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A 9-Game SEC Schedule?
Posted on 5/6/13 at 8:13 pm
Posted on 5/6/13 at 8:13 pm
Opposing Views.com By Leftover Hot Dog
Mike Slive had this to say about the future of SEC scheduling when asked last summer during SEC media days:
Let me break that down for you. The SEC is going to a nine game conference schedule, most likely about the same time the SEC network comes on line.
1.) Perception, especially as it relates to the new post season. No doubt members of the selection committee with an anti-SEC agenda will use an eight game schedule as a tool, to argue against an SEC team making the field of four if there is a close call.
2.) The new SEC network needs programming. Fourteen teams playing nine conference games makes 63 SEC vs. SEC regular season games available for the SEC network.
3.) Increased revenue from CBS. A nine game SEC schedule, ensures that CBS will have a choice game every week.
Mike Slive had this to say about the future of SEC scheduling when asked last summer during SEC media days:
Let me break that down for you. The SEC is going to a nine game conference schedule, most likely about the same time the SEC network comes on line.
1.) Perception, especially as it relates to the new post season. No doubt members of the selection committee with an anti-SEC agenda will use an eight game schedule as a tool, to argue against an SEC team making the field of four if there is a close call.
2.) The new SEC network needs programming. Fourteen teams playing nine conference games makes 63 SEC vs. SEC regular season games available for the SEC network.
3.) Increased revenue from CBS. A nine game SEC schedule, ensures that CBS will have a choice game every week.
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Posted on 5/6/13 at 8:14 pm to Sheetbend
Posted on 5/6/13 at 8:15 pm to Turkey_Creek_Tiger
I will consider getting season tix again if we go to 9 game schedule.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 8:19 pm to Sheetbend
Pretty much everyone in the SEC wants a 9 game schedule except for bottom feeders like MSU, Vandy, etc who need 4 easy wins and a 2-6 SEC record to go to a bowl game and keep the fans happy.
This post was edited on 5/6/13 at 8:20 pm
Posted on 5/6/13 at 8:32 pm to Monticello
And bama unless it includes another cake walk...
Posted on 5/6/13 at 8:35 pm to TigerBait2008
Posted on 5/6/13 at 9:21 pm to Sheetbend
I want a 9 game schedule, and I think it'll happen, but your reasons are wrong.
The SEC network also has the rights to show any OOC game played at an SEC team's stadium. Therefore, replacing one of each SEC team's OOC game with game against another conference team actually decreases the number of games the network can show.
More conference games does not mean more money from CBS. CBS has a contract with the SEC. Just because the SEC has more conference games doesn't change that contract and the amount CBS has to pay to show the game of their choice each week.
The SEC network also has the rights to show any OOC game played at an SEC team's stadium. Therefore, replacing one of each SEC team's OOC game with game against another conference team actually decreases the number of games the network can show.
More conference games does not mean more money from CBS. CBS has a contract with the SEC. Just because the SEC has more conference games doesn't change that contract and the amount CBS has to pay to show the game of their choice each week.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 9:30 pm to Monticello
quote:
Pretty much everyone in the SEC wants a 9 game schedule except for bottom feeders like MSU, Vandy, etc who need 4 easy wins and a 2-6 SEC record to go to a bowl game and keep the fans happy.
Also Florida and Georgia are against it. Neutral site + permanant OOC home and home = 6 home games a year every other year, and no cool OOC games without possibly going 5 home games or never getting 7.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 9:34 pm to LA kid but AU fan
quote:
I want a 9 game schedule, and I think it'll happen, but your reasons are wrong.
The SEC network also has the rights to show any OOC game played at an SEC team's stadium. Therefore, replacing one of each SEC team's OOC game with game against another conference team actually decreases the number of games the network can show.
More conference games does not mean more money from CBS. CBS has a contract with the SEC. Just because the SEC has more conference games doesn't change that contract and the amount CBS has to pay to show the game of their choice each week.
Truth. I think it will be easier to get quality games with a 9 game schedule every week though. A&M takes USC as permanent cross division, and we are guaranteed a Big 6 opponent from the East every year. Bama is guaranteed one of USC/Florid/Georgia. Auburn is guaranteed one of Florida/UT/USC every year. Etc, etc, etc.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 9:38 pm to Monticello
quote:Not me. I'd rather use that extra game for Texas A&M to play an old Southwest Conference rival like TCU, SMU, Rice, or perhaps even Texas if they can someday get their shite together.
Pretty much everyone in the SEC wants a 9 game schedule
Posted on 5/6/13 at 9:45 pm to Sheetbend
Bottom line is the fans want a nine game schedule, so we should get it. Screw the money, screw what it does to your team's bowl chances, give the people that put food on your table something they want.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 9:51 pm to AllBamaDoesIsWin
quote:
Bottom line is the fans want a nine game schedule, so we should get it. Screw the money, screw what it does to your team's bowl chances, give the people that put food on your table something they want.
