8 conference games - 2 permanent rivals?
9 conference games - 3 permanent rivals?
Other?

Eight is not two permanent rivals. But they are loathe to give up our game with Texas so nine likely happens.

It will depend on the playoff structure. An AQ model probably gets 9 conference games because team aren't going to be judged on their record, just how they rank in conference. A 5-11 model or some other type of "just get the best teams" model probably stays with 8, because the committee has shown that prefer teams with good records that played against a bunch of cupcakes to teams with slightly worse records that scheduled tough opponents.

It also depends on how long all of this takes to happen. I could see a case where they drag their feet with another 2-year custom schedule while they wait for the ACC to dissolve and then do something completely different.

Let AI come up with dynamic scheduling.

Play three cupcake and a P4 team

-bye-

Then let AI design the league's next 4 conference games with parameters like:
- each team playing equal number of games vs leagues 4 quadrants
- no repeats
- equal home/home - while letting road vs home play into quadrants (ie playing A&M at Kyle is #4, A&M at home is #6)
- rivalry games are a must

-bye-

After 8 completed games, determine the final 4 games.


I literally just thought of this so no I haven't thought it through.
No idea if someone already had this bad idea.
You could hold a cupcake for a later and not have it factor in.
Home and away dates can be pre-determined but opponents will be known at bye breaks.

Guys, we will be going to 9 games in the near future. TV is demanding this for better inventory and the SEC's main competitor (B1G) is doing 9 games. I think eventually it shakes out as 9 conference games, 1 out of conference game (SEC v B1G), 1 game vs P4, and then 1 game against whoever.

SEC will go to a 3-6 format. That is why the SEC is jockeying so hard for playoff representation. If the SEC gives the TV folks & public what they want, the SEC doesn't want to be harmed in the playoffs for doing, which would eliminate the committee deciding a 10-2 MWC team is more deserving (not better) than a 8-4 or 9-3 SEC team.

Relegate teams out of the conferences to get to 14 teams each. Play 13 games against conference opponents, no cupcake games any more. No byes.

As long as we have LSU and tu on the schedule every year, I'll be happy.

As a fan, I like the 9 game (3/6) schedule. But, if we utilize a playoff format with a lot of at large spots, then we will probably stay at 8; however, I don't think it will be the 7/1 format that has previously been discussed. Instead, I think we will abandon logic and symmetry, and go with a Frankenstein hybrid like the Big Ten, where every team has a different number of permanent rivals, which means there will be countless arguments each year about how the rest of the schedule is filled out (see Indiana in the Big Ten last year for an example of what could happen).

hunter2012 said:

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Rankest said:

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8 conference games - 2 permanent rivals?
9 conference games - 3 permanent rivals?
Other?

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Whatever benefits t.u. Austin the most.

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This.

Ugly said:

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It will depend on the playoff structure. An AQ model probably gets 9 conference games because team aren't going to be judged on their record, just how they rank in conference. A 5-11 model or some other type of "just get the best teams" model probably stays with 8, because the committee has shown that prefer teams with good records that played against a bunch of cupcakes to teams with slightly worse records that scheduled tough opponents.

It also depends on how long all of this takes to happen. I could see a case where they drag their feet with another 2-year custom schedule while they wait for the ACC to dissolve and then do something completely different.

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I think so too. I see another 2 year custom schedule with 8 games until the playoff structure dust settles and the sec can make a more informed decision on 8 vs 9 games

Sgt. Schultz said:

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Guys, we will be going to 9 games in the near future. TV is demanding this for better inventory and the SEC's main competitor (B1G) is doing 9 games. I think eventually it shakes out as 9 conference games, 1 out of conference game (SEC v B1G), 1 game vs P4, and then 1 game against whoever.

SEC will go to a 3-6 format. That is why the SEC is jockeying so hard for playoff representation. If the SEC gives the TV folks & public what they want, the SEC doesn't want to be harmed in the playoffs for doing, which would eliminate the committee deciding a 10-2 MWC team is more deserving (not better) than a 8-4 or 9-3 SEC team.

