Robert Craft
Gator Bait
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Here are my predictions for Florida’s W-L record in 2023, with the % chances for a Gator win in parentheses — according to ESPN matchup predictor..
Aug. 31, at Utah (29.7% chance):
A lot of this depends on Cam Rising. Even if he’s healthy, what will he look like in his first game back from surgery? The Florida defense will have to keep the Gators in the game, and I think they will. But it still looks like a loss. (Utah)
Sept. 9, McNeese State (99% chance):
The Gators get a cupcake game for their home opener after having to wait five weeks for one in 2022. (Florida)
Sept. 16, Tennessee (51.7% chance)
This week-three matchup is the one that could either generate significant momentum or place Gator Nation down in the dumps. The last time the Vols won in The Swamp, most of the players on the field hadn’t been born yet. I’m not buying the Joe Milton hype right now. (Florida)
Sept. 23, Charlotte (96.3% chance)
The second cupcake game of the season. It gets real after this. (Florida)
Sept. 30, at Kentucky (48.4% chance)
The hope for the Gators is that the offensive line won’t commit eight false starts again in Lexington, and Graham Mertz will take care of the ball better than A.R. did last year.
At this point in the season, younger players on the roster will be stepping up and making an impact. (Florida)
Oct. 7, Vanderbilt (90.4% chance)
This won’t be a repeat of 2022. The Gators should never lose to Vanderbilt on the football field, and they’ll correct that in 2023. (Florida)
Oct. 14, at South Carolina (58.9% chance)
The Gamecocks bring back Spencer Rattler, which has them getting more hype than they deserve this offseason. If the Gators want to record a statement road victory against South Carolina, they will need to take control of the football and make the most of their possessions. That starts at the quarterback position with Graham Mertz. (South Carolina)
Oct. 28, Georgia (13.8% chance)
For me, Georgia is a much better team. Coming off back-to-back national championships, Georgia’s defense is going to be scary. Florida doesn’t have the roster to compete with the Bulldogs. (Georgia)
Nov. 4, Arkansas (66.2% chance)
Arkansas is on the rise under Sam Pittman and they continue to upgrade their roster.
This game could go either way and should be a close one til the end, but playing at the Swamp could be the difference maker. The Swamp will be packed with recruits wanting to see the black uniforms, and the Gators cannot bring them out and lose. (Florida)
Nov. 11, at LSU (18.5% chance)
The Gators kept pace in this rivalry game, but Jayden Daniels and the Tigers will be too much to handle in Death Valley. (LSU)
Nov. 18, at Missouri (58.1% chance)
I will say this … I have seen Florida lose this game. Late in the season, likely a noon (11 am local) kickoff. It will be early, cold, and mostly empty in the other Columbia. Sandwiched between LSU and FSU, this has trap written all over it. (Florida)
Nov. 25, FSU (50.3% chance)
Florida State comes into The Swamp as a College Football Playoff contender. This year’s home matchup against FSU is a tossup due to the emotion of the game and Florida being at home.
The Seminoles are the more talented program right now, but that’s not always the deciding factor in a rivalry match. (FSU)
Frankly, the schedule is a bear. Mertz isn’t a great quarterback but the offense isn’t the real problem. It’s the Defense!
If Florida’s Defense doesn’t improve this season, the Gators will struggle to win 6 games and they won’t have a season to be proud of.
UCF Knights 2023 Preview
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
“When you look at your schedule, there’s no off weeks,” UCF head coach Gus Malzahn said. “You’ve got to bring your A-game every week. That’s really what stands out to me coming in as a new kid on the block.”
Without a doubt, 2023 boasts the toughest schedule in UCF football’s history.
It’s exactly what the Knights want: the chance to play before sold-out crowds on tradition-rich Big 12 campuses.
With the five Big 12 road games and one at Boise State in non-conference play, it’s still a more manageable schedule than any other BIG 12 team.
Let me be clear- it’s not all going to be easy. Those road dates at Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech will keep UCF from cranking out a massive debut season.
Do the Knights have the skill level, depth, and toughness to compete in their new conference?
Head Coach Gus Malzahn has been preparing for UCF’s first season in the Power 5 for two years, with the goal of building a roster that’s able to match up with the Big 12.
Malzahn and his staff dove into the transfer portal, adding 18 new transfers to the 2023 roster. A handful of hot-handed new players come with Power 5 experience and clout.
