SEC Scheduling

[ResLife Hero]

They preserved a lot of historical rivalries, and I like the idea of mandating stronger non-conference scheduling. I'd be a little upset if I were LSU's AD after seeing the difference between their and Alabama's in-conference games.

SEC to keep traditional non-divisional rivalries, tweaks future scheduling - ESPN

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The SEC chose not to stray too far from tradition as it announced Sunday night that longstanding non-divisional rivalries would remain a fixture of the league's eight-game conference schedule.

However, in a twist focused on improving strength of schedule, the SEC will begin mandating that each program incorporate an annual nonconference game against a power conference starting in 2016.

SEC Standing Pat
The SEC on Sunday voted to keep its eight-game conference schedule. One of the non-division opponents will be a permanent annual rivalry game, meaning the following matchups will stay intact:

Alabama-Tennessee
Auburn -Georgia
Arkansas-Missouri
LSU-Florida
Ole Miss-Vanderbilt
Mississippi State-Kentucky
Texas A&M-South Carolina
Historical rivalries such as Alabama-Tennessee and Auburn-Georgia survived the chopping block as the SEC voted to keep the eight-game conference schedule that will include six games against division opponents and two games against non-division opponents.

One of the non-division opponents will be a permanent annual rivalry game. Others include: Arkansas-Missouri, LSU-Florida, Ole Miss-Vanderbilt, Mississippi State-Kentucky and Texas A&M-South Carolina.

LSU athletic director Joe Alleva isn't a fan of the permanent rivalry game and had pushed for a two-team rotation.

"I'm disappointed in the fact that the leadership of our conference doesn't understand the competitive advantage permanent partners give to certain institutions," Alleva told the New Orleans Times-Picayune on Sunday. "I tried to bring that up very strongly at the meeting today. In our league we share the money and expenses equally but we don't share our opponents equally.

"Since 2000 LSU has played Florida and Georgia 19 times and Alabama has played them eight times. That is a competitive disadvantage. There are a lot of other examples."

Starting in 2016, each school will have to play at least one opponent from either the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten or Pac-12.

SEC commissioner Mike Slive said that, beginning in 2016, all schools will be mandated to play one opponent per season from either the Big 12, Pac-12, Big Ten or ACC.
"This has been a thoughtful and deliberative process that has resulted in maintaining the current format and adds a provision that will bolster our collective annual non-conference schedule," commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement. "Critical to maintaining this format is the non-conference opponent factor which gives us the added strength-of-schedule we were seeking while allowing continued scheduling flexibility for institutional preferences, and acknowledges that many of our institutions already play these opponents."

Slive, of course, was referring to previously established rivalries like Florida-Florida State, South Carolina-Clemson, Georgia-Georgia Tech and Kentucky-Louisville.

"The concept of strength-of-schedule is based on an entire 12-game schedule, a combination of both conference games together with non-conference games," Slive said. "Given the strength of our conference schedule supplemented by at least one major non-conference game, our teams will boast of a strong resume of opponents each and every year."

The majority of SEC programs are already compliant with the upcoming mandatory nonconference scheduling. Only four teams -- Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Texas A&M -- won't play a game this coming season against an opponent from one of those four power conferences.

The SEC chose not to move forward with a nine-game conference schedule, which had been discussed but lacked sufficient backing.

Alabama coach Nick Saban seemed to be one of the few vocal proponents of the nine-game format.

"I think there's a little bit more support for staying with an eight-game schedule and everybody playing a ninth opponent that's in the five major conferences," Saban told reporters in Huntsville, Ala., last week. "My thing is I'm for playing nine conference games and still playing another team in the major conferences, so you play 10 games because of fan interest, people coming to games looking forward to seeing more good games."

 

[Cackalacky]

I agree with the LSU AD. Alabama has somehow miraculously avoided playing the schedule that other's play. I am fine with them playing the 8 game conference + 1 other big conference game (as long as it is a quality team).

