SEC commish Greg Sankey says rivalries gained't be really everlasting on 9-game schedule – The Courier-Journal

How secure is the Iron Bowl from a brand new period of scheduling within the SEC?
From the sound of it, Alabama football and Auburn’s annual conflict appears lots secure, together with different sturdy rivalries across the convention. However in response to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, all fastened video games on the league’s new scheduling format, which can embody rivalry video games, will likely be topic to overview.
“It isn’t everlasting. … these are annual rivalry video games and we have acknowledged that we’ll undergo a four-year cycle, then take an examination, look deeply,” Sankey mentioned.
The league has but to announce annual opponents for every college, however Alabama‘s almost definitely candidates aren’t troublesome to establish: Auburn, Tennessee and LSU.
So whereas Alabama-Auburn is not going wherever, what about Alabama-LSU? The Crimson Tide’s rivalry with Tennessee is rooted extra deeply in custom than its annual conflict with the Tigers. Therefore, if the league have been to alter Alabama’s annual opponents after the primary four-year cycle, the LSU recreation would seemingly be the matchup in danger. Sankey mentioned the nine-game scheduling format, which can start in 2026, ought to present extra aggressive stability throughout all SEC schedules. The final season for the primary four-year cycle could be 2029.
“We perceive the significance of a few of these long-standing rivalries, and we’ll work to have as equitable a schedule as doable, provided that issues change competitively,” Sankey added.
Attain Tuscaloosa Information columnist Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Comply with on X @chasegoodbread.

source