John Rhys Plumlee (JRP) returns for year two at UCF as one of Malzahn’s most trusted leaders, entrenched as the starting quarterback.
JRP returns with a wealth of talent around him, from receivers Javon Baker, Kobe Hudson and Trent Whittemore to tight end Alec Holler and running backs RJ Harvey, Demarkcus Bowman, and Johnny Richardson.
There’s a new playcaller at UCF. Malzahn brought in offensive coordinator Darin Hinshaw this offseason.
Before Malzahn arrived at UCF, the Knights boasted one of the most explosive offenses in the country. The scoring average dropped from 40+ points per game in 2020 to around 32 per game in 2021 and 2022. Big 12 dogfights will happen this season. UCF must keep up.
The Knights defense is okay at best. They need to be a more disruptive force to win games this year.
The run defense got ripped up late last season, the pass defense had issues during the middle of the season. There are enough good veterans back to be better in 2023. Against real competitors, will UCF only be able to perform on one side of the ball?
For the fans: There will be an upset here and there, but there also isn’t a sure win outside of Kent State and Villanova. Are you worried?
Don’t underestimate anything this team and program can do, but figure on at least two losses between the road trips to Boise State, Oklahoma, and Kansas State, and at best the away games against Cincinnati, Kansas, and Texas Tech are 50/50.
With a manageable schedule, will UCF manage a successful season?
My concern is for quarterback health. Rhys Plumlee doesn’t shy away from contact and is regularly on the move behind an offensive line that may be worse than last year’s. Taking hits piles up, and he’s already missed games in his career. If Rhys Plumlee misses games in 2023, UCF is in serious trouble.
UCF could win 8 or 9 game with a healthy Plumlee but if he’s injured or playing hurt 6 or 7 games is the ceiling.
Rough Winds
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Miami should be better than they have shown- this program has big talent that is worth getting excited about.
With that being said, The Hurricanes took a big step backwards during Mario Cristobal’s first season as head coach. Does this team have what it takes to change their downward trajectory?
On one hand, Cristobal underachieved at Oregon in addition to Miami. I have no confidence in his ability to turn around a program that has managed one double-digit win since 2004.
The Hurricanes bring in new coordinators on both sides of the ball and a flurry of transfers, but is it enough? A lot will hinge on Tyler Van Dyke reverting to 2021 form following his 2022 injury-riddled season but, even then…
Shannon Dawson, unlike Miami’s previous offensive coordinator, doesn’t believe the Hurricanes have a talent problem. Of course, Dawson, a former assistant to Hal Mumme and Dana Holgerson, had more talent to work with than Josh Gattis did. Sounds like Dawson’s speaking from experience.
Coach Cristobal beefed up the Canes offensive line with two huge transfers and two five-star offensive tackle recruits. He added much needed depth at running back, wide receiver and tight end through the portal and incoming freshman class. I mean, how hard is it to sell Miami to a high school senior?
Dawson said he’ll be on the field to call plays so he can look his quarterback in the eye.
The position belongs to Van Dyke, with Brown set as backup after Jake Garcia transferred to Missouri. Freshman Emory Williams, a former Elite 11 Finalist, looked good in the spring game, but the feeling is Brown and his break neck speed is on pace to replace Van Dyke.
Last year, Miami’s season spiraled when Van Dyke sprained the AC joint in his throwing shoulder in a home loss to Duke.
Miami’s defense last season finished 10th in the ACC in points allowed per game (26.8), 11th in yards allowed per rush (4.0) and next-to-last in passing efficiency defense, allowing a league-worst 8.3 yards per attempt. The Hurricanes also finished 98th nationally in third-down defense (42 percent). Isn’t there a saying about defense and championships? What’s not clicking on this side of the ball?
Lance Guidry (new defensive coordinator) isn’t the type of coordinator who believes you need to dive deep into your bench for help. His philosophy is to play his best players — a lot.
Let’s face it, this is a program that’s wallowed in disappointment for a while now. Miami has won 10 games once in the last 19 seasons, a once unfathomable statistic for a program that had won 10 or more games in nine of 10 seasons from 1985-94. It feels their teams always have potential, but never enough to break the downward trend.
Then there’s the schedule. Miami’s already been listed by DraftKings as a 6-5-point underdog at home vs. Texas A&M, gives up 10 points at Clemson and is a double-digit underdog at FSU as well, plus the Canes are likely going to be underdogs at North Carolina. It’s not easy being an elite football program without an elite football team.
