DESTIN, Fla. — LSU’s Brian Kelly on Wednesday mentioned SEC coaches favor including one nonconference recreation towards a Huge Ten opponent in a scheduling settlement, however they “want a companion” to do it.
“We need to compete towards the Huge Ten,” Kelly mentioned, following the final day of coaches conferences on the annual SEC spring conferences. “Look, the Huge Ten proper now holds it on the SEC. They received the final two nationwide championships. That is the truth of it. We need to get challenged in that regard, and we would like to have the ability to get that finished.
“That’s as much as our commissioner and the ADs to see if that may occur or not, however that is the want of the room.”
SEC scheduling has been a significant matter of dialog this week because the league works to find out if it desires to remain at eight convention video games or transfer to 9.
Kelly mentioned he would favor enjoying 9 SEC video games and including the extra Huge Ten opponent. The potential of a scheduling partnership between the 2 leagues developed from a number of in-person conferences of the Huge Ten-SEC advisory group, however one SEC supply mentioned the subject was “useless within the water” on the commissioner stage.
Nonetheless, Kelly mentioned the coaches made their “voices clear” this week to their respective athletic administrators and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey.
“You have to get a companion who says we’re in for that, too,” Kelly mentioned.
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman mentioned the selections needs to be made on what could be thrilling for tv and what the followers would most get pleasure from. Pittman mentioned the “SEC desires us to go to 9” convention video games.
“So how are we going to do it?” Pittman requested. “Are we going to go to 9, enjoying ourselves, and perhaps invite one other convention to play us on a given weekend?”
There’s an awesome sense this week from coaches and athletic administrators that they’d prefer to know what the longer term playoff format will seem like earlier than making any scheduling choices.
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer mentioned the coaches did not vote on something this week. He mentioned that whereas he could be keen to play a Huge Ten opponent together with rival Clemson, he nonetheless prioritizes the in-state rivalry over different scheduling choices.
“For me, I feel it is ironclad,” Beamer mentioned of the South Carolina-Clemson recreation. “There’s individuals above me who make that call, however I’d by no means need that recreation to go away. Rivalries and rivalry weekend are what make this sport nice. … I understand how essential that recreation is to the individuals of South Carolina, and I do not need that recreation going anyplace.”
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz mentioned the Huge Ten has caught the SEC’s consideration with Michigan and Ohio State successful the nationwide title the previous two seasons.
“It bothers us as opponents,” Drinkwitz mentioned. “We really feel like we’re the very best convention in school soccer, and we need to make it possible for the final word prize on the finish of the yr is that nationwide championship trophy.
“We have not been in a position to try this the final two years, and I feel we’re all aggressive sufficient that is typically what we’re competing for. I do not know if two years is an information level but or a pattern. Clearly, we’ve to have a look and see what we will do higher.”
