Tag: SEC Spring Meetings

Texas A&M is reportedly one of five teams that voted in favor of a 9-game SEC schedule in 2024

Texas A&M and five other SEC programs voted for a 9-game SEC schedule in 2024, losing the vote 9-5 on Thursday.

The SEC Spring Meetings commenced after a whole week of pure chaos as all 14 conference program head football coaches and administrators discussed a variety of topics, including the state of the transfer portal, issues about Name, Image, and Likeness initiatives (NIL), and of course, the debate between the 8 or 9-game conference schedule change starting in 2024.

As many of you already know, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey brought the scheduled debate to a vote, which led to nine out of 14 programs voting to implement an 8-game schedule while eliminating divisions at the start 2024 season, the first year that Texas and Oklahoma are set to join the conference.

As the current 8-game schedule features six dedicated conference opponents with two cross-divisional matchups, removing the East and West divisions means that each program will keep one permanent opponent and now play within a 7-game rotating conference schedule each season as it’s presently outlined. Like it or not, Sankey clarified that nothing is set in stone, as the changes will be revisited in 2025.

Now, to the teams who had the guts to vote for a 9-game schedule, which reportedly included Georgia, Florida, LSU, Missouri, and Texas A&M.

The benefits for nine conference games as opposed to eight are simple; preserving three permanent opponents for teams whose famous rivalries may be threatened by the new implementation and six rotating opponents instead of seven, plus potential extra compensation for an additional conference game. In addition, ahead of the College Football Playoff’s expansion to 12 teams in 2024, stacking a resume filled with tough SEC matchups to impress the selection committee at the season’s end becomes even more crucial, again adding to the advantage of one more SEC game.

For Texas A&M, Athletic Director Ross Bjork and head coach Jimbo Fisher openly supported the change to 9-games as Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and Florida head coach Billy Napier echoed the same argument that “strength of schedule” concerning the CFB expansion, but as soon as Oklahoma and Texas join the SEC, two more programs will have a vote on the matter. By 2025, the pendulum could easily swing in the other direction.

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The SEC will stick to an 8-game conference schedule in 2024, meaning Texas A&M vs. Texas will potentially resume

With the news, the Lone Star Showdown between Texas A&M and Texas is (potentially) set to resume in 2024, according to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has made headline after headline amid the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, FL, this week. As of Thursday, it has been revealed by multiple sources, including Sankey himself, that the conference will play an 8-game SEC schedule in 2024, the same year that Texas and Oklahoma are set to join the conference that season.

Here’s the catch: the East and West divisions will be eliminated in 2024, featuring one permanent opponent and seven conference opponents in an annual rotation. But, going back to the discussions from all 14 SEC head coaches and administrators this week, a majority seemed to favor a 9-game schedule for 2024 due to its flexibility, monetary advantage, and allure of three permanent arrivals each season.

Now, nothing is permanent, according to Sankey, who stated, “A league at the forefront of college athletics does not stand still,” eluding to a reevaluation in 2025. Out of the 14 programs that received a vote, the belief is that, surprisingly, only five programs, which most likely included Texas A&M (a vocal supporter this week), supported the 9-game change.

Now, concerning the future of the revival of the Lone Star Showdown between Texas A&M and Texas, Brent Zwerneman of the Houston Chronicle reported that Sankey will honor “traditional rivalries in 2024”, meaning that the matchup, that has been dormant for nearly 13 seasons is finally, barring any last second changes, set to resume, and will be played in College Station in 2024.

Let’s be clear about this decision and why 8-games was the chosen path in the future; with the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams in 2024, this has created an issue regarding potential team attrition and player safety related to a 9-game SEC schedule compared to eight, much like the NFL expanding to 17 games in 2021. Now, this is a fair point for every team, but when it comes to any change in the future, financial advantages will always trump any other potential worry, whether we like it or not.

Lastly, the 2024 schedule will be released on June 14, and an answer to if the Lone Star Showdown will finally resume is upon us.

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Longhorns aren’t the SEC school in Texas trying to throw weight around

Texas A&M is the only SEC school from Texas that appears to be making demands.

An SEC school in the state of Texas is making demands, albeit not the school you might expect. Many anticipated Texas would try to control their future conference the way some claimed they bullied the Big 12.

In reality, it’s Texas A&M elevating its interests over SEC foes.

At the SEC’s spring meetings, Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork continued to insist the Aggies and Longhorns would first meet in College Station.

Bjork appears to be trying to seize any degree of control he can after the conference refused to honor his wishes to keep Texas out of the league. Bjork’s exact words were, “We want to be the only SEC program in the state of Texas.”

Clearly, his fellow league members did not feel the same way. Now, Bjork appears to be using the power of the media to insist Texas resumes the rivalry on the same campus it ended on in 2011. It seems strange that the Aggies want to play back-to-back home games in the rivalry, but we haven’t received word that Texas would play A&M twice in a row in Austin.

A&M’s petulance might help them skip a trip to Austin that is more than 10 years overdue, but it will come at a cost. What little respect they may have earned from the league might be lost after how the school handled Texas’ entry.

Texas A&M is certainly making demands, and might win this one. Nevertheless, the program’s influence is dwindling. For that reason, the Aggies are the only Texas team that the SEC has given a reality check. It’s likely there could be more of that for Bjork and company in the coming years.