With those considered probable losses, there also will be matchups against pretty good NC State and Louisville teams. Those could go either way.
Miami was atrocious as a unit on both sides of the ball, especially when you look at their talent. Sure, that talent raises the floor, but last year was such a disaster that it’s hard to project them getting eight wins.
ACC All Gone?
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The SEC and Big Ten (right now) don’t want to expand and steal someone from the ACC or Pac-12, both commissioners Greg Sankey and Tony Petitti have stated that publicly.
The potential implosion of the ACC or Pac-12 might change that. If the Pac-12 collapses or big names like North Carolina, Florida State, Clemson and the like find a way out of the ACC Grant of Rights, the Big Ten and SEC would be concerned about the other scooping up another big market name, and that changes the dynamic.
Sankey has maintained that the SEC only added Texas/Oklahoma because the schools approached the conference and SEC would have been foolish to pass. (And yes, Notre Dame is the only obvious TV additive right now if you’re the SEC or Big Ten, sorry).
If I’m the ACC, increasing my value is top priority, therefore I wouldn’t fall far behind the Big Ten and the SEC, and keep it that way until at least the end of the decade. Smart conferences will already find new revenue streams in a new and ever-evolving market.
Would a smart conference stay in contact with the Pac-12? Would some sort of scheduling alliance or partnership be available? An eye on the Pac-12; if anyone follows Colorado out the door, it could lead to total collapse.
Already, Florida State, Clemson and others have made it clear that they believe they deserve more (money). Do they see themselves splitting the pie by another four slices? Is it evenly shared? Probably not. Could you do a tiered revenue split and add a western wing? I know things are never as simple as they sound on paper, but I’d explore any option to preserve the brightest future for the program.
Of course, there is always the possibility that someone challenges the ACC’s grant of rights and tries to exit the league. Florida State has a virtual board of trustees meeting soon.
The Seminoles would have to give notice of their withdrawal from the ACC by Aug. 15 in order to compete in a new league by fall 2024 (where would they go? How much is the exit fee?).
If the ACC breaks open, we’ll have a different conversation. The ACC could keep its current membership and become an aggressor in the media profit landscape if 1) they want a fight; and 2) they don’t open up an escape for FSU or Clemson or anyone to get out of the grant of rights.
The ACC corner of realignment is the most intriguing off-field action. The more I watch, the more questions surface. The result of this conflict will set the tone and trajectory for the future of a historically competitive conference.
Walking the Plank
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There was no way for the Bucs to find another quarterback who could command the offense the way Brady did. So, they chose to give the gifted but unsuccessful Baker Mayfield a chance and allow room for the development of second-year passer Kyle Trask.
The Bucs will be dependent on much more than whoever is throwing the ball. They will need solid coaching, an improved running game, dependable receivers, and a better defense. It will take many to replace the greatest in the history of the game.
I feel like the Bucs, without Tom Brady, have fallen off the face of the earth. Has there ever been a team that went from winning a Super Bowl two short years ago to fighting for relevance within its own division this fast? (OK, let’s leave the Rams out of this.)
Let’s start with the reality that Tampa was somewhat limited by salary cap issues they knew would come due (such as $35 million in the wake of Tom Brady’s retirement). Releasing running back Leonard Fournette ($5 million) and several others totaling $75 million in dead money … yikes. Nothing like biting the bullet for 2023- and Tampa Bay has lead teeth.
The Bucs defense is easiest to trust, and they will have to sustain dominance to give their tender offense the chance to score. Overall, they ranked in the top half of the league in most defensive stats last season, being top 10 in sacks and third down stops.
Devin White’s performance has tailed off a bit since his All-Pro season in 2020, nevertheless he is a supremely gifted linebacker and at 25 he probably has not yet played his best ball.
White should be more motivated than ever. He reportedly requested a trade in the offseason because he wants his contract reworked.
The Bucs exercised the option year of his rookie contract and he will be a free agent after this season, barring an extension or tag.
White knows the cost of middle linebackers has gone up in the last year with Roquan Smith, Fred Warner, and Tremaine Edmunds signing new deals. White and the defense need to play at an extremely high level for the Bucs to have anywhere close to a successful season.
I like GM Jason Licht’s philosophy of drafting BIG with his top three picks this year — two front-seven players on defense and an offensive tackle. Add free-agent acquisition Greg Gaines from the Rams at defensive tackle, and this group has gotten a nice makeover on a limited budget.
