Greg Sankey says SEC is focused on 'single standings' model after 2024

There are a lot of discussions going on this week down at the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin. With plenty to decide on, specifically when it comes to schedule, conference commissioner Greg Sankey says another big change could be coming down the line when it comes to how they tally records within the standings.

Regardless of if it’s under an eight or nine-game model, Sankey says that the SEC is focusing on abolishing divisions and moving to a single standings model. They have not finalized that yet but, at some point, he says that will be the way that the league goes.

“They haven’t been (abolished) yet. But our focus, as I’ve indicated, has been consistently on the single standings model,” Sankey said. “I was told not to say single division. A single standings model has been and remains the focus.”

Since the additions of Texas A&M and Missouri, the SEC has held onto a division system that featured seven teams in two divisions. Now, with Oklahoma and Texas on the way, that seems to be a needed change considering the number of teams and, frankly, the competition level of the conference overall.

The additions of the Sooners and Longhorns have led Sankey and the decision-makers in the SEC to get creative about how to keep the conference moving forward. Still, while several other issues remain undecided, this is a model that seems as though it’ll be signed and sealed sooner rather than later compared to what else is on the docket and based on what Sankey had to say.

Sankey updates SEC’s scheduling discussions

Many are curious if the SEC will stay with an eight-game conference schedule or bump it up to nine games following the discussions at spring meetings in Destin, Florida. Several coaches and conference decision-makers have already come out for and against a nine-game schedule. Then, on Wednesday, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey gave an update regarding when they could make a final decision.

“We’ll continue the conversation tomorrow with most of our athletics directors and our presidents,” Sankey said. “If we coalesce around a recommendation, we’re prepared to introduce that. As soon as we reach a finish line, I’ll end up announcing, explaining that in a pretty timely manner. Thursday or Friday, you know, sooner the better.”

The addition of Oklahoma and Texas to the conference in 2024 has a strong impact on the proposition of moving to a nine-game schedule. Having to renegotiate with ESPN about the additional revenue created by more conference games is another factor as well.

However, Sankey made it clear that they don’t necessarily have to make all the final decisions regarding a new scheduling model this week.

“If we don’t come to an agreement, a conclusion either on short term or long term — and we have options. We don’t have to solve every one of our scheduling format questions for eternity right now. And remember that really in February, we learned of the ability for Oklahoma and Texas to move earlier. I’ve noted some complexities around that, certainly just walking away from 14 nonconference games, or we can go to nine. So that’s part of the conversation. A lot of healthy dialogue. I tend to think we’ll come to resolution on some key elements in the short term. (And then) continue talking long term,” Sankey said.

“I will say from my perspective, it’s been the kind of healthy conversation we ought to have as a conference. A lot of different perspectives. (There’s) no need to raise the volume but continually, you know, ask the right questions. And think about how we schedule our football games,” Sankey said. “Also, how we announce the scheduling of our football games. You saw the NFL just three weeks ago, they make it an event. And last year we announced our schedule in mid-September. We’re already making news in football but a lot of pressure to get it out. So we’re trying to reconfigure that.”