Billy Napier addresses critical portion of spirited 8-game vs. 9-game SEC football schedule debate

Eight or nine? That’s the simple, yet completely complicated, conversation going on right now around the SEC, specifically down at the conference’s spring meetings this week in Destin. Should the SEC continue to play a schedule with eight league games overall? Or do they risk eventually kicking it up to nine in this new era of changes in college football?

For Florida’s Billy Napier, he knows there’s a lot to consider that makes this debate go so deep. He went on to say during his press conference at the SEC Spring Meetings that, personally, his biggest question comes down to the strength of schedule and how that could impact those who have a shot at the now-expanded College Football Playoff.

“I think there’s a ton of variables here relative to revenue created. Relative to the metric of strength of schedule, relative to the playoff. I think, for me, that’s probably the most critical factor,” Napier said. “How is the College Football Playoff going to view strength of schedule relative to the metrics that will contribute to that? That’s going to be, to me, one of the critical factors here.”

From there, though, Napier expressed faith in the leadership around the Southeastern Conference to make the best call in this scenario. He said he trusts the conference considering their history and knows that they’re going to make a great, sound decision that, from their point of view, will be to the benefit of their programs.

“If there’s one thing I know, there’ll be quite a bit of debate about it. I can promise you that. There will be quite a bit of debate about it,” Napier said additionally.

“Ultimately, I think that’s one thing about the SEC. We’re gonna lead from the front. I think we’ve got great leadership,” said Napier. “I think they’ve done a great job of exhausting all options relative to the research that’s went into it. This league’s got a history of making the right decision. It’s the reason why the SEC is what it is today. I think there’s been some great decisions in the past. And I think that the league will make the right decision.”

The SEC’s officials and coaches are going to talk circles around this topic this week and moving forward. However, with Napier’s take reinforced and out in the open, he is putting his full faith and support behind those decision-makers to get this job done and done correctly.