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This column is an opinion piece.
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Finally, on Thursday, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey revealed the league’s plans for a nine-game conference schedule.
The schedules will start the following season, and the South should rejoice over the decision to switch from eight to nine games. Sankey will never admit it, but after only securing three teams in the 2025 College Football Playoff, the SEC decided to increase the number of games to nine.
With an additional win on its CV, would Alabama have qualified for the playoffs the previous season? It’s up for debate, but if that victory had been over South Carolina or Ole Miss, it most likely would have been. South Carolina and Ole Miss both missed the playoffs after suffering three losses. By switching to nine games, the conference schedules will be more balanced, and the CFP selection committee will have a better idea of the situation at the end of the season.
Additionally, it increases revenue for all SEC schools (which is the true cause of this) and provides the league more negotiation leverage when it comes to extending the College Football Playoff.
What is the SEC’s other justification for adding an additional conference game? Let’s be honest. The SEC has to take action to increase its influence since the Big Ten is rapidly becoming the most influential conference in the nation.
Don’t mistake the nation’s most dominant conference with the greatest football league. Despite the recent success of the Big Ten, the SEC still dominates from top to bottom. However, Ohio State’s 2024 fourth-place result and subsequent dominance in the College Football Playoffs have the Big Ten feeling pretty comfortable about themselves these days.
We are all aware of my feelings regarding Michigan.
However, four Big Ten teams and three SEC teams advanced to the first 12-team playoff. Last season was a huge blow to the ego of lads from the Deep South, and elite college football is rapidly turning into a North vs. South debate. Furthermore, the SEC’s participation in just eight conference games almost seemed like a punishment from the committee.
The SEC should have at least four teams in each playoff round if they add an additional conference game.
Last week, the CFP selection committee declared that it would place a more emphasis on schedule strength. That s the decision the SEC was waiting to hear. In addition to having nine-game conference schedules, the top league in the nation will now have to face at least one Power 4 league opponent outside of its conference.
For instance, Alabama’s next schedule includes games against Florida State, South Florida, and West Virginia. AL.com reporter Nick Kelly pointed out Thursday that Alabama’s current schedule calls for 11 games against Power 4 opponents annually between 2026 and 2034.
However, it’s impossible to predict what college football will look like in five years. The SEC might grow once more. It was possible for the Power conferences to establish a separate division. The ACC may accept Notre Dame. Anyone can guess.
However, the most recent SEC adjustments should excite supporters. Three permanent opponents and six rotating opponents are part of the new nine-game conference schedules. This implies that schools will host every school in the league at least once every four years and play every opponent in the SEC over a two-year period.
Tennessee, Auburn, and LSU will probably be Alabama’s three enduring foes. Who will be Auburn’s third long-term opponent? Tradition dictates that I’m rooting for the Florida Gators.
Although Generation Z fans may not be aware of it, Auburn and Florida have a rich past. The rivalry is led by Auburn 43-39-2. Between 1945 and 2002, the two adversaries faced off annually.
Even though Tim Tebow is regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in college football history, his career record versus Auburn was 0–2.
THE SLAZIEST SECTION SCHOOL
What a normal Deep South guy would consider fighting language was the subject of a research some time ago.
The researchers came to the conclusion that it had nothing to do with sports or politics. The greatest insult to a Southern man’s character was to be considered lazy. I was reminded of that study last week while at the barbershop.
Birmingham Classic Cuts is where I occasionally have my hair cut. Their work is excellent. Tell Newman I’m here.
Despite being a huge Mississippi State supporter, Newman is honest. He claimed that State’s stadium is the laziest in the SEC because of the distinctive cowbells that spectators wear on game days. On third down, nobody cries or cheers. Just swinging the cowbells is all they do.
Lane Kiffin would undoubtedly concur.
CAPTURED IMAGES OF A CLUTTERED MIND
I am aware of everyone’s thoughts. Spider-Man found success with it.Do we become Prawn-Men if we eat those radioactive prawns at Walmart?
Spider-Man was able to detect things. Is it possible for Prawn-Man to swim back in time and change the future?
Imagine consuming that radioactive shrimp, becoming Prawn-Man, and then unexpectedly being able to travel back in time. What is the first aspect of college football history that you would change?
I would definitely persuade Bart Starr to attend Auburn; call me insane.
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The book We Want Bama: A Season of Hope and the Making of Nick Saban’s Ultimate Team was written by Joseph Goodman, who is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group.
