Paul Finebaum says reactions to SEC scheduling decision is 'shortsighted'

The SEC decided to stay at eight conference games for the 2024 season, leading to tons of backlash from fans and commentators. However, Paul Finebaum of the SEC Network doesn’t agree with that criticism, calling the reaction shortsighted.

Finebaum explained why he feels this way during an appearance on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning.

“There wasn’t a consensus for next year and I think that’s what a lot of the pundits have misunderstood,” Paul Finebaum said. “The obituaries that I keep reading in national websites from big-time writers, I think it’s really shortsighted. This is a temporary decision. It’s an interim decision. It’s for next year.”

As Finebaum explained, this is going to be for the 2024 season only, and after that the SEC is expected to expand to nine conference games. However, many people are acting like eight games is the permanent decision.

“And while I don’t think anyone likes it, including me, and I’m going to speak for you guys, but we all want to see more games, and that case has been made ad nauseam, but we will get there. And I think we’ll get there in ’25. I don’t know all the mechanics of why it couldn’t happen next year, some of the spin is a little overdone, ‘We didn’t see this coming.’ Most people saw it coming and the schedule were already ready.”

For most people, nine games make sense to preserve rivalries and make sure that everyone actually plays everyone in their conference. However, there are different reasons being thrown around to slow down that expansion of the schedule.

First, teams already have games scheduled and would have to buyout contracts. That was suggested by Florida AD Scott Stricklin. He also pointed out that nobody knows exactly the best way to schedule in the 12-team College Football Playoff era. On top of that, the SEC would likely want more money out of ESPN for an extra conference game.

“I just don’t think that there was a total alignment. I think that goes from the league to the media partners, and I think Greg Sankey wisely said, okay, if we’re not 100% behind this, let’s pause. Let’s get this thing off the ground next year with some of the other things happening such as the expansion not only of the SEC but CFP and we’ll figure it out very quickly,” Finebaum said.

“But if this was a long-term decision, all of us would be outraged, but this is a one-year deal as best I can tell.”

Despite this, Alabama AD Greg Byrne has said that he doesn’t have enough information to make a long term decision on playing eight or nine games.

Paul Finebaum predicted the SEC will play nine games

It won’t happen in 2024. However, Paul Finebaum does expect the SEC to eventually play nine conference games a season, after pushing things off for a while.

“I think next year, the SEC will move the can down the road and go to nine. They were prepared to and it was all kind of resistant. Surprisingly, from the most influential person in the league and that’s Nick Saban. Nick Saban has been campaigning for nine games for 13 years,” Finebaum said on SportsCenter.

“What happened when he found out Alabama was supposed to see as its permanent opponents in Auburn, LSU, and Tennessee? He suddenly didn’t like it. What’s so interesting in LSU and Tennessee? Those are the two teams that cost him getting into the playoff last year.”

Despite these concerns, the chance to make more money and preserve traditions will likely be too strong for the SEC and they will likely expand the league schedule at some point in the future.