Greg Sankey favors 9-game SEC schedule however is worried about CFP bids – The Athletic

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SEC commissioner Greg Sankey confirmed Monday that he’s in favor of his convention going to a nine-game soccer schedule. That declaration, the furthest Sankey has appeared to go publicly, got here with a caveat: so long as it doesn’t harm SEC groups making an attempt to get within the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
The SEC has debated going to 9 video games for a number of years, particularly within the lead-up to Oklahoma and Texas becoming a member of the convention, which occurred final season. However monetary and aggressive issues led to the convention staying at eight video games, at the least quickly.
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Behind the scenes, Sankey has voiced help for going to 9 video games. Whereas confirming that on Monday throughout an look on the SEC Community, Sankey couched it with issues that the CFP choice committee prioritized losses final 12 months, when the SEC had solely three groups make the 12-team area.
“One of many points within the room for our athletics administrators is what appeared to matter most, is the quantity to the proper, the variety of losses. And the way will we perceive what which means for our schedule transferring ahead?” Sankey stated throughout his look on the Paul Finebaum Present. “I’m one who stated I actually suppose we must be making an attempt to maneuver in direction of a nine-game convention schedule. I feel that may be constructive for lots of causes. You watch the curiosity round convention video games.
“However not if that causes us to lose alternatives.”
Sankey added that he favors video games of “excessive curiosity” typically and expressed disappointment at Nebraska recently canceling a series with Tennessee and Wake Forest canceling a future sport with Ole Miss.
“I’d prefer to see us play extra of those high-profile video games. Each inside the convention and outdoors the convention,” Sankey stated. “However we have now to acknowledge the CFP choice course of is a vital governing issue, or determination making issue, that contributes to the eventual outcomes of whether or not it’s non convention video games or whether or not it’s the variety of video games performed inside conferences.”
Many inside the convention imagine the choice is tied as to if the SEC and Large Ten get assured bids in a brand new CFP format. The conferences have mentioned a 14-team format the place every convention would get 4 assured bids. The concept has acquired lots of blowback.
Sankey confirmed {that a} dialogue has taken place, calling them “allocations” fairly than assured bids. He mentioned it Monday evening once more within the context of the CFP choice committee whereas additionally acknowledging criticism and indicating no determination needs to be made quickly.
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“Have our athletics administrators joined in dialog about extra allocations, whether or not you wish to name that computerized bids? Certain,” Sankey stated. “They’ve additionally talked about concepts of evaluating power of schedule and making an attempt to raised perceive how that evaluation is made.
“I feel we should always most likely decelerate a bit bit it leaping to conclusions, as a result of there’s rather a lot to lots of work to do in a brief time frame, whether or not it’s our scheduling choices or discussions in regards to the future Faculty Soccer Playoff.”
The SEC schedule determination looms, with no format set for 2026 and past. The monetary a part of the choice entails ESPN and whether or not it pays SEC extra for an additional convention sport. The aggressive half up to now was about groups wanting sufficient wins to grow to be bowl-eligible. That brought on colleges similar to Kentucky and Mississippi State to have reservations.
Now, the CFP choice standards could loom even bigger, with larger colleges similar to Alabama and Georgia, which had favored going to 9 video games, voicing some trepidation.
Both approach, a choice must be made within the coming months. Sankey alluded to occasions of a day earlier, when he flipped a coin to determine seeding within the SEC ladies’s basketball match.
“Perhaps we’ll flip a coin over eight or 9,” Sankey stated, smiling. “We’ve received some observe.”
(Photograph: Todd Kirkland / Getty Photos)
Seth Emerson is a senior author for The Athletic overlaying Georgia and the SEC. Seth joined The Athletic in 2018 from The Atlanta Journal-Structure, and likewise lined the Bulldogs and the SEC for The Albany Herald from 2002-05. Seth additionally lined South Carolina for The State from 2005-10. Observe Seth on Twitter @SethWEmerson

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