Kirby Smart slams 8 vs. 9-game schedule model argument, highlights bigger issue for SEC in expanded playoff

There’s been a variety of responses from SEC coaches about the possibility of an eight-game or nine-game conference schedule. Some coaches lean one way — such as Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz — while others, including Alabama head coach Nick Saban, haven’t stated a preference publicly.

Then, there’s a coach in category No. 3: Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who sounded like he’s had enough of the conference schedule debate.

“The most overrated conversation there ever was,” Smart told reporters Tuesday. “Four years, you’ll play everybody home and away. I get it. Traditional rivalries — you have three, you have two, you have one. You have this, you have that. You guys need something to write about bad when you start talking about that. It’s just not that big a deal to me.”

Although the schedule model doesn’t matter to him, Smart said the biggest goal — regardless of the direction the SEC goes — should be to win games. With College Football Playoff expansion coming earlier than planned, that could make it even more important to make the conference title game.

But, Smart asked, what would happen if a team missed the SEC Championship but still made the CFP? That question comes down to how that extra week could play a role in CFP success under the new 12-team model set to start in 2024.

“You have to win your games to advance,” Smart said. “You need to be in the SEC Championship. Possibly with an expanded playoff — that’s a lot better topic, for me. Is somebody going to get an advantage by not going to the SEC Championship, but making the playoff? That’s a lot better topic, to me, than eight or nine games. I mean, I think you’ve got to win your games. Now, more than ever, it’s going to be that way because there’s not going to be divisions. But that’s true for both.”

The eight- or nine-game schedule debate is sure to continue this week as SEC coaches and athletic directors converge on Destin. It’s a question some, such as SEC Network host Paul Finebaum, thought would’ve been answered by now. After all, Oklahoma and Texas are joining the league in 2024, meaning the SEC will be at 16 teams soon.

However, as the conversation goes on, commissioner Greg Sankey told On3’s Ivan Maisel “healthy collaboration” will be key.

“We have a history of coming together, making decisions (whether unanimous or not) and moving forward,” Sankey told Maisel. “It does seem somewhat different than what others have experienced of late, but we have to work to bring people together and continue our healthy collaboration.”