Also, it’s year 2 under head coach Todd Bowles, and roles should be defined more clearly after the awkward departure of Bruce Arians last offseason.
On offense, I struggle with Baker Mayfield. He is on his fourth team since being the first pick in the 2018 draft. I have less faith in Kyle Trask.
The Bucs’ inexperience at running back and lack of depth in the perimeter leave me with more questions than answers for this offense.
Today, I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt as the division winner from 2022, even if it was with an 8-9 record.
At least they have that Super Bowl trophy to shine up if all else fails. If the future’s looking bad, why not live in the past Tampa Bay?
Moving On Up
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
For a team coming off a playoff win in 2023, Jacksonville’s handling of prosperity might be an issue. This season, expect the Jaguars to be in hunting mode.
Being a hunter is a mindset that shapes messaging within a team’s development and morale. Finishing last season in the top 10 in points per game and third down conversion is hefty proof of promise.
In addition, their franchise quarterback has shown serious advancement in his playmaking ability; a good QB1 should make most folks rest easy in Duval County, considering what they’ve been through the last decade. Their competitive fire should have them targeting the gap between them and the AFC elite – this year that target is realistic for Jacksonville.
The Jags defense has ‘more hard to block’ players than any other team in the league. General Manager Trent Baalke has shown an impressive management style by adopting the one simple philosophy that analytic teams despise: drafting the best player available when it’s time to select.
The Jags were known for being driven by numbers and analytics when team building in the past. This season’s build is proof that old-fashioned eyeball evaluation (football sense, some call), can pair successfully with the objective statistical approach that Jags owner Shad Khan instituted upon acquiring the team.
Jacksonville has multiple pass rushers, but outside linebacker Josh Allen and defensive lineman Travon Walker are elite.
At the inside linebacker spots, they have athletic ability that most teams only dream about, with under-the-radar Foyesade Oluokun and 2022 first-round pick Devin Lloyd. Both fly around at a frantic pace, but once the game slows down for them, they will rival 49ers Pro Bowler Fred Warner.
My worry is that the results Jacksonville posted in 2022 are much less than the individual parts are capable of. They do lack some cover skills in the secondary as evidenced by their ranking of 29th in the league in getting off the field on third downs, and their 35 sacks as a team, which tied for 25th most, is mind-boggling.
These are unacceptable results for a team that blitzed on a division-high 25 percent of snaps.
This defense needs to come together in its second year under coordinator Mike Caldwell. The rise of the Jags to a level needed to compete with the Bills, Bengals and Chiefs is predicated on getting more out of its talented crew on defense.
Oh yeah, and if I had a couple of extra bucks, I might just throw it down for giggles on Walker as the AFC Defensive Player of the Year. He’s that good.
With the four-game suspension Cam Robinson for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, the Jaguars must find way to protect their franchise quarterback.
This team will go as far as Trevor Lawrence can take them — and there’s potential for that to be pretty far — but it’s asking a lot of him to outduel some of the AFC’s premier quarterbacks if the defense doesn’t generate enough pressure.
South Beach Swag
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The decision-makers in Miami must be after my heart.
They’re building an offense that can score from anywhere on the field with big-play ability and game-changing speed that is both fun and exciting.
It got even more explosive with this year’s draft addition of Devon Achane, their new third-string running back.
The problem is the Dolphins ran the ball less than every team in the NFL last year except for one (the Buccaneers). Teams who dominate run the ball well.
For Miami, this standing has to change. Mike McDaniel came to Miami with a reputation of being a run game specialist; he needs to put that into action.
The Dolphins also ranked in the bottom third offensively on third-down conversions in a league that is all about matchups and third downs.
A healthy QB1 should help the conversion rate improve, but that’s a big ask with Tua Tagovailoa’s injury history. What would make me sleep easier as a Dolphin decision-maker is the addition of Mike White as QB2.
I am a believer in White’s skill and mindset. This is a big upgrade over Teddy Bridgewater. In all likelihood it’s not a question of whether he will play, but when?
On the other side of the ball the defense has undergone another serious facelift. Playmaking but undersized David Long was signed from the Titans to play inside linebacker, and salary cap-heavy defensive back Jalen Ramsey was added for a discount from the rebuilding Rams.
The Fins’ blitz rate was third most in the league in 2022, and they played some form of man coverage 39 percent of the time, second most in the league.
