Crimson Red Sports

It's March, which means one of the annual storylines that accompanies the doldrums of the offseason is creeping to the forefront yet again.

The SEC schedule.
The conference voted last offseason to keep the current eight-game, "6-1-1" format for 2014 and 2015. That format features six conference games against divisional opponents, one permanent cross-division rivalry game and one rotating cross-division opponent.
But in 2016, the nine-game schedule is still on the table. According to Jon Solomon of AL.com, the majority of the SEC's athletics directors support the eight- or "eight-and-a-half" game schedule, the latter meaning that a quality nonconference opponent is required since Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Kentucky have annual rivalry games with quality out-of-conference opponents.
That doesn't necessarily mean that an eight-game conference schedule is here to stay. As Solomon points out, the decision will also be up to the presidents. Now that the SEC is not only a collegiate athletic conference but also very much in the television programming business, expect the presidents to view the discussion less as a football decision and more as one that can impact the bottom line.

When the SEC Network launches on Aug. 14, it will force the conference's powerbrokers to change the way they think. Sure, the bottom line has always been an issue and, to a point, they've always had to act like television executives.
Now they are television executives.
As a result, the new network needs inventory, and live college football games provide the most compelling inventory available on the network.
According to GetSECNetwork.com, the 24-hour channel will feature 1,000 live events, including 45 college football games in its first year of existence. With three games per Saturday and some weekday football games mixed in, wouldn't it be nice if the pool of games to choose from was a little more compelling?

Of course it would.

Adding one more conference game to the mix not only would create more meaningful games for the network, but also more options for CBS and ESPN—which wholly own SEC Network—to broadcast on their major networks.

The majority of ADs want eight games, and according to Solomon, every coach not named "Nick Saban" is in the same boat. But when the cash from the SEC Network starts rolling in, they'll be torn in two directions.

Eight conference games will still be attractive in the sense that it creates an easier path to the College Football Playoff and allows for scheduling flexibility; but nine games could contribute to more success for the network and more money available for salaries, facilities, etc.

Which takes precedence?

Money talks.

When it speaks, it's going to be in favor of a nine-game conference schedule.

 

It will be interesting to see where this leads. You're right, money talks and at the end of the day, I think they will go to the 9 game schedule. A game or two with quality OOC opponents will be a thing of the past, as most other traditions have become. All for the sake of the dollar.

I like the 9 game SEC schedule. I get tired of playing 3 cream puffs and only one good non conference game. An extra SEC East game will be much better than Western Carolina or Florida Atlantic.

Personally, I would rather see the Tide play West Virginia, Va. Tech, Clemson, Michigan, etc., than Kentucky, Vandy, USC (when Spurrier retires they become irrelevant, again), etc. We will still play 3 cream puffs no matter what.



 :kickme:

I would like to see 9 conference games with the permanent Cross Divisional opponent and 1 Quality OOC Game in a neutral site. They could do away with all the cream puffs imho! Won't happen but SOS will be the name of the game!!!!

Nine conference games (6 West, Tenn and 2 rotating), 1 quality OOC and two cream puffs. I prefer the cream puffs to be semi-decent.

So, you want heavy cream ...puffs.

 :lol2:

Interesting observation, but I'm not convinced the $ will compel an extra SEC game.  With cream puffs, you usually get the opportunity to rest your starters and get some younger players into action. I would also say less opportunity for starter injuries, but we always seem to get someone injured against an opponent we beat soundly.  And putting too many requirements into the schedule (a "quality" OOC opponent) would become a scheduling nightmare (finding a willing opponent), not to mention what would be considered "quality."  Likely, it would have to be defined as a BCS conference team.  I think Saban is soundly in the minority at this point on the 9 SEC game schedule; most coaches want a few cream puffs.  Teams in the bottom tier of the SEC need those cream puffs to get bowl eligible.  All teams have momentum issues as the season drags on, and it appears even teams like Georgia, Florida and LSU need a soft spot in the schedule.

The main reason everyone plays 3 cream puffs is it gives a program 8 home games, increasing revenue for each team. You have to play the La. Techs & Western Carolinas since good teams are not going to come to your place unless you in turn go to their place. Playing 9 SEC games means you might only have 4 home SEC games + 3 cream puffs, meaning only 7 home games and a loss of revenue.


 :4:


 

Also some teams would have 4 home conference games and others will have 5, which doesn't seem fair.  Unless one of the conference games was at a neutral site.

I would think that the 4 or 5 Conference Home games would be on a rotating basis. One year it would be 4 and then the next year 5 home games. But that is just a guess on my part. But each team would have at least 7 home games every year.

And that is the problem. Right now everyone has 8 home games. The loss of one home game would mean the loss of millions of dollars. That's why we pay a cream puff $500,00-$750,000 to come to T-Town to play us.


 :problem:

I'm sure the home games would rotate, but it still makes it tough on a team the year they have to play 5 conference road games.  I can just hear the whining now... "we have to play TeamX every year, and this year we only get 4 home games."

I know which team you are talking about.  8)

As Long as I can remember Alabama has only had 7 home games since before went to the 12 game schedule, with the 1 neutral site game since 2008. I understand what you are saying about revenue but when they go to a 9 game schedule there is no other way but to rotate it. Like it or not it is what it is. There may have been a year or two when we had 8 but I would have to look that up.

I think you are right about Bama usually having 7 home games. 

Teams like Auburn frequently have 8 home games, though.