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Rece Davis explains why SEC should go to 10-game conference schedule

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby:Grant Grubbs•06/29/23•

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SEC logos on the chains before the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Memphis Tigers on September 3, 2022 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, MS.
Chris McDill | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The SEC schedule debate rages on, this time, with ESPN’s Rece Davis giving his thoughts on the matter. The 57-year-old College GameDay host provided a unique perspective on the hot-button issue.

“I suspect that long term, [the SEC] will go to nine games. Personally, I think they should go to 10 games. I think that’s the way best way to enhance your revenue and your shared market share and all of those types of things to get more good content,” Davis said on “The Paul Finebaum Show.”

Plenty of content and an equal amount of controversy. For those unaware, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey recently unveiled his plan for the 2024 SEC Football schedule. Despite adding Oklahoma and Texas to the conference, the teams will remain on an eight-game conference schedule.

Nonetheless, the eight-game format is only expected to last one year, leaving many outsiders speculating on the future of the SEC. While SEC enthusiasts such as Davis are eager to see the conference schedule expand, some programs aren’t so willing to change.

The main reason behind this hesitance is fear of a worse record. Keeping a respectable record against eight SEC opponents is tough. Keeping a respectable record against 10 SEC opponents sounds nearly impossible.

However, perhaps teams don’t need as squeaky clean of a record as they once did to reach the College Football Playoff. The CFP is set to expand to 12 teams in the 2024-2025 season. Davis believes this change gives the SEC the green light to expand the conference schedule.

“Once we get to 12 teams, especially if everyone continues to upgrade their schedules, then you’re going to have three and, perhaps, four-loss teams in the Playoff. I think I went last year and looked at what the 12-team playoff would have been a season ago, and you had multiple three-loss teams in the field.

“It’s not going to be disqualifying. Granted, I do think that one of those was a conference champion. I think Kansas State would have been in there, too, and Clemson would have had an automatic bid. But, it’s not going to be disqualifying the way it is when you get a field as big as 12. And, maybe, someday in the not too distant future, it might go to 16.”