 

[zelezo vlk]

Will Georgia be able to count that possible ND game as the non conference?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[irishog77]

"My thing is I'm for playing nine conference games and still playing another team in the major conferences, so you play 10 games because of fan interest, people coming to games looking forward to seeing more good games."

I felt this was the most telling quote from Saban and the article. Saban essentially acknowledging that they play a couple shit games with no real chance of losing.

 

[greyhammer90]

To be fair to Bama, they can't control whether their traditional rival is any good. They have an East team locked up every year in Tennessee and it's not their fault if Tennessee sucks, just like it's not our fault if USC or Stanford has a really bad year.

 

[Bishop2b5]

I understand LSU's point, but they weren't complaining about playing UF every year when the Gators were down, nor Bama playing UT every year when the Vols were beating us regularly. These things go in cycles. Right now the Gators are a tough out and the Vols are our whipping boy. Hasn't always been that way in the past and won't be that way forever in the future.

I'm with Saban on going to a 9 game conference schedule and eliminating one of the cupcakes. I like the 6-1-2 format instead of the 6-1-1 format, which takes too long to rotate every team from the other division onto your schedule.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Les Miles takes aim at new SEC scheduling*policies <a href="http://t.co/tsSvpYD1SU">http://t.co/tsSvpYD1SU</a></p>— CollegeFootballTalk (@CFTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFTalk/statuses/460880327880110081">April 28, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The SEC will enforce a new scheduling policy requiring all SEC members to schedule at least one game against a school from the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten or Pac-12. The new policy also locks in cross-division games that will be played annually. LSU Athletics Director Joe Alleva has already sounded off against the new policy, and head coach Les Miles is joining him in unison.

“We play the toughest schedule in America in our conference, and then we have the bias of the permanent partner,” Miles told The Advocate on Monday. LSU is paired with Florida in the conference’s locked cross-division match-ups. It is the protected crossover games that was a point of contention for Alleva as well.

LSU has played either Florida or Georgia in crossover games 19 times since 2000. Alabama has played those two SEC East powers just nine times in regular season play over that same span. This is one of the problems with an eight-game conference schedule for a 14-member conference. But Miles took aim at the non-conference scheduling portion of the new policy, one that seems to be of little concern for LSU.

“We’re now also being mandated to take a BCS team,” Miles said. “The bias of the schedule continues to be disproportionate. Fundamentally fair is not something they’ve given great thought to.”

Miles may have forgotten LSU is already scheduled to play at least one school from a BCS AQ conference through 2024, with the exception of 2018 and 2019 for the time being. Those games were scheduled before the SEC put together the new scheduling policy, but it certainly looks as though scheduling non-conference games the way LSU will now be required to do is no problem for Miles and the Tigers. So that seems like an empty punch from Miles.

Take a look at the games LSU has scheduled against teams from the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten or Pac-12…

2014: Wisconsin (in Houston, Texas)

2015: at Syracuse

2016: Wisconsin (in Green Bay, Wisconsin)

2017: Syracuse, NC State (maybe)

2020: NC State, Penn State (maybe)

2021: at UCLA

2022: at Arizona State

2023: Arizona State

2024: UCLA

There is a home-and-home agreement with Oklahoma that still needs to find dates that work for both schools. Ideally for LSU, inserting the games in the 2018 and 2019 seasons would seem to be the best fit. Doing so would satisfy the scheduling requirement for the only years in non-conference play not yet scheduled in full. The problem is Oklahoma already has started setting non-conference games for those seasons with two games against UCLA and one against Army already booked.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Will Georgia be able to count that possible ND game as the non conference?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

I doubt it. At the last SEC meeting the coaches unabimously voted ND should have to join a conference if it wants to continue to have a voice in things like the CFB playoff. I don't think they are likely to grant ND "special" status even in something minor like scheduling requirements.

 

[ResLife Hero]

I doubt it. At the last SEC meeting the coaches unabimously voted ND should have to join a conference if it wants to continue to have a voice in things like the CFB playoff. I don't think they are likely to grant ND "special" status even in something minor like scheduling requirements.

