On Monday, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey openly expressed his support for the conference transitioning to a nine-game football schedule. However, he added a significant caveat: this shift should not jeopardize SEC teams’ chances of entering the College Football Playoff.
The idea of moving to nine games has been a topic of discussion within the SEC for several years, particularly as they prepared for Oklahoma and Texas to join last season. Despite this, concerns over both financial implications and competitiveness have kept the schedule at eight games for the time being.
While Sankey has championed the idea behind the scenes, on Monday he confirmed the notion publicly. He highlighted a particular concern — the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection criteria. Last year, the CFP selection committee appeared to prioritize the number of losses when only three SEC teams made it into the 12-team field.
During his appearance on the SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum Show, Sankey elaborated, “Athletic directors are concerned about the emphasis on losses. It’s crucial to understand what this means for future scheduling.” He continued, “I believe moving to a nine-game conference schedule could be beneficial for various reasons, especially considering the excitement surrounding conference games.”
Sankey was quick to clarify that he doesn’t support this move if it means jeopardizing opportunities for the teams. He further mentioned a general preference for high-interest games, noting his disappointment over Nebraska’s cancellation of games with Tennessee and Wake Forest’s future game with Ole Miss.
“I’d like to see us engage in more high-profile matchups, both within and outside the conference,” Sankey stated. “But it’s crucial to remember the CFP selection process plays a pivotal role in decisions about both non-conference games and the number of conference games.”
Inside the conference, many speculate that the real decision hinges on whether the SEC and Big Ten will secure guaranteed bids in a new CFP model. Conversations have revolved around a 14-team structure, providing four guaranteed spots to each conference. However, this proposal has faced significant backlash.
Sankey confirmed these discussions during the Monday evening broadcast but described the conversations as more about “allocations” rather than outright guaranteed bids. He stressed the importance of not rushing into decisions, as there’s substantial ground to cover, from scheduling to CFP futures.
“Our athletic directors have indeed discussed more allocations — or what some might label as automatic bids,” Sankey explained. “They’re also keen on understanding strength of schedule analysis better. It’s crucial to take our time and not jump to conclusions given the limited time available for such pivotal decisions.”
The future of the SEC schedule remains undecided, with no set format for 2026 onward. Financial aspects, particularly regarding ESPN potentially increasing payments for an extra conference game, are part of the deliberation. Additionally, the need to ensure teams achieve enough wins to become bowl-eligible has previously contributed to reservations from schools like Kentucky and Mississippi State.
Now, the criteria for selecting CFP participants could weigh even more, with powerhouse programs like Alabama and Georgia, who had once supported the nine-game model, showing some hesitation.
A decision is imminent in the months ahead. Reflecting on recent events, Sankey jokingly mentioned deciding on seeding for the SEC women’s basketball tournament by flipping a coin.
“Maybe we’ll flip a coin over eight or nine,” he said with a smile. “Seems like we’ve got some practice!”
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Photo Courtesy of Todd Kirkland / Getty Images