They are taking on much risk for the results they received: 24th in points allowed per game, 24th in stopping opponents on third downs and 28th in QB rating allowed (95.3).
Combine these bottom-feeding numbers with a turnover margin of minus -7, and the Dolphins were lucky to get in the playoffs last year. They gave up 113 more points than the Bills for the season. If that doesn’t improve, they are going nowhere.
A large concern across the board is the depth and quality of the offensive line protecting Tua Tagovailoa. An O-line that can’t open up running lanes remains a concern for any pro team.
The Miami Dolphins have a Super Bowl-caliber roster with health at quarterback and a more potent rushing attack, so improved play from this new unit is paramount.
Isaiah Wynn was a smart signing; he can fill in capably if/when Terron Armstead misses time again while also competing with Liam Eichenberg to start at left guard.
The Dolphins need right tackle Austin Jackson to take a step forward this season and consistently protect Tagovailoa’s blindside. If he does that, Armstead stays healthy for a majority of the year and the low-cost additions of Wynn, Dan Feeney and Cedric Ogbuehi bolster the depth to withstand injuries, this team is capable of winning the AFC East and making serious noise in the playoffs.
With only four picks in this past April’s draft, the message is clear — the Dolphins are built for “right now.” Why not add free agent Dalvin Cook?
There are still open ends to be excited about as we enter the season. This is a giant year for team builders in South Beach.
Benefit Of The Doubt
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It was hardly the kind of news that moved the recruiting world: Late last week, Nnamdi Ogboko, a nose tackle from Garner, N.C., committed to Georgia.
Ogboko is a three-star prospect and the 94th-ranked nose tackle. His overall national rank is 934th.
Hmm. A three-star nose tackle from North Carolina committing to Georgia? Is there any precedent for that?
Ogboko’s commitment reinforced how much Kirby Smart and his staff have earned the benefit of the doubt.
The Georgia recruiting colossus was built, not just on five-star prospects (and there have been plenty), but on the likes of Jordan Davis (same background as Ogboko), Ladd McConkey (three-star prospect ranked in the 1,000s of his class) and Stetson Bennett (his story is well known).
These solid-but-not-star role playing recruits are an area of need, and so far defensive line coach Tray Scott is coming through. (There’s a reason he’s a position coach earning $1 million.)
In early June, Jordan Thomas and Justin Greene gave the program two four-star commits, and since then, Quintavius Johnson and Ogboko have been added. (Johnson could end up playing more on the edge than the traditional defensive line.)
The hallmark of the Smart era has been a blend of winning big recruiting battles, trusting the coaches’ evaluations and developing.
As the 2024 class takes shape — and things are far along — Georgia again seems to be combining the usual array of blue-chip players with lesser-heralded players like Ogboko.
There may be two national championship trophies in the building pulling in top talent, but the formula is staying consistent. Some thoughts on where things stand at this point:
There are 21 commitments — one reason the class is ranked No. 1 in the 247Sports Composite. (It measures quality as well as quantity.)
So far, the only power conference teams with more commitments were Stanford (24) and Michigan and Minnesota (23 each).
Among those hanging back is Alabama, with only eight commitments — one reason it’s only ranked 28th. But both those numbers will improve before December.
Ohio State, another program that regularly competes for the top ranking, has 16 commitments and is ranked second.
Dylan Raiola, the top overall recruit in the country, is now technically an in-state commit for Georgia, after deciding to play his senior year at Buford High, about 50 miles from Athens.
Meanwhile, Ryan Puglisi is giving all outward signs he’s holding on to his commitment. The four-star player from Avon, Conn., committed to Georgia in October, and Smart and Bobo seem eager to keep him in the fold despite Raiola’s addition.
Only two offensive linemen are committed to UGA: three-star players Marcus Harrison (Hamburg, N.Y.) and Malachi Toliver (Cartersville, Ga.). That means there’s room to add.
Returning to the size of the class, Georgia is in a good position. Why? Signing limits don’t exist anymore. Other schools can’t recruit against it and say, “Look, Georgia is already at the 25-man limit.”
Schools only need to be under the 85-scholarship limit, and Georgia can tell recruits — as can any school — that it expects attrition after the season, either via the portal or the NFL Draft. Things are changing in the NCAA.
There’s still time for subtractions and additions to Georgia’s list. Kirby has established himself as an ALPHA recruiter.
If You Build It…
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Nobody cares about other sports. It’s all about football.
