In line with his usual style, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey proudly declared on Monday that no other conference would opt to trade their conference schedule for an eight-game SEC schedule. Sankey’s statement is biased, but is it entirely inaccurate? Well, he may be stretching the truth a bit.
During televised remarks at the start of his conference’s media days, Sankey stated, “I don’t believe there’s anyone looking to swap their conference schedule and its opponents with the opponents played by SEC conference teams in our conference schedule.” However, upon closer examination of conference schedules, it’s hard to believe that no one would consider trading their schedule for an SEC one.
Sankey highlighted the overall strength of the SEC and its conference schedule, emphasizing that SEC teams consistently face tough opponents, leading to high strength-of-schedule metrics. While this is true, Sankey failed to acknowledge that the SEC’s eight-game conference schedule allows for more matchups against weaker opponents compared to conferences like the Big Ten and Big 12, which play nine conference games.
It is worth noting that not all Big Ten and Big 12 teams play a non-conference game against a Power Four opponent, unlike the SEC and ACC, which require such matchups. Sankey also mentioned the possibility of the SEC considering increasing the number of conference football games, but this decision hinges on how the College Football Playoff evaluates strength of schedule and record.
In his address, Sankey claimed that all 16 SEC members played at least nine games against strong opponents last season, with some playing 10 out of 12 games against power teams. While this is impressive, it’s important to note that the debate over the SEC’s conference schedule for future seasons remains undecided.
In summary, while Sankey’s pride in the SEC’s strength is justified, his claim that no one would trade their conference schedule for an SEC one may not hold true for all teams. The debate over conference schedules and strength of opponents continues, with the SEC considering potential changes in the future.
Last season, Florida faced 11 Power Four opponents, while Georgia and LSU faced 10 each. This year, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina will play against 10 Power Four opponents in the SEC. The other SEC teams will face nine Power Four opponents, except for Mississippi, who will play eight SEC opponents and Washington State from the Pac-12. Most teams from the ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12 will have at least 10 games against Power Four competition, with some playing only nine. Baylor and TCU from the Big 12 will face 11 Power Four opponents.
Commissioner Sankey stated that no one would want to trade their conference schedule with the SEC teams due to the tough opponents. However, this claim seems exaggerated. For example, Wisconsin will play seven of its nine Big Ten games against teams that had a strong record last season. The Badgers will also face tough opponents like Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, and Oregon within a challenging stretch in October.
On the other hand, Missouri, Tennessee, and Auburn have relatively lighter conference schedules compared to Wisconsin. Rutgers’ Big Ten schedule includes matchups against strong teams like Oregon, Illinois, Ohio State, and Penn State, making it one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Some teams might prefer trading their schedules for an SEC draw, with Wisconsin leading the pack.
For more college football insights, you can contact Blake Toppmeyer, the national college football columnist for the USA TODAY Network, at BToppmeyer@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.
