Question: Should the SEC go to 9 conference games?

[Sabanizer]

We are playing a team this week preparing for the FBS playoffs. We weigh 30 pounds more across the board, they are 9-1 and ranked #9. If I was the coach? I would put in the 2nd string and get back to my league. Playing this team at seasons end is going to create the most noncompetitive game of all time Bama football games in my lifetime. If not for the money, this would be like us having to go play a pro team for the heck of it before the Auburn game. It's comical. I do not care what anyone says, this will be less exciting than A -day. I know how hard it is to schedule, but at least we will get to see the 3rd string. You will not see big hits in this game. Both teams will be scrimmaging, just that we will score every time.

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2015/11/fcs_coach_has_sense_of_humor_a.html

 

[KrAzY3]

I think the reason Coach Saban schedules those FCS opponents is because the Big boys won't just come in and take a pay check. They will want a home and home which would cost us a home game on the odd year. That in turn hurts the city of Tuscaloosa and revenue for Alabama. If we could pay a Duke, Kansas, Indiana, Purdue or Wake Forest to come in for 600k to 1 million, we would.

I do not think it's at all coincidence that these types of games show up prior to the Auburn game. It keeps happening, and it's not so bad to get that break between tough SEC games that come before it, and the Auburn/SECCG games that come after. Regardless of what types of games we want to see, and what types of games Nick Saban wants to see, I think there's some practicality in having these types of games. They don't show up at this point in the schedule consistently, for no reason at all.

Now, if they had two bye weeks each season again, and they expanded the number of scholarships I think you'd see a little less need for this sort of thing.

 

[Displaced Bama Fan]

YES! I was at SC in 2010. I will probably be dead before we play them again in Tuscaloosa. It is stupid to have a conference and not play the other members. The following is one of the most asinine things ever printed!:

Why don't we just play an 11 conference game schedule and have 1 OOC game.

 

[ALA2262]

Why don't we just play an 11 conference game schedule and have 1 OOC game.

Because your beloved University would have their beloved 7 home games but EOY. And your beloved HC would never again have his beloved annual neutral site game.

I would prefer 10 conference games to 9. Because of the even number of home and away games.

 

[Big tide fan forever]

No I like it as is

 

[KrAzY3]

I would prefer 10 conference games to 9. Because of the even number of home and away games.

Displaced didn't, but you forgot your blue font.

 

[JD95]

No! One more SEC game = 7 more losses for SEC teams = greater chance of no SEC team in the national playoff. Now that the playoff is here, we ought to just drop back from 12 regular season games to 11. The Pac-12 sure wishes they only played 8 conference games this year instead of 9!

 

[ALA2262]

Displaced didn't, but you forgot your blue font.

His comment was both sarcastic and facetious and warranted a blue font. Mine was a bit sarcastic but dead serious and did not warrant one.

 

[ALA2262]

No! One more SEC game = 7 more losses for SEC teams = greater chance of no SEC team in the national playoff. Now that the playoff is here, we ought to just drop back from 12 regular season games to 11. The Pac-12 sure wishes they only played 8 conference games this year instead of 9!

We will have 13 regular season games before we have 11 again. More games means more $$$$$$$$$$$$$. Less games means less $$$$$$$$$$$. They have never chosen less $$$$$$$$$$$. Never will.

 

[KrAzY3]

His comment was both sarcastic and facetious and warranted a blue font. Mine was a bit sarcastic but dead serious and did not warrant one.

Wait you were serious? 10 SEC games? You get that would mean 14 more conference losses right? And the quip about neutral site games, that was just to I don't know, make your argument stronger?

Wait, I get it, you were being a bit sarcastic but serious in saying if you're going for dumb, why not go full stupid and go to 10?

 

[ALA2262]

Wait you were serious? 10 SEC games? You get that would mean 14 more conference losses right? And the quip about neutral site games, that was just to I don't know, make your argument stronger?

Wait, I get it, you were being a bit sarcastic but serious in saying if you're going for dumb, why not go full stupid and go to 10?

It also means 14 more wins.

You didn't quote my quip about the neutral site games. There is no argument. With 5 or 6 road games and one OOC game, it goes without saying that one game would be played at home and not at a neutral site.

Call it dumb or whatever you like. If Coach Bryant attempted to schedule 9 conference games with a 10 game regular season, I have no problem with 10 of 12.

 

[USCBAMA]

No! One more SEC game = 7 more losses for SEC teams = greater chance of no SEC team in the national playoff. Now that the playoff is here, we ought to just drop back from 12 regular season games to 11. The Pac-12 sure wishes they only played 8 conference games this year instead of 9!

Exactly. If they ever expand to 8 teams in playoff then this topic is worth revisiting as 2 SEC losses would not especially eliminate a team. With only 4 teams in playoff 9 SEC games does not make sense given how easy some of the other conferences have it (ACC, Big 10).

 

[KrAzY3]

Call it dumb or whatever you like. If Coach Bryant attempted to schedule 9 conference games with a 10 game regular season, I have no problem with 10 of 12.

Well you wouldn't have to play them.

Go read what Nick Saban said about the Alabama team after the Tennessee game. Then, go right ahead plotting to make them more tired and exhausted if you want to but understand the consequences.

It also means 14 more wins.

Edit: I had to go ahead and address this to. No it won't. At this point in time, the SEC has a total of 6 OOC losses. Your idea would greatly increase the total number of losses. That means less SEC bowl eligible teams, less top 25 SEC teams, less SEC teams competing for the playoff, etc...

Before you try to say something about the SEC having a soft SoS, the SEC has two of the top ten (this includes all conferences) out of conference schedules (Alabama and Tennessee). Only the ACC has two teams in the top 10 as well, and that is merely because Notre Dame isn't considered an ACC school