Agreed.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 9:52 pm to ImperialPalace
quote:
Not me. I'd rather use that extra game for Texas A&M to play an old Southwest Conference rival like TCU, SMU, Rice, or perhaps even Texas if they can someday get their shite together.
You'll still have 3 games to schedule an old SWC team.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 10:10 pm to Sheetbend
quote:
No doubt members of the selection committee with an anti-SEC agenda will use an eight game schedule as a tool, to argue against an SEC team making the field of four if there is a close call.
It won't stop those people. They will find another reason simple as that.
My issue with 9 games is unequal home and away games. I would rather 10 games.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 10:27 pm to LA kid but AU fan
quote:
...replacing one of each SEC team's OOC game with game against another conference team actually decreases the number of games the network can show.
Actually, the number of games remains the same, but the number of quality cross-divisional matchups will naturally increase. Each school would now play three cross-divisional games.
quote:
More conference games do not mean more money from CBS.
More cross-divisional games means more quality games for CBS to choose from = higher ratings = more money to the SEC.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 10:45 pm to Tiger Live2
quote:
My issue with 9 games is unequal home and away games.
Not for UF and UG.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:56 pm to USMC Gators
That would be cool if they did that for everyone. Maybe LSU and A&M in Houston. Arky and Mizzou in St. Louis and so on. But I doubt that would ever happen since most SEC schools have bigger stadiums than anything else in the Southeast.
Posted on 5/7/13 at 12:35 am to Sheetbend
quote:
Actually, the number of games remains the same
No it doesn't. Example:
Say OOC team X comes to Neyland on week 7 and the same week, OOC team Y comes to Jordan-Hare. That's two games the SEC network has to show.
Now suppose we move to a 9 conference game schedule so instead of those two games, AU now plays Tennessee instead. Now the network has only 1 game to show.
1<2
quote:
More cross-divisional games means more quality games for CBS to choose from = higher ratings = more money to the SEC.
This is false. CBS isn't just going to give the SEC more money out of the goodness of their hearts. The payout is determined by the current contract which doesn't expire until 2023.
quote:
CBS’s landmark 15-year deal for football and basketball rights to the Southeastern Conference will pay the conference an average of $55 million annually, industry sources said. On the front end, the deal is expected to pay the SEC about $50 million a year and increase each year to a high of $60 million by the end of the term, according to multiple sources.
LINK
Posted on 5/7/13 at 1:27 am to Sheetbend
quote:
A 9-Game SEC Schedule?
About time I say. There seems to be three points of opposition to this:
1. One less home game every other year. Instead of a 4-4 conference split then 4 games to play with (generally 3 cupcakes/in-state and a 1&done or home/away with a major). Now every other year there will be a 4-5 conference split. The question is will better games increase SEC Network revenue and payout to overcome this.
2. Increased schedule difficulty with national implications. This specifically concerns UF/SCar/UGA who have annual OOC major to begin with. Coach Saban has been preaching since 2011 that difficulty of conference must be taken into account for major invites. Regardless of motivation at the time he's been consistent up to present and I think the other coaches need to get on board and be vocal and honest. They should point out that ND would have done well to finish 5th or 6th in this conference in 2012. This talking point will be important in 2014. Should a 11-1 or 11-2 SEC runnerup be left out for a another conference champion with a better record?
3. A concern to certain teams who struggle to win enough FBS games to qualify for a bowl invite, which would affect revenue for said team
Thus endeth the spiel.
This post was edited on 5/7/13 at 2:04 am
Posted on 5/7/13 at 1:34 am to LA kid but AU fan
quote:I don't think so!
Say OOC team FURMAN comes to Neyland on week 7 and the same week, OOC team ALABAMA STATE comes to Jordan-Hare. That's two games the SEC network has to show.
A nine game SEC schedule, along with scheduling tweaks, ensures that CBS will have a choice game every week.
The weekend before Thanksgiving has been notoriously weak. Slive can juice the schedule in a way to make it more appealing to the conferences network broadcast partner by making sure there are no "dogs" on the schedule.
Matchups such as Missouri vs. Murray State Racers or Toledo Rockets would almost never be considered worthy of an SEC Network or CBS broadcast. So the actual inventory of potential games for broadcast would typically increase with a 9th game.
More games between the Perennial SEC powers such as: Bama, LSU, vs. Georgia, Florida, or S.Car and the biggest TV markets in the SEC such as: TAM vs. Missouri, Florida, and Georgia, would be available more often; not to mention second tier SEC program matchups, which could still have strong regional attraction in their respective states.
If the networks need the 9th game for the deal to work, they will get it. Money talks in college football.
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