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CFP expansion could lead to SEC adding 9th conference game, Big Ten opponents
By Andrew Olson
Published:
College Football Playoff expansion could mean 4 SEC teams make the field automatically every year. If that comes to be, the conference is likely to change how it does scheduling in major ways.
Inside Ross Dellenger’s lengthy Yahoo Sports report on CFP expansion is a ramification section.
It’s no secret that other conferences consider it unfair that SEC teams play just 8 conference games while others, such as the Big Ten, play 9 conference games. Per Dellenger, the SEC has feared that more losses could cost conference programs opportunities in the CFP. There is also the issue of getting more revenue from ESPN for adding another conference game
Both issues could be resolved soon, opening the door for the SEC to make drastic changes. Dellenger reports that the SEC and ESPN could soon reach an agreement on revenue for the 9th SEC conference game.
And if the CFP votes to expand to a 14- or 16-team format with 4 automatic bids each for the SEC and the B1G, then the SEC no longer has to worry about conference losses costing its teams.
Since the SEC added Oklahoma and Texas in 2024 to become a 16-team league, there have been questions about whether the conference would remain at 8 games or move to 9 games. The SEC initially announced a 1-off schedule for the 2024 season. It was then decided the same opponents would be used for 2025, flipping home and away meetings. No announcement has been made for 2026.
In addition to a 9th conference game, SEC teams could be looking at Big Ten opponents to the schedule. Per Dellenger, annual SEC-B1G games would be sold as their own TV package.
Dellenger discussed the potential schedule changes and more during a Monday appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show, noting some SEC programs would be hesitant to remove other nonconference games played annually.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
