SEC close to decision on new football schedule, report says
The Atlantic Coast Conference announced its plan for a football schedule on Wednesday. It could be the Southeastern Conference’s turn on Thursday.
According to Sports Illustrated, the “majority” of SEC athletic directors were on board with an SEC-only, 10-game schedule on Wednesday.
“The schedule must be ratified by league presidents,” SI’s Ross Dellenger reported. “SEC presidents are expected to meet virtually Thursday to seriously discuss the matter.”
The reported plan doesn’t include non-conference games, which would preclude the South Carolina-Clemson game as part of four non-league rivalries between the SEC and ACC. The Gamecocks and Tigers have met every year since 1909.
The school presidents can also decide to push back the vote to next week. The NCAA board of governors will meet Tuesday.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey released a statement Wednesday afternoon soon after the SI story published.
“It is not appropriate to respond to anonymous sources and speculation. We continue to our discussions focused on the return of fall sports, including football. We will announce any decisions at the appropriate time,” Sankey said.
During a radio interview Wednesday morning with Teddy Heffner, Gamecocks AD Ray Tanner said he expected movement in the next couple weeks, which leaves open something coming out of the NCAA or SEC president meetings. He also said he expected a resolution sooner rather than later.
The SEC ADs met in person on July 14.
If there is a move to conference-only, it means South Carolina will have to drop games with Clemson, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina and Wofford.
The ACC’s schedule released Wednesday allowed for 10 conference games plus one non-conference opponent.
“Nothing is finalized in #SEC,” 247Sports national writer Brandon Marcello said via Twitter. “Don’t be shocked if ADs change mind on idea of conference-only schedule. As one source put it: ‘We’re in constant communication.’ SEC presidents and chancellors meet virtually Thursday morning.’”
This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 5:12 PM.
