SEC Elects To Play Eight-Game Schedule, Rid Divisions In 2024

The wait is finally over and Southeastern Conference has its answer on future football.

According to Sports Illustrated's Ross Dellenger, the SEC will play eight in-division games for the 2024 season once Texas and Oklahoma arrive from the Big 12. Athletic directors and team presidents met this past week to determine if the arrival of the two new schools would lead to either an eight- or nine-game future schedule.

As expected, the SEC will also rid itself of divisions starting July 1, 2024. The top two teams in the standings at the end of the season will meet in Atlanta, Ga., to play for the conference title at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The case of a tiebreaker has not been determined as of this time.

The SEC did explore two and four-year 8-game models as well and settled on one year.

Greg Sankey expects to have a more long-term scheduling format approved by this time next year.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) June 1, 2023

Regarding rivalries, the SEC will keep every team's primary rival and secondary rival for the start of the 2024 season. Currently, it's expected that Texas A&M will face LSU as its primary rival, though its secondary antagonist could change once the Longhorns arrive.

Texas and Oklahoma were always expected to keep the Red River Showdown in the Cotton Bowl at the State Fair of Texas a part of the terms when joining the SEC. According to reports, both schools are in talks to upgrade specific amenities inside the Cotton Bowl for fan experience but are expected to sign a new deal.

Division place is eliminated, as expected. Two top teams from the standings play in the title game.

The one Power 5 non-conference game requirement remains.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) June 1, 2023

According to Dellenger, votes remained in favor of an eight-game schedule despite several athletic directors' vocalness to expand to nine during SEC Meetings this week in Destin, Fla.. For expansion to occur, at least eight schools must have voted in favor of the notion. Per Dellenger, the belief was that only five votes were in favor of the change.

“We want to play (Texas) every year,” Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork told reporters earlier this week about expanding the schedule to nine games. “But in an eight-game model, that’s not guaranteed. In a nine-game model it would be guaranteed. That’s another reason we’re in favor of nine is we want to play Texas every year and we made that clear.”

Neither Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte nor Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione — both of whom were in attendance — were unable to cast a vote due to their respective programs playing in the Big 12 for the 2023 season.

“College athletics is about playing traditional rivals,” Del Conte said. “OU is a traditional rival for us, and for a lot of fans it’s A&M. For a lot of the (older) group, it’s Arkansas. … We have a lot of fans who are looking forward to the Arkansas game and a lot of fans who are looking forward to the A&M game.

In terms of how next season's eight games will be decided, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said that games would be determined based on "expectation of fairness and balance" & "honor our traditional rivalries." The SEC's 2024 schedule will be announced on June 14 on a special primetime show on SEC Network.

Greg Sankey does confirm that the SEC will explore a long-term scheduling format that, Sankey says, is "fully open." Continuing dialogue will continue.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) June 1, 2023

Only matchups will be announced while dates and times will come at a later time. According to Dellenger, the eight-game schedule will be a short-term format and be discussed for further expansion soon, and that constant dialogue for a nine-game schedule will continue past 2024.

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