2023 SEC spring meetings: Debating the eight versus nine-game model, latest thoughts on realignment, NIL, transfer portal

SANDESTIN — The powerbrokers in the SEC must be big proponents of the “no bad ideas” brainstorming theory because for the last 18 months they’ve pondered bad — to outright idiotic — future scheduling proposals in favor of more good — and sensible — options. 

After debating over 30 different models, by hook or by crook, at some point the SEC must land on how the league’s future schedule will ultimately unfold. Maybe it will be decided this week on the sunny beaches of Sandestin, Fla. It wasn’t last year despite commissioner Greg Sankey “expecting” a decision would happen “sooner rather than later.”

Well, the hourglass is running out, eventually, a vote must occur. But that’s not guaranteed to happen this week. 

Wildly, on the eve of the 2023 SEC Spring Meetings, the winds are reportedly blowing toward the league crazily keeping an eight-game schedule model (featuring one permanent rival and seven rotating opponents) over a nine-game format with three permanent rivals and six rotating opponents). 

It’s a terrible idea, especially with Texas and Oklahoma joining the conference in 2024, giving the SEC 16 teams. 

Both schools will have officials in Destin this week, but only with a voice, not a vote. 

Months ago, there was real momentum for a nine-game schedule. Georgia’s Kirby Smart expressed openness to playing nine games, while brass at programs like Florida, LSU and Texas A&M were also vocal in their support for the same model. Aggies AD Ross Bjork has been among the most outwardly outspoken on the nine-game format, hoping to help lead the rest of the league to water here. 

It’s pretty simple, really. The nine-game model makes the most sense in terms of protecting multiple secondary storied rivalries (Georgia vs. Auburn, Alabama vs. Tennessee, Texas vs. Texas A&M), while also making sure every school in the league plays every other program every two years. 

The current eight-game proposal would eliminate games like the Third Saturday in October or the South’s Oldest Rivalry. Texas and Texas A&M wouldn’t play each other annually. 

Like what are we even doing here, SEC?

So why has there been no vote?

Money and angst, basically. 

For one, the SEC wants more guaranteed dollars from ESPN if it goes to a nine-game schedule, as the conference’s $800 million media rights deal with Disney was constructed before Texas and OU announced their move to the league. The conference rightly believes with an even more competitive league,  its games (with annual marquee matchups like Texas and Texas A&M, for instance) are worth more money. Better games should generate more revenue, but so far, ESPN has yet to make any sort of financial additives to the deal.

But aside from finances, the main hold-up is some schools simply do not want to take more losses to their ledger. 

Originally, the split between the two models could be sketched mostly between the halves and halve-nots in the SEC. 

The power programs favored more conference games, providing added runway to the expanded College Football Playoff in 2024. But recently, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz publicly announced his support for a nine-game slate, so it’s not black and white with the top versus the bottom of the league. 

Still, the fact that Georgia, Alabama, Florida, LSU and Texas A&M are all behind the nine-game model is significant. Those powers carry the most sway. 

And yet, Kentucky has led the charge that the eight-game model is best, with the Wildcats having no interest in adding another conference game over scheduling a winnable home game that ensures bowl eligibility. To date, UK has been joined by the likes of Arkansas and both Mississippi schools in reportedly wanting to keep an eight-game model. 

For a while, South Carolina was among those in the middle along with the likes of Auburn and Tennessee, with head coach Shane Beamer recently telling me that he “sees both sides of the argument” between the two schedules. 

But Beamer also expressed concern that nine conference games plus playing Clemson each year would position South Carolina with an outlier schedule compared to the rest of the game. He added that he’s “a big bowl guy,” and that likely tips the scales for the Gamecocks’ vote to stay at eight.

So the back-of-the-napkin sketch between schools in the “8 vs. 9” camp is really written in pencil, and some schools’ opinions are changing in real-time. 

See Nick Saban’s recent wavering on the future 9-game model after learning of Alabama’s rumored three permanent rivals. 

For years, Alabama’s head coach argued for playing more conference games. He came out in favor of the SEC’s 3-6 model last spring and was among its most ardent advocates. Then the proposed permanent rivals leaked last month — Alabama would play Auburn, LSU and Tennessee) — and Saban did a 180 on his stance, voicing his displeasure with the rumored opponents to Sports Illustrated. 

If the Tide’s schedule is going to include such annual opponents — notably three teams they play every year already anyways and the rest of their schedule would actually be easier on the aggregate with more games against Vandy, Missouri, South Carolina, etc. vs the SEC West each fall — then Saban plans to put his weight behind the eight-game model this week. 

So yea, the winds are blowing in all sorts of directions with no ultimate decision looking imminent as the 2023 SEC Spring Meetings start. 

Perhaps issues like canceling future non-conference games or forcing schools to play at least one Power 5 non-con opponent each season can be sorted out. Maybe there could be some massaging on the permanent opponents within the nine-game format. Maybe they’ll ditch the bad idea and actually hold a vote on Friday for the one sensible solution. 

I hope so at least. 

WHAT ELSE IS ON THE DOCKET AT THE 2023 SEC SPRING MEETINGS?

While the future schedule is the main sea-side storyline in Destin, other notable topics of discussion this week among school ADs, coaches and presidents will be the league’s latest thoughts on NIL and the transfer portal. 

Last spring, several SEC coaches pounded the table for legislation around NIL, griping about a lack of oversight within the current structure. However, almost to a man, no coach offered tangible solutions to fix the problem. 

Meanwhile, SEC coaches have also expressed varied opinions on the two transfer windows — one in February and another in May, with this year being the first season of its existence. The SEC opted not change its intra-conference transfer deadline at the spring meetings last season, despite Alabama pushing to do so. With the league’s stance change on that subject in 2023? Doubtful.

Greg Sankey will also surely be asked about the conference’s latest interest in further expansion, as the Pac-12 sits on uneasy ground and the ACC just recently had seven schools very publicly ponder potential future exits. Sankey has been on record that he likes where the SEC stands at 16 teams, but he’s also the same shrewd commissioner who pounced when Texas and Oklahoma reached out with interest in joining the league.