Report: SEC considering move to conference-only schedule
A number of conferences around the country are making modifications to their fall sports season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the SEC has yet to announce one way or another what its 2020 plans are. That could be quickly changing, though.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger, the SEC is “moving closer” to a 10-game conference-only slate of games for 2020:
NEWS: The #SEC is moving closer to a conference-only 10-game schedule, sources tell @SINow.
ADs agreed on the matter Wednesday and presidents are expected to meet Thursday, though they may delay a decision until next week.
This is a fluid situation. https://t.co/er591whOF0
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) July 29, 2020
As Dellenger notes, the SEC presidents will meet on Thursday, but a decision might not come until next week, as we move into the first week of August.
With the season set to begin on Aug. 29 (Week 0) or Sept. 4 (Week 1), the time to make decisions is running out. We’ll see what the SEC decides over the coming days.
Looks like the BIG10 made their move early & set the tone for most other conferences…and now it appears that all the conferences are following along.
I wonder how they’re going to allot the remaining two opponent
My guess is that the two inter-divisional opponents scheduled to be played the farthest from 2020 will be the two teams, and the scheduled location for those games will be opposite of the future schedule.
The other thought is that the regular rival, might become a home and home two-game special.
Alabama vs. Auburn
Arkansas vs. Missouri
Florida vs. Georgia
Kentucky vs. South Carolina
LSU vs. Texas A&M
Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State
Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt
The problem is that Kentucky and South Carolina are the odd teams out in this. That’s why I believe the teams the farthest away from each team’s schedules could be the better idea, even though having two Alabama-Auburn games, etc. would be a better money-maker in times where every extra dollar will count.
So what’s all the dam waiting for? Sankey has done a great of accomplishing nothing but looking slower to figure things out than other conferences all this time.
The difference is, those conferences went public and the sec hasn’t yet. You call it slow, but there is no certainty in any solution
I feel like a 10 game conference schedule with 1 non conference opponent should be the plan so that UK-UL, GT-UGA, UF-FSU, & Clemson-SC can get played. The ACC added the 1 non conference game opening for a reason in addition to their 10 game conference schedule.
The ACC approved the in state rivalry games. The SEC should just go to a plus one model. If the SEC doesn’t approve non conference games, LSU may lose out on the return trip by Texas.
Well that would make fir done huge game 1’s. Bama v UGA and flo v ut. I kind of like it.
Geez
Some huge games
Tennessee should add Ole Miss and Miss St to their normal eight games which includes bama and @arky.
This would be good for the Kiffin reunion in Knoxville and almost hired Mike Leech in botched but happy ending coaching search to replace butchy.
As far as our +1 game: it could either be @Oklahoma or an ACC team like NC, NCst, VT or Duke.
This is going to be a tough revenue year for Group of 5 and FCS programs. Some may never recover and that would be a shame. Those blowout games with P5 teams like TN, LSU, Mich, OK, etc generate up to a years worth of athletic department revenue for the small schools.
I just don’t understand how this helps. I guess it gives a couple extra bye weeks for all the inevitable games that will be delayed due to high numbers of positive tests to be rescheduled. But I don’t know how 10 games instead of 12 is a game changer. The SEC already encompasses many (like, most) of the worst states in terms of COVID spread/management, so it’s not like we’re protecting ourselves from anything or anyone.
I think it’s more that the SEC’s hand will be forced because all of the opponents of non conference games are going to opt out of them. In other words, the SEC isn’t so much making a decision as just acknowledging the reality.
Yeah probably a fair assessment
None of this makes any sense. It started with the Big 10. How is a conference only schedule going to help with coronavirus? The players will still travel and be in contact with other players. Play a regular schedule and accept the risks or don’t play at all and avoid the risks. The in-between seems ridiculous.
I agree…..perhaps they believe that the S E C plays such a weak non conference schedule that even the virus won’t show up…..
The season may end up as an eight(8) game plus one(1) game…depending upon the health situation at the time.
All these schedules announced can be changed at the drop of a hat. Everything involving college football 2020 is quite fluid at this time. We all hope for the best…but gotta involve that word called “reality” sometime.
What has happened to this country??
A pandemic
All conference schedule = most-likely another poor record for us.