At first I wanted our ACC ties to make us a candidate, but with our schedules as tough as they are coming up, I don't think we need to worry about getting our SOS higher. Plus, we were already talking to UGA at one point about a series.

 

[irishog77]

I bet ND will count. Either their seat at the table already or their affiliation with the ACC should allow them to count the game.

I doubt the AD's and presidents would be willing to pass up the financial gain by omitting ND from the schedule by not counting that game.

 

[NDRock]

A Yahoo article I read earlier stated playing ND would count.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Really hadn't thought of this as a consequence, but I can see why they'd be getting nervous.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Schools outside the non-contracted (Power 5) conferences are worried commissioners will start banning non-conference games against them</p>— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/schadjoe/statuses/461168582680797184">April 29, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Black Irish]

I'm in favor of just about anything that A: gets SEC teams to stop scheduling FCS cupcakes and B: has the SEC play outside of their southern bubble more.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Will Muschamp said Florida would "move forward" w/out playing any more FCS opponents</p>— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/McMurphyESPN/statuses/471329147025780736">May 27, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[T Town Tommy]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Will Muschamp said Florida would "move forward" w/out playing any more FCS opponents</p>— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/McMurphyESPN/statuses/471329147025780736">May 27, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

While this is a good thing as far as fans are concerned, there is a negative to it as well. Gone will be the payday these schools receive to help them pay the bills. But in this dog eat dog world we live in, so be it. Maybe the autonomy the Big 5 seek will include a provision to help these other schools out financially. But I know that ain't gonna happen.

Now Nick.... don't be scheduling the lower level teams from the Big 5 conferences. I don't want to see Kansas, BC, Indiana, or some other lower level Big 5 school. USC was a good start. Now, go get Oregon, Stanford, Ohio State, Fla State, Clemson, Wisconsin, etc.

edit: Notre Dame too

 

[zelezo vlk]

I'm sure that there are significant negatives that I just don't care to think up, but somebody suggested that if a team was to play an FCS school, they do it in the spring instead of a spring game.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[Andy in Sactown]

While this is a good thing as far as fans are concerned, there is a negative to it as well. Gone will be the payday these schools receive to help them pay the bills. But in this dog eat dog world we live in, so be it. Maybe the autonomy the Big 5 seek will include a provision to help these other schools out financially. But I know that ain't gonna happen.

Now Nick.... don't be scheduling the lower level teams from the Big 5 conferences. I don't want to see Kansas, BC, Indiana, or some other lower level Big 5 school. USC was a good start. Now, go get Oregon, Stanford, Ohio State, Fla State, Clemson, Wisconsin, etc.

edit: Notre Dame too

There is absolutely no complete argument for an SEC v. FCS 72-0 game.

The placation that is "payday these schools receive to help them pay the bills" doesn't come close to balancing the scales with common sense.

Hope this trend continues in the face of the impending play-off system.

 

[Irish#1]

While this is a good thing as far as fans are concerned, there is a negative to it as well. Gone will be the payday these schools receive to help them pay the bills. But in this dog eat dog world we live in, so be it. Maybe the autonomy the Big 5 seek will include a provision to help these other schools out financially. But I know that ain't gonna happen.

Now Nick.... don't be scheduling the lower level teams from the Big 5 conferences. I don't want to see Kansas, BC, Indiana, or some other lower level Big 5 school. USC was a good start. Now, go get Oregon, Stanford, Ohio State, Fla State, Clemson, Wisconsin, etc.

edit: Notre Dame too

When did IU start playing football?

 

[T Town Tommy]

When did IU start playing football?

I hear ya... but they are at least getting better it seems. But much like KY, if the football was round instead of oval, they would be top 10 most years.

 

[T Town Tommy]

There is absolutely no complete argument for an SEC v. FCS 72-0 game.