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TV can "demand" better content all they want , but if they aren't willing to pay for it why should SEC capitulate? ESPN owns the content of all the sec games anyways which is why they don't want to pay but they can't force SEC to change schedule

AgDad121619 said:

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Sgt. Schultz said:

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Guys, we will be going to 9 games in the near future. TV is demanding this for better inventory and the SEC's main competitor (B1G) is doing 9 games. I think eventually it shakes out as 9 conference games, 1 out of conference game (SEC v B1G), 1 game vs P4, and then 1 game against whoever.

SEC will go to a 3-6 format. That is why the SEC is jockeying so hard for playoff representation. If the SEC gives the TV folks & public what they want, the SEC doesn't want to be harmed in the playoffs for doing, which would eliminate the committee deciding a 10-2 MWC team is more deserving (not better) than a 8-4 or 9-3 SEC team.

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TV can "demand" better content all they want , but if they aren't willing to pay for it why should SEC capitulate? ESPN owns the content of all the sec games anyways which is why they don't want to pay but they can't force SEC to change schedule

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ESPN has offered additional money if we go to 9. It's not a windfall, but it would make up for the loss of a non-conference home game every other year. So, the sole remaining question seems to be the relationship between number of games played and playoff positions. If we go to a playoff system with four bids guaranteed to the SEC, then the number of games played won't cost us a spot, and we should do what is best for conference cohesion (play more games so that you play everyone in the league regularly). If it continues to have many at large spots, and teams are not rewarded for playing strong schedules, then we probably will stay at 8.

So no reason to do it if it's just breaks even and takes a home game away and hurts the SEC in the playoffs.

Hey Big 10 shut up already and go back to 8 games or will that actually make your schedule harder.

CC00 said:

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Let AI come up with dynamic scheduling.

Play three cupcake and a P4 team

-bye-

Then let AI design the league's next 4 conference games with parameters like:
- each team playing equal number of games vs leagues 4 quadrants
- no repeats
- equal home/home - while letting road vs home play into quadrants (ie playing A&M at Kyle is #4, A&M at home is #6)
- rivalry games are a must

-bye-

After 8 completed games, determine the final 4 games.


I literally just thought of this so no I haven't thought it through.
No idea if someone already had this bad idea.
You could hold a cupcake for a later and not have it factor in.
Home and away dates can be pre-determined but opponents will be known at bye breaks.

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Bingo. Want it fair take the humans out of it.

hunter2012 said:

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Rankest said:

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8 conference games - 2 permanent rivals?
9 conference games - 3 permanent rivals?
Other?

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Whatever benefits t.u. Austin the most.

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This. It will be whatever is best for sip, they've been handed the keys.

Flavius Agximus said:

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No matter what, we will play UGA only once every 14 15 years.

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Everybody harps on the Georgia game, but we have also only played Kentucky once and with that matchup, we haven't played the away game. Honestly, I think I'd enjoy that trip more than just seeing Georgia play in Kyle. Plus I will take all the easy conference games we can get, since that is apparently the key to success in modern college football.

Ugly said:

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Flavius Agximus said:

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No matter what, we will play UGA only once every 14 15 years.

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Everybody harps on the Georgia game, but we have also only played Kentucky once and with that matchup, we haven't played the away game. Honestly, I think I'd enjoy that trip more than just seeing Georgia play in Kyle. Plus I will take all the easy conference games we can get, since that is apparently the key to success in modern college football.

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Missouri was our annual cross-division opponent in 2012 and 2013 before the SEC swapped Missouri for South Carolina as our annual cross-division opponent, and our rotating cross division opponents were Florida in 2012 and Vanderbilt in 2013. Then, the SEC had a 12-year rotation of cross-division opponents from 2014 and 2025 that was cut two years short by the conference additions of Oklahoma and Texas in 2024. We were scheduled to play Georgia at Kyle Field last year and Kentucky in Lexington this year, but these games won't happen until at least 2026.

