Report: SEC Attempting to Keep Non-Conference Games on Schedules

While the Big-10 and Pac-12 have canceled non-conference games in 2020, the SEC is working to keep non-conference games as part of their team's schedules.

There are multiple scenarios under consideration for the coming college football season across the Southeastern Conference; there is one possible scheduling consideration that should excite fans. 

The 8-2 model, which, if adopted, would mean that the conference would hold to their current schedule of 8 conference games and then play two non-conference matchups to complete a 10-game season schedule. 

The 8-2 model was one of the things discussed on Monday when conference officials and athletic directors met in Birmingham, according to a report from SportsIllustratred's Ross Dellenger and Pat Forde. 

"Though the dates of those games may change, officials are working to keep them as part of an altered fall season that, in the SEC’s case, may include a 10-game schedule: eight conference games and two non-conference games—referred to as an 8-and-2 model. That was one of the many models discussed Monday in a meeting among SEC athletic directors at league headquarters. Those with knowledge of the meeting’s dialogue spoke to Sports Illustrated under condition of anonymity. An SEC spokesman declined comment when reached Wednesday."

There is little doubt, according to a source who spoke with Commodore Country, that the conference and its athletic directors want to play a full 12-game slate. Still, the reality of the situation is that it might not be possible, so other options must be in place. 

There are other options, according to Dellenger and Forde. 

"Barring a full, 12-game schedule, three models emerged as strong possibilities with league power brokers: an eight-game conference-only schedule and a nine or 10-game plan that would preserve at least one scheduled matchup with a Power 5 conference program." 

In their attempts to keep Power Five matchups, the three remaining conferences (SEC, ACC, Big-12) who have not yet altered their plans would allow marquee matchups such as the in-state game between Florida State-Florida, and out of state matchups like Vanderbilt-Kansas State to remain on schedule.      

For the Commodores, this is their most high profile non-conference game, and even though it is a road game, it is one that the school and conference would desperately like to hold on to, if possible. 

Commissioner Greg Sankey has been the brunt of complaints on multiple occasions during his tenure. Still, he and his staff and the conferences athletic administrators should be applauded for their patience here in waiting as long as possible to make a final call, but having multiple options available to them to allow for a season hopefully. 

We still don't know how this will play out in the end, but these folks are doing all they can.

Follow Greg on Twitter @GregAriasSports and @SIVanderbilt or Facebook at Vanderbilt Commodores-Maven.