As long as football is going well, the money is rolling in, the fans are happy, and the athletic department has money to count it will be that way. Because (financially) nobody cares about other sports.
Georgia, like every SEC program, has a lot of money coming in every year, and the football program’s success means donations are high. But that’s football money, so there’s only so much of it that’s going to be redirected to other sports.
The public perception of an AD still revolves largely around coaching hires. Josh Brooks inherited his most high-profile one: Kirby Smart, who will be at Georgia for a long time.
The football program basically runs itself, with Smart overseeing a staff of about 150 coaches, trainers, student assistants and other staffers.
Athletic Director Brooks still oversees the program, but he knows he can devote more time to the other 20 sports under his purview.
Here’s a look at other UGA programs getting shafted when it comes to spending:
Stegeman Coliseum had to be closed this spring because of a roofing error, it was suggested by staff and directors for the school to build a new arena.
The final decision was fixing the roof and continuing renovations to the arena. Stegeman Coliseum houses men and women’s basketball, gymnastics, and volleyball.
Similarly, UGA decided on renovations for Foley Field, rather than building a new stadium for the baseball team.
Contrarily, the track program is getting a new facility, or at least the process has begun to build it near the softball and soccer complexes, off Milledge Avenue.
That decision is not about favoring track. Brooks said, “it’s about what makes the most sense”, pointing to the track program having a small space in its current area, which eventually will become a practice field for football.
Georgia has long seemed to need a master plan for facilities instead of jumping from project to project and wasting money. Witness the millions spent in 2010 on a small-scale indoor facility for football, knocked down five years later to build a bigger one.
An official master plan has not been released. Brooks said he has been hesitant to release the plan to remain flexible to change.
With NIL becoming the new wave, donations for facilities may be dwindling. In Georgia’s case, they have their major football projects checked off, just in time.
Georgia wanted to be successful in football and they are now the two-time National Champs. But, that price came with every other program on campus practicing and playing in substandard facilities.
The Great Eight
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The SEC’s conference scheduling movement received some insight Thursday on the 2024 season. Here’s what you need to know.
The SEC is not adding a ninth game, at least not yet: It will go with a stopgap solution of an eight-game schedule in 2024, when Oklahoma and Texas join the league, with a decision yet to come on a long-term format.
Keeping eight games in 2024 is more a reflection of not having the votes to go to nine, sources in the conference said, and athletic programs are holding out with hope that an ESPN deal will increase the payout to the SEC in exchange for going to nine.
In the meantime, the 2024 schedule is a stopgap. The exact matchups will be revealed on June 14 in an SEC Network special. It will preserve traditional rivalries, Sankey said.
He didn’t confirm whether that means Texas and Texas A&M will meet in 2024, along with Auburn-Georgia and Alabama -Tennessee, but strongly hinted at it.
The SEC is keeping a requirement that every team must play at least one non-conference game from another Power 5 conference (or Notre Dame) for the 2024 season, but the requirement could end up being dropped if the SEC goes to a nine-game schedule in 2025.
Divisions will be eliminated, as expected, with the top two teams in the 16-team standings will make the SEC championship.
The decision on a long-term format remains between the 3-6 format (three permanent opponents and rotate the other six) or 1-7 format (one permanent opponent and rotate the other seven). And a decision on that could be made soon.
The conference has been debating the schedule for more than a year, and the nine-game format was considered the heavy favorite. But enough resistance emerged over the past few months, and there weren’t enough votes for either the nine-game format or eight-game format on a long-term basis this week at SEC meetings. So the conference went with this solution.
Lack of media money from ESPN still appears to be the main consideration for SEC programs.
Georgia president Jere Morehead has consistently pointed to that, first saying last September: “We have to see, if we go to a nine-game schedule, is that going to provide an opportunity to renegotiate the contracts with ESPN and the like? What we negotiated now was an eight-game schedule.”
All this, according to the two-time defending national championship coach, is ridiculous. “The most overrated conversation there ever was,” Georgia’s Kirby Smart said.
ESPN and the SEC agreed to a 10-year contract in December 2020, prior to Oklahoma and Texas joining the conference. The contract included a pro rate clause where ESPN would pay a basic amount more if it added any new teams.
The SEC was hoping, perhaps assuming, that because it added Oklahoma and Texas, along with a ninth game, it would be more. ESPN/Disney is dealing with layoffs and other uncertainty. They have not made that commitment yet.
