Three burning questions about SEC’s huge conference schedule change

2. Will SEC nonetheless schedule FCS out-of-conference video games?

On the floor, the SEC including extra aggressive video games is a win for followers. That mentioned, if the convention is including one convention sport, it is taking one out-of-conference sport away. Relying on which one, a nine-game SEC schedule will hardly be value celebrating.

As a substitute of scheduling difficult out-of-conference video games, SEC applications is perhaps extra inclined to make sure simple wins by paying overmatched FCS groups to get blown out by 50 factors.

The place’s the enjoyable in that?

3. How does a nine-game convention schedule impression School Soccer Playoff format?

The Huge Ten and SEC, school soccer’s largest conferences, have been at odds over the CFP’s future, with the Huge Ten favoring a 4-4-2-2-1 format that options 4 computerized qualifiers for it and the SEC, two for the ACC and Huge 12, and one for a mid-major. At-large bids would fill the remainder of the 16-team subject.

The SEC, in the meantime, has supported a format that rewards the 5 highest-ranked convention champions and 11 at-large groups.

By shifting to 9 convention video games, the SEC is perhaps extra receptive to the thought of computerized qualifiers as groups compete extra intensely, guaranteeing that it will get a set variety of seats on the CFP desk every season.

Final season, the primary 12 months of the expanded 12-team playoff, the SEC solely landed two at-large berths.

However, it’d nonetheless choose a 5-11 CFP format, counting on the perceived power of the SEC to gobble up extra bids in future seasons.

On Aug. 11, the Related Press revealed its preseason top 25 poll, which featured 10 ranked SEC groups. There are some things the convention loves greater than “high quality losses,” and commissioner Greg Sankey will be capable to champion much more with the expanded SEC schedule.

Whereas rather a lot stays unsure, that is one factor we’re sure of.