Paul Finebaum assesses where the SEC stands with possible 9-game schedule

Paul Finebaum laid out during his regular appearance on WJOX on Monday where the SEC stands with its possible move to a 9-game conference schedule.

The ESPN commentator reiterated that it’s the college presidents who will make the final call, not the athletics directors.

“I’ve heard certain presidents oppose moving to 9 games, but will do it because they understand and here’s the greater good line coming in, that you need to make that work,” he said. “Because as we shift to the Playoff, for the teams on top, that extra conference game is probably not going to be a big deal. It’s the middle and bottom of the league that’s affected by it. And if you’re an ascending team and you’re trying to get out of the basement, and you need an extra win to get to a bowl game to lift you off for the next season, you don’t need Alabama showing up on your schedule as your 9th game, or Georgia, or a trip to Baton Rouge or Auburn.”

Finebaum believes the SEC leaders will get the move to 9 games done, but he also realized that it’s the middle of May and the issue is not yet decided.

Paul @Finebaum of the @SECNetwork joined the guys on @MacandCube to discuss if he still expects the SEC to adopt a 9 game conference schedule.

Whole interview: https://t.co/gYQdCtBSKu pic.twitter.com/hvbWntCYU9

— WJOX 94.5 FM (@WJOX945) May 15, 2023

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.