SEC to play 8-game conference schedule and remove divisions in 2024

The SEC has made its decision on scheduling for the 2024 season. Commissioner Greg Sankey announced at the SEC spring meetings on Thursday that the league will stick with an eight-game model in 2024.

There had been talk of a potential nine-game conference schedule. However, the league will stick with eight games, at least for now, as Texas and Oklahoma join the conference.

While the SEC will stick with an eight-game schedule for 2024, the move is not permanent. The league will continue to look at options moving forward, according to Sankey.

In addition to sticking with an eight-game schedule, the SEC also announced on Thursday that it is doing away with divisions for 2024. Instead, of an SEC championship game with the SEC East winner facing the SEC West winner, the two teams with the best record in the SEC will meet in the championship game.

“We have been engaged in planning for the entry of Oklahoma and Texas into the SEC since the summer of 2021, but the change of the membership date from 2025 to 2024 creates scheduling complexities that can better be managed with a one-year schedule,” Sankey said in a statement.

“Creating a one-year schedule will provide a longer on-ramp to manage football scheduling around existing non-conference commitments of our members. It will also provide additional time to understand the impact of an expanded College Football Playoff and engage with our media partners as we determine the appropriate long-term plan for SEC football scheduling.”

The schedule format was approved by a vote of league presidents and chancellors following a recommendation from the league’s Athletics Directors during the spring meetings.

According to Brett McMurphy of Action, the eight-game schedule will be determined based on “expectation of fairness and balance,” while also honoring traditional rivalries.

While SEC teams will not play nine conference games in 2024, they will have to face nine Power 5 conference teams.

In addition to conference games, league teams must also play one game against an opponent from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 or a major independent during the 2024 season.

SEC announces new field-storming policies, penalties

The SEC announced its new field-storming policies and there will be penalties assessed to the institutions responsible.

The offenses are $100,000 for the first, $250,000 for the second and $500,000 for the third. Currently, all SEC schools reset to no offenses moving forward.

The conference released the full stipulations Thursday.

“Each member institution must provide security and uniformed law enforcement presence around each team and game officials before, during and after the event to prevent contact with spectators,” the statement read in part. “The area where teams and officials are dropped off and their path to/from team areas must be secure and not accessible to the general public. In the event of a field or court rush, use of uniformed law enforcement personnel and equipment (e.g. rope, barricade, expandable tunnels) to secure a clear path off the playing surface for the visiting team, including their personnel (e.g. equipment managers), is required. 

“If a field/court rush ensues, the visiting team shall forgo the postgame handshake line and immediately move inside the barricade to their locker room as soon as possible.”