The placation that is "payday these schools receive to help them pay the bills" doesn't come close to balancing the scales with common sense.

Hope this trend continues in the face of the impending play-off system.

I like the idea of tougher schedules as well, but there is that trade off when it comes to the smaller schools as well. Football will stop existing at many of those schools in the future. I do think at some point we will only have super conferences anyway and even some D1 schools that aren't football strong programs will be left out in the cold. That can't be good in the overall scheme of things. Hopefully the FCS schools and these lower level D1 schools find a way to maintain. but I really doubt it.

 

[Cackalacky]

I like the idea of tougher schedules as well, but there is that trade off when it comes to the smaller schools as well. Football will stop existing at many of those schools in the future. I do think at some point we will only have super conferences anyway and even some D1 schools that aren't football strong programs will be left out in the cold. That can't be good in the overall scheme of things. Hopefully the FCS schools and these lower level D1 schools find a way to maintain. but I really doubt it.

Honestly I am wishing for the day the NFL gets their own amateur league and schools can go back to offering regional football for student athletes.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I like the idea of tougher schedules as well, but there is that trade off when it comes to the smaller schools as well. Football will stop existing at many of those schools in the future. I do think at some point we will only have super conferences anyway and even some D1 schools that aren't football strong programs will be left out in the cold. That can't be good in the overall scheme of things. Hopefully the FCS schools and these lower level D1 schools find a way to maintain. but I really doubt it.

Virtually none of them have profitable football programs, and the only reason they remain marginally competitive is due to NCAA regulations which constrain power programs from really flexing their muscles. But such schools are constantly finding ways to circumvent those constraints, and the current system is probably on its way out sooner than later regardless.

The future of CFB looks pretty bleak for everyone outside of the Big 5 conferences.

 

[Cackalacky]

Muschamp is the latest SEC coach to come out and say he absolutely wants an FCS free schedule. LOL. No more Charleston Southern and Citadel.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Alabama Needs Another Opponent for 2015 - Team Speed Kills

The number of asterisks by each team's name denotes how many Power 5 non-conference games they have lined up already. Stanford only has three non-conference slots and has two P5 teams already, so it's understandable if the Cardinal doesn't want to slot in Bama too. Georgia Tech, Pitt, and UNC have a decent excuse as well.

But others don't. Arizona has UTSA and Nevada. NC State has Troy, Old Dominion, and South Alabama, the latter two being very recent I-A imports. PSU has Temple, Buffalo, and San Diego State. UConn has Villanova, Army, and BYU.

Wow those are soft out of conference match ups.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Alabama Needs Another Opponent for 2015 - Team Speed Kills

I say forget Georgia and tell the Irish to give Bama a call. Let two of the legendary programs in CFB duke it out on the field.

 

[Irish YJ]

I say forget Georgia and tell the Irish to give Bama a call. Let two of the legendary programs in CFB duke it out on the field.

Hey triple T, no thank you. Let us get a couple warm up games with UGA and UT first

 

[T Town Tommy]

Hey triple T, no thank you. Let us get a couple warm up games with UGA and UT first

I think the Irish would do just fine. They are building the depth they need and have elevated their skill positions. Would be a great game.

 

[Irish YJ]

Muschamp is the latest SEC coach to come out and say he absolutely wants an FCS free schedule. LOL. No more Charleston Southern and Citadel.

Is that because he would rather be beat by soft power conference team instead of being beat by GA Southern, or close calls with LA-Laf and Bowling Green.

 

[Cackalacky]

Is that because he would rather be beat by soft power conference team instead of being beat by GA Southern, or close calls with LA-Laf and Bowling Green.

Haha. I like where your head is at.

IMO it is because the playoff will actually take into account strength of schedule, or at least the appearance of it. So the power conferences are scrambling to offload their crap games.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

IMO it is because the playoff will actually take into account strength of schedule, or at least the appearance of it. So the power conferences are scrambling to offload their crap games.

Strongest endorsement of the new system we've seen yet.