All eyes are on the Southeastern Conference now.
With the Atlantic Coast Conference making its huge relocation Wednesday revealing an 11-game football schedule, 3 of the Power 5 conferences have actually now established their 2020 strategies.
The SEC should be the next domino to fall.
The leagues 14 presidents and chancellors are meeting from another location today to discuss football scheduling choices. There is traction behind a 10-game conference-only schedule, as Sports Illustrated reported Wednesday, though absolutely nothing can be settled until the presidents vote. The leagues presidents do not need to make any big decisions on Thursday; in reality, the conclusion might be to kick the decision back a week to weigh more details. Nevertheless, there was a growing sense around the league that some choice need to come over completion of the week.
Will it be a 10-game conference-only schedule?
Along those lines, it is worth keeping in mind the president of the SEC (Kentuckys Dr. Eli Capilouto) and vice president (Georgias Jere Morehead) both represent schools that have important in-state competition video games.
In talking to sources around the SEC on Wednesday, no one wanted to totally rule out the SEC adopting a 10 + 1 hybrid scheduling approach like the ACC that would give each SEC school one non-conference game. There are at least a couple of schools in the SECs East department that wish to see that take place to maintain in-state rivalry video games with ACC schools.
If the SEC relocates to a 10-game conference-only approach, the schools already have a good sense of the extra conference challengers theyll have to deal with, according to sources. There is still time for adjustment, however the expectation is that because situation, the conference will keep its divisions and add 2 cross-divisional challengers to each schools schedule.
AL.com initially reported on July 9 that the feeling around the SEC was it d end up following the Big Tens conference-only course. Sources around the league were upset the Big Ten made that call so quickly and felt it backed the SEC into a corner to follow fit. The conference has now had weeks to discuss the very best choice, with an agreement amongst the ADs, albeit not consentaneous, constructing around a 10-game conference-only schedule.
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Why a conference-only method?
Next, if a video game should be canceled or postponed, which most insiders consider as likely at some time, it is easier to handle all the ramifications of that in-conference than coordinate with another conference. Weve currently seen just how much the FBS conferences have a hard time to get on the same page in the rollout of these scheduling plans. Eliminating that aspect would provide the SEC a lot more flexibility and a lot fewer possible headaches.
There are several factors why a conference-only schedule makes a lot of sense to SEC leaders. There will likely be some standardized procedures among the Power 5 conference, however there might still be differences in policies from conference to conference.
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What are the presidents considering when making a decision?
The SECs chancellors and presidents get recommendations from their athletic directors, but eventually the decision falls on them. A university president has to worry about everything on the school. Just since the ADs lean one method does not mean the presidents will do the same.
I just recently asked SEC president Dr. Capilouto what he and his peers would be carefully taking notice of ahead of this choice. As part of his response, Capilouto stated, “Will we have our facilities and actions ready? Will we have appropriate prevention interventions in location? Those are the things Ill try to find across all of our universities and the neighborhoods in which we reside.”
That stated, the sense around the SEC for weeks has been its leaders will do whatever possible to play a fall football season. Its likewise worth keeping in mind that any decision that presidents might make is still subject to change.
What are the implications of the SECs decision?
The SECs decision will not just directly impact multiple video games, however has the potential to shift multiple conferences strategies.
AL.com initially reported on July 9 that the sensation around the SEC was it d end up following the Big Tens conference-only course. The SECs presidents and chancellors get recommendations from their athletic directors, however eventually the decision falls on them. I just recently asked SEC president Dr. Capilouto what he and his peers would be carefully paying attention to ahead of this decision. If the SEC moves to a conference-only method, it could force the ACC and Big 12 to follow. It would also affect the Group of 5 conferences which typically get huge paydays from SEC schools.
If the SEC moves to a conference-only technique, it might force the ACC and Big 12 to follow. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby has informed numerous reporters that the Power 5 conferences dont need to all have the very same plan however they need to be suitable. Would it truly be worth it to the Big 12 to be the only Power 5 conference trying to play 12 video games?
It would also impact the Group of 5 conferences which usually get big paydays from SEC schools. The Group of 5 conferences have been waiting to see what the Power 5 ones decide initially, but may have no choice however to follow along if all their huge non-conference games get cleaned off the schedule.
John Talty is the sports editor and SEC Insider for Alabama Media Group. You can follow him on Twitter @JTalty.
