Greg Sankey addresses timeline for decision on scheduling change

Talks about schedule changes in the SEC are heating up and a decision could come “sooner rather than later,” according to commissioner Greg Sankey. Among the proposals the SEC is considering is a nine-game conference schedule, featuring three yearly rivals and six other rotating opponents.

“We’ve been in that conversation since August … really since 2018, just instead of talking about 14 members, we’re talking about 16 members in the future. We’ve narrowed, I think it’s in the high-30s the concepts we’ve introduced, to just a handful,” Sankey shared. “When we know is less about me and the conference office, … and more about how our schools are managing their non-conference schedules. I expect something sooner rather than later. We’ve done the work to set the stage for that decision.”

The commissioner explained that the league would eventually vote on the matter, so it won’t come down to one man’s decision.

“We’ve moved closer (to a decision), every time we’ve met,” Sankey said.

Sankey reveals how TV partners factor into scheduling decision

During the SEC spring meetings in Destin, commissioner Greg Sankey shared the role the league’s television partners play in that decision.

Currently, the league uses an eight-game model, meaning TV partners would be affected by the change. Sankey said the league is keeping everyone informed on what’s going on, but the decision is ultimately up to the league.

“We keep them updated,” Sankey said, via Simonton. “But they’re not dictating.”

The idea of changing the schedule comes ahead of SEC expansion. Two new programs, Oklahoma and Texas, are preparing to leave the Big 12 and join the league. The commissioner wouldn’t say if things would change with the league’s TV partnership. However, he reiterated the conference is keeping everyone in the loop on the discussions.

“I don’t talk about TV contracts,” Sankey said. “We keep our future TV partner … long up to speed on the conversations.”

Sankey will be among the officials making the big decisions for a long time to come. He agreed to a contract extension to remain Commissioner of the SEC through at least 2026 last year. He succeeded Mike Slive in 2015 after working various roles in the league dating back to 2002.