There’s an official “transition timeline” the SEC developed for the addition of Texas and Oklahoma, a copy of which was obtained through a FOIA request. The first phase of that timeline is approaching and is fairly clear: “Finalize future scheduling at SEC spring meetings.”
That would be in two weeks. Of course, when you get athletic directors and presidents from 14 schools — the new guys aren’t listed as attending — it may be hard to arrive at a consensus on all these issues. But the conference has been working at it for a while, looking at around 30 different scheduling models before whittling it down, so it is possible that the full plan for 2025 and beyond is adopted at the meetings in Destin, Fla.
SEC presidents and athletic directors will be given the options. Now it’s decision-making time. Based on intel from around the conference, here’s a primer on what to expect:
Will the SEC go to nine conference games?
Probably, though it’s not certain. This is the most straightforward decision before the league, and one where everyone should arrive ready to vote on first. There could still be resistance, especially from teams that annually fight for bowl eligibility, but other priorities may win the day.
In an ideal world, the College Football Playoff would have already expanded or at least detailed the format for an expanded playoff so the athletic directors and presidents could make the decision most advantageous for the conference. That’s why SEC commissioner Greg Sankey will go to the wall protecting as many at-large berths as possible due to a potentially more difficult course through the SEC. Going to nine conference games means another loss for half the teams, which will also affect bowl eligibility.
For a multitude of reasons, the best move forward is likely nine conference games. It benefits fans with a better schedule. For the players, it helps get them around the conference with more regularity. It seems like the best plan, but that doesn’t mean everyone will be on board.
Will divisions be eliminated?
Most likely, because keeping divisions appears incompatible with the main goal of the new scheduling format: teams being able to play each other more often.
Even if the SEC went to a nine-game schedule but kept divisions, that would still mean only two cross-division games per season in an SEC with two eight-team divisions. Some teams would go seven years between trips to other conference schools, which is still better than now — Georgia has never been to Texas A&M, which joined in 2012 — but it would mean an SEC player never visiting some conference venues during their career.