Paul Finebaum thinks eight-game schedule could help more SEC teams reach playoff

The SEC determined last week that they’d be remaining in the current model of an eight-game conference schedule. In Paul Finebaum’s opinion, he believes the programs are more than fine doing that considering what it could mean for them when it comes to an expanded College Football Playoff.

Finebaum shared his thoughts on Monday on ‘McElroy and Cubelic In The Morning’. He says the argument for records made it easy to justify eight games. Considering the SEC’s response to the criticism of it, they seem more than okay with doing so too.

“One thing that makes the debate more complex is, even though we all agree that we wanted nine games, is the fact that the SEC can then, however you phrase the argument or frame it, come back and say look at our record? It makes it hard to battle,” Finebaum said. “The headlines may seem negative. And the SEC is kind of just shrugging.”

The dates for playoff updates make this an even more difficult conversation to have considering it’s all based on predictions. That’s why, from the SEC’s standpoint, eight games may be the way to go considering it could be more likely to get more of their teams into the 12-team field.

“We don’t know what the CFP is going to do. I don’t think this is going to be a big deal. And, quite frankly, I think the decision will be made before we even know,” continued Finebaum. “We won’t know what the CFP decides until December of ’24. By then, I think the SEC will have had to have made a determination.”

“If one school gets left out on strength of schedule, I think there’ll be a hue and cry,” Finebaum said. “But I think there’s a better chance that the SEC gets another school in as a result of this as much as I hate to admit it.”

In the playoff era, the SEC has consistently earned at least one in the four-team field. They’ve earned a bid in all nine seasons of the CFP and have twice earned two bids (2018, 2022). In those nine seasons, the SEC has won six of the championships. They’ve also had two of their teams face each other for the title twice and had three teams hoist the trophy overall

That’s just within the four-team model’s sample size with the SEC teams playing eight games against each other. Expansion to 12 might add some much-needed parity but, frankly, it could also allow for more SEC teams in general. If the final CFP ranking of 2023 had been for a 12-team field rather than four? The SEC would have earned spots for two more teams in Alabama and Tennessee. That would have tied with the Pac-12 for the most additions in the field.

We won’t know what kind of effect this could all have until we get to 12 teams. Still, until then, Finebaum believes that the SEC is thinking ahead in order to best position themselves and their programs for the expanded playoff.