Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey spoke to the media on Monday ahead of this year’s SEC spring meetings, giving a non-committal hint as to which direction he leans in the eight- vs. nine-game intraconference schedule debate that headlines the topics entering the week.
Representatives from all 14 member schools — plus the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners who officially join next season — will continue to haggle over the topic over the next several days. While Sankey presumably has a mental roadmap for what is best for the conference he also appears to be committed to hearing everyone out.
“The league at the forefront of college athletics does not stand still,” Sankey said. “And this is a league at the forefront of college athletics. Now, whether change happens immediately as part of a careful consideration and a deep consideration, you can make arguments around both.”
The commish also discussed the financial aspects of such a decision.
“Money follows, it doesn’t lead. If all you do is chase money, then you make really bad decisions,” Sankey said, adding later: “The money doesn’t just come from one source. If all we do is one source of revenue, then we’re at great risk. Ticket sales are an enormous source of revenue.
“The importance in the value and interest in conference versus conference competition, there’s money inherent there, without ever talking about media (compensation).”
Sankey skated around the question of whether or not he preferred a nine-game slate for his conference with a nebulous response that cited the Kentucky Wildcats’ requests, which they believe will lead to more home games and an easier path to bowl eligibility.
“When we’ve run the numbers, it’s not like we’ve seen massive ineligibility coming from a nine-game schedule,” Sankey said. “And we also saw it in the COVID year when we played 10, the interest is high for our games. The viewership on our network that year was at a record level because we weren’t playing the same kind of games that are drawing the same kind of passion.”
At the end of the day, Sankey refused to clearly state his preference citing professional decorum as the reason he remains mum on the topic.
“I think it would be disrespectful of me to put that information to you right now when I’m obligated to members who have to make a decision,” he said. “They would rightfully be angry with me.”
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