I was hoping the all-SEC schedule in 2020 would give us a home game against Georgia and a road game at Kentucky in 2025, but the SEC gave us an extra home game against Florida and an extra road game at Tennessee instead. It's crazy how we will play Florida at Kyle Field 4 times (2012, 2020, 2022, and 2025) before playing Georgia at Kyle Field for the first time and play in Columbia, Missouri 3 times (2013, 2021, and 2025) before playing in Lexington, Kentucky for the first time.

I think the SEC will move to a 9-game conference schedule with 3 permanent opponents and 6 rotating opponents. That is why the SEC is fighting so hard for playoff representation. I would like 9 conference games and one Power 4 nonconference game for 10 regular season games against Power 4 opponents. A 9-game conference schedule means an uneven number of home and away conference games, but that can be mitigated. In years we have 5 away conference games, we can get an extra home game against a Power 4 nonconference opponent. Likewise, in the years we have 5 home conference games, we can play a Power 5 nonconference opponent on the road or at a neutral site.

I would not mind sticking with 8 conference games and playing 2 Power 4 nonconference games because it would still mean 10 games against Power 4 opponents. Either way, I would like 5 home games against Power 5 teams every year, which would mean 2 cupcake games instead of 3 for season ticket holders. Yes, that would mean an even tougher schedule, but it would be make regular season games more interesting.

I hate how the SEC schedules November cupcake games. I understand that the SEC starts conference games in week 2 instead of waiting until week 5, but that often means a cupcake opponent is the final home game for us and other SEC schools. For example, we played Western Carolina in 2015, New Mexico in 2017 Prairie View A&M in 2021, and Abilene Christian in 2023 as our final home games. We will play Samford in our final home game this year. The cupcake games should be played before November because we should play a conference opponent in our final home game every year.

33 said:

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I would like to see:

- 9 conference games
- no FCS teams on the schedule
- 1 P4 non-conference game (minimum)

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I agree with 10 regular season Power 4 games, either 9 conference games and 1 Power 4 nonconference game or 8 conference games and 2 Power 4 nonconference games. I am ok with one FCS opponent as long as we play 10 regular season games against Power 4 teams.

Quote:

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I hate how the SEC schedules cupcake games in the second to last week of the regular season. I understand that the SEC schedules these games to rest for rivalry week,

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That's not the primary reason why cupcakes are played late in the year. It's because the SEC doesn't wait until the last 8 or 9 weeks to schedule conference games. When you play conference games early (which TV wants), that means you are going to have some non-conference games late.

Sgt. Schultz said:

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Guys, we will be going to 9 games in the near future. TV is demanding this for better inventory and the SEC's main competitor (B1G) is doing 9 games. I think eventually it shakes out as 9 conference games, 1 out of conference game (SEC v B1G), 1 game vs P4, and then 1 game against whoever.

SEC will go to a 3-6 format. That is why the SEC is jockeying so hard for playoff representation. If the SEC gives the TV folks & public what they want, the SEC doesn't want to be harmed in the playoffs for doing, which would eliminate the committee deciding a 10-2 MWC team is more deserving (not better) than a 8-4 or 9-3 SEC team.

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TV is NOT demanding it. ESPN refuses to pay more for the extra conference games because they essentially add games underneath the stack unless we move to another day like Thursday or Friday or Sunday. Or earlier weeks. Our network is selling itself to the NFL instead…

The Big Ten auctioned to other networks and lost access to some games for some of their fans. Same for NFL with Amazon Prime games.


Sankey also knows the bigger playoff formats outside tremendous pressure on the regular season

twk said:

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Quote:

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I hate how the SEC schedules cupcake games in the second to last week of the regular season. I understand that the SEC schedules these games to rest for rivalry week,

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That's not the primary reason why cupcakes are played late in the year. It's because the SEC doesn't wait until the last 8 or 9 weeks to schedule conference games. When you play conference games early (which TV wants), that means you are going to have some non-conference games late.

