the fans get screwed.

“I handed out a bunch of stats that caused a stir in Destin that shows there is a rigor here that is unique. We’re going to continue to evaluate whether increasing the number of conference football games is appropriate for us. As I’ve said repeatedly, understanding how the CFP will evaluate strength of schedule and even strength of record is critically important in our decision-making.”

I hated that the SEC played eight conference games before we joined the league and I loathe it even more now. It’s also the only thing SEC detractors have in their pocket, so remove it.

The playing of four non-conference games—three of which are creampuffs—is a slap in the face to fans who buy tickets and watch at home. What are we doing?

The fans who clamor against a tougher schedule because “it’s difficult” or want ESPN to pay more are losers. You’re the type of person who puts a sign in your yard about your dog not liking fireworks on the 4th of July. You’re the type of fan who cries when your favorite professional team’s owner has to pay the luxury tax. Guess what? You don’t have to pay that money, idiot. You also won’t get jack-squat if ESPN pays more for a bigger buffet of inventory. This whole thing has ballooned into a multi-billion-dollar industry for one reason: it’s entertainment. Is paying full price to see Texas versus Sam Houston State in the sweltering September heat entertaining?

Plus, the SEC should want every iota of data that supports their superiority. They should also want a system that minimizes tiebreakers and risk. The eight-game schedule, with few head-to-head matchups, invites chaos and opens the door for an undeserving team to sneak into the championship game or playoff while better teams are left out. I’m sure Texas A&M wants to stay at eight—it almost rewarded them last year. Do you want the Aggies to be rewarded? DO YOU?

[Order THE LONGHORN ALPHABET: Get your little Longhorns ready for Texas Football this Fall!]

Dear Greg, just freaking add more games. Argue about the playoff from a position of ultimate strength rather than letting the eight-game schedule continue to stick out of our collective eye like a splintered log.

You may also like