🏈 It's being reported that the SEC is split on the number of conference games (8 or 9)

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

By the time you guys find common ground, the SEC will add more teams, throwing the scheduling format off tilt, and sparking this whole thing back up.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

By the time you guys find common ground, the SEC will add more teams, throwing the scheduling format off tilt, and sparking this whole thing back up.

Common ground....lol...lol
This groups like a bumch of long ear mules ( a compliment to all...if offended I apologize)...and put me in as lead mule...

But...we all have convictions of whats right

 

[UAgrad93]

@TerryP I know the options of a 1-8 or 2-7 aren’t on the table. Just seems like maybe they should be to try and keep a little more fairness to the scheduling.

 

[BamaFan334]

The model you're pushing affects them less.

It's funny you mention OU when the nine game schedule leaves them playing schools you wouldn't want on Bama's schedule.

If you'll look at future schedules you'll see these schools are beefing up competition. By saying you want the ninth game to beef up schedules rings hollow.

I'm about convinced this is being looked at through the "Saban era eyes" versus others.

What I find strange is I can't get a straight answer to a very straightforward question.

I've said it about ten times. I want nine conference games. If it puts us at a disadvantage we need to man up. You keep talking disadvantages, but have yet to explain that. A beefed up out of conference schedule is great, but so is another conference game that will put the haves and have nots in their proper places.

You want the easiest path you can find. I want a better fan experience and tougher tests. I seem to get it, just unsure how you haven't cone to that conclusion after I have said just that.

We're an apex predator in the SEC. Another conference game isn't looking to kill our chances or create the disadvantage you're eluding to. The ninth game outta not be what Florida, LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn, Arkansas, or Tennessee wants. If all things remain equal Alabama has little to worry about.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

I've said it about ten times. I want nine conference games. If it puts us at a disadvantage we need to man up. You keep talking disadvantages, but have yet to explain that. A beefed up out of conference schedule is great, but so is another conference game that will put the haves and have nots in their proper places.

You want the easiest path you can find. I want a better fan experience and tougher tests. I seem to get it, just unsure how you haven't cone to that conclusion after I have said just that.

We're an apex predator in the SEC. Another conference game isn't looking to kill our chances or create the disadvantage you're eluding to. The ninth game outta not be what Florida, LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn, Arkansas, or Tennessee wants. If all things remain equal Alabama has little to worry about.

Quite frankly if there were a 3 permanent plan and msu had to be one. I would rather lose Tennessee than lsu

Thats hard for old time fan i know. But to me lsu vs bama is the top 2-3 games in conference Probably #1.

 

[rick4bama]

You would think by now this would already be in the book!

 

[OldPlayer]

You would think by now this would already be in the book!

They have another year before it takes place. Of it's decided by the start of the 2023 season, all will be okay.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

I can't help but picture the halls and backrooms of the Hilton in SanDestin during the SEC meetings this summer... Coaches, AD's, and school presidents trying to work deals like the lizards in Congress over this schedule format and create a majority on one side or the other. It would actually make for some high quality reality television and a great episode of SEC Inside.

 

[We All Bleed Crimson]

Why is there a debate?

It NEEDS to be a 9 game schedule. Especially with no divisions.

 

[UAgrad93]

Why is there a debate?

It NEEDS to be a 9 game schedule. Especially with no divisions.

It is the 3 “permanent” selections as chosen by the conference office and the logic they used to determine them.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Talked to someone this morning who said the UA admin expects that the 9 game conference schedule will likely win out when the votes are cast, barring a surprising shift in momentum. I don't think that is necessarily breaking news or anything, but sounds like that is where it's headed...

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Talked to someone this morning who said the UA admin expects that the 9 game conference schedule will likely win out when the votes are cast, barring a surprising shift in momentum. I don't think that is necessarily breaking news or anything, but sounds like that is where it's headed...

Kinda breaking news. I hope so. And i hope we keep lsu. Au. Tn.

 

[OldPlayer]

Talked to someone this morning who said the UA admin expects that the 9 game conference schedule will likely win out when the votes are cast, barring a surprising shift in momentum. I don't think that is necessarily breaking news or anything, but sounds like that is where it's headed...

I think the 9-game conference schedule is a sure thing (what’s the point of having a conference if you don’t play the other teams?). The question is how is the schedule structured? Every team will schedule a patsy or two as warmups. But to put a team into contention for a playoff slot, the strength of schedule will be a factor. Luckily Alabama has taken the lead on this with home-and-homes for a number of years where Alabama will be the home team with one team while being the away team with another in the same year.

