SEC Faces Pressure on Schedule, Playoff Decisions

Debate persists over whether the SEC should shift from an eight- to nine-game conference schedule, a change already adopted by the Big Ten and supported by new members like UCLA. The Big Ten is urging the SEC to make this move, linking it to preferred College Football Playoff (CFP) formats, with possible playoff expansion to 14 or 16 teams and multiple automatic qualifiers per league. SEC coaches and administrators, including Texas A&M's Mike Elko and Texas' Steve Sarkisian, note that the decision is closely tied to playoff access, revenue implications, and fair evaluation by the CFP selection committee. Elko emphasized the complexity of choosing between eight or nine games due to broader issues like playoff structure, roster limits, and the House settlement, all discussed at the SEC's spring meetings. Ongoing uncertainties in playoff formats and NCAA regulations make planning difficult, and leaders agree that changes like a single transfer portal window could benefit the sport. The SEC has yet to make a final decision, viewing scheduling and playoff alignment as integral to the evolving landscape of college football.