SEC coaches reportedly ‘misled’ regarding 9-game conference schedule
By Ethan Stone
Published:
According to a report from On3Sports’ Brett McMurphy on Wednesday, SEC coaches were misled about transitioning to a 9-game conference schedule.
Apparently, SEC coaches were told that the 9-game conference schedule would coexist alongside an expanded College Football Playoff if they agreed. As of yet, that has not happened.
Specifically, Florida’s Jon Sumrall told McMurphy said that coaches “felt misled.” Georgia coach Kirby Smart expressed similar frustrations, and it isn’t difficult to see why.
Adding another conference matchup without expansion just makes it tougher for SEC teams to reach the Playoff — more competitive games means more opportunities to lose and damage a Playoff resume. However, a hypothetical extra loss could feasibly be salvageable with a 16-team or 24-team Playoff.
(This implementation would objectively devalue the regular season, it’s worth noting.)
Of course, expansion could still be (and very likely is) coming. Sumrall told reporters on Tuesday that he’d like to see expansion to 24 teams, and Mike Elko candidly pointed out that if it were up to him, he’d like to see it at 40 teams, highlighting the fact that coaches are naturally going to vote for a higher number of teams to help job security.
As for CFP expansion talks, we’ll just have to wait and see.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