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Yes, the SEC starts conference games in week 2 instead of waiting until week 5. Kentucky will play a home conference game in week 2 for the 2nd straight year: South Carolina last year and Ole Miss this year.

2 teams begin conference play in week 2
Kentucky at Ole Miss

7 teams begin conference play in week 3
Arkansas (1st conference game) at Ole Miss (2nd conference game)
Vanderbilt at South Carolina
Georgia at Tennessee
Florida at LSU

3 teams begin conference play in week 4
South Carolina (2nd conference game) at Missouri (1st conference game)
Auburn at Oklahoma

3 teams begin conference play in week 5
Tennessee (2nd conference game) at Mississippi State (1st conference game)
Auburn (2nd conference game) at Texas A&M (1st conference game)
Goergia (2nd conference game) at Alabama (1st conference game)

1 team begins conference play in week 6
Texas (1st conference game) at Florida (2nd conference game)

Texas is the last team to begin conference play in week 6 because they play all of their nonconference opponents in September before their first bye week in week 5.

With that said, I still hate how we played a cupcake opponent in our final home game in every odd year since 2015, and the only exception was South Carolina in 2019. We played Western Carolina in 2015, New Mexico in 2017 Prairie View A&M in 2021, and Abilene Christian in 2023 as our final home games, and we will play Samford in our final home game this year. I really hope we get to play a conference opponent in our final home game every year starting 2026.

33 said:

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I would like to see:

- 9 conference games
- no FCS teams on the schedule
- 1 P4 non-conference game (minimum)

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EXACTLY!!!

this is common sense but likely will never be implemented!

there is actually a "Competition Committee" of the NCAA!

WTF do they ever do!?!

Whatever benefits the sips.

Ugly said:

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Flavius Agximus said:

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No matter what, we will play UGA only once every 14 15 years.

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Plus I will take all the easy conference games we can get, since that is apparently the key to success in modern college football.

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Well, you have to win those "easy conference games," which has been a struggle. Personally, I'd rather see all the teams in our conference more than once every 10/15 years. UGA in Athens was a lot of fun, and you know they're going to bring a talented, well coached team to play whenever they finally do make an appearance at Kyle.

speaking of rivalry games...

and considering that both A&M and t.u. survived and thrived despite not playing for 12 years...

is it really critical to play a rivalry game every season?

if A&M and LSU played 3 out of 4 years -- would that be okay?

if the SEC would make the schedule far enough in advance, schools could schedule their rival in non-conference if they absolutely had to play every year

Wake Forest and North Carolina did this in the recent past

going to 9 non-conference games is a really bad idea with the committee's current mindset

W said:

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going to 9 non-conference games is a really bad idea with the committee's current mindset

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Which Sankey is trying to address while moving towards best 7+5 or best 11+5 where the +5 are seeded based on accomplishments but invited based on a mostly useless conference championship as last year demonstrated. Best 12 or Best 16 is better but not with the current fubar of a selection committee…

W said:

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speaking of rivalry games...

and considering that both A&M and t.u. survived and thrived despite not playing for 12 years...

is it really critical to play a rivalry game every season?

if A&M and LSU played 3 out of 4 years -- would that be okay?

if the SEC would make the schedule far enough in advance, schools could schedule their rival in non-conference if they absolutely had to play every year

Wake Forest and North Carolina did this in the recent past

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Rivalry games are part of what makes college football fun.

this is true

however the 2012 season was a blast (and the burnt orange were nowhere in sight)

It simply comes down to the VALUE of Bama playing Auburn and the Vols every season, and UGA playing Auburn and Florida every year, and LSU playing Bama and Florida every season… and tu playing OU and A&M every year.

We enjoyed the SEC more when Bama, Auburn, and Ole Miss were always on our schedule. LSU, tu, and OU feels too much like the '80s and '90s.