2025 @Florida State. H-Wisconsin
2026 @West Virginia. H-Florida State
2027 H-West Virginia. @Ohio State
2028 H-Ohio State. @Oklahoma State
2029 @Notre Dame. H-Oklahoma State
2030 @Georgia Tech. H-Notre Dame
2031 H-Georgia Tech. @Boston College
2032 H-Arizona. @Minnesota
2033 @Arizona. H-Minnesota
2034 @Virginia Tech. H-Boston College

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

I think the 9-game conference schedule is a sure thing (what’s the point of having a conference if you don’t play the other teams?). The question is how is the schedule structured? Every team will schedule a patsy or two as warmups. But to put a team into contention for a playoff slot, the strength of schedule will be a factor. Luckily Alabama has taken the lead on this with home-and-homes for a number of years where Alabama will be the home team with one team while being the away team with another in the same year.

2025 @Florida State. H-Wisconsin
2026 @West Virginia. H-Florida State
2027 H-West Virginia. @Ohio State
2028 H-Ohio State. @Oklahoma State
2029 @Notre Dame. H-Oklahoma State
2030 @Georgia Tech. H-Notre Dame
2031 H-Georgia Tech. @Boston College
2032 H-Arizona. @Minnesota
2033 @Arizona. H-Minnesota
2034 @Virginia Tech. H-Boston College

That's the issue to me... not all schedules are created equally. Which, in and of itself, isn't a huge deal to me... but we all know that when it comes down to a group of people voting come playoff seeding time, each voter on the committee is going to have their own data points that they weigh differently. So does Team A that played a top 3 SOS but had 3 close loses get rewarded over teams that played lesser schedules but didn't lose that many? Or does Team A get punished while the other teams get a pass? As a side note, there are a some SEC schools who want to do away with the mandatory Power 5 OOC game if/when the 9 game league schedule is approved.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

That's the issue to me... not all schedules are created equally. Which, in and of itself, isn't a huge deal to me... but we all know that when it comes down to a group of people voting come playoff seeding time, each voter on the committee is going to have their own data points that they weigh differently. So does Team A that played a top 3 SOS but had 3 close loses get rewarded over teams that played lesser schedules but didn't lose that many? Or does Team A get punished while the other teams get a pass? As a side note, there are a some SEC schools who want to do away with the mandatory Power 5 OOC game if/when the 9 game league schedule is approved.

Let those teams do away with their ooc opponents....let themstay on sec n while bama is on national broadcast...exposure will be rewarded...

But....saying this....i will never believe that bama ooc as old player put it ...will not be toned down...and some games cancelled...postponed..etc

And some of those teamsare no more than a missouri...USCe...kentucky...type...

Always believe the schedule was fortified in print to keep season tickets sold...
Many were getting weary of directional schools and having lowertier SEC schools on schedule at sametime ( like last year with vandy and msu plus AP...and others )

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Let those teams do away with their ooc opponents....let themstay on sec n while bama is on national broadcast...exposure will be rewarded...

But....saying this....i will never believe that bama ooc as old player put it ...will not be toned down...and some games cancelled...postponed..etc

And some of those teamsare no more than a missouri...USCe...kentucky...type...

Always believe the schedule was fortified in print to keep season tickets sold...
Many were getting weary of directional schools and having lowertier SEC schools on schedule at sametime ( like last year with vandy and msu plus AP...and others )

Some will certainly get the axe. Another thing to keep in mind.... at some point, the SEC will expand again... and it wont be too far down the road, IMO... that will scramble all the schedule stuff up again and who knows what it'll do to the future OOC games.

 

[Rsedge72]

I’m personally an Alabama fan. These tougher games for more entertainment, kinda baffles me. Sure need the conference games and championship for the conference, but BAMA winning by 60 is a good game for a BAMA fan. I’m not a fan of playing this or that team just so people can talk it up in the media. Don’t want more tough games cause I’m a BAMA fan not just a random fan that wants a “competitive”, game. Again I’m a BAMA fan not just a football fan. There I’m off my soap box now and all that being said there’s going to be 6 to 10 mediocre teams in the “playoffs” now so who really cares who ya play just gotta have a big name and be better than average…

 

[OldPlayer]

Some will certainly get the axe. Another thing to keep in mind.... at some point, the SEC will expand again... and it wont be too far down the road, IMO... that will scramble all the schedule stuff up again and who knows what it'll do to the future OOC games.

Alabama’s future schedules actual help the P&L for Alabama. Instead of paying three teams ~$1M each to lose, they’ll only have to pay one. The home-and-homes will even out and neither team will have to pay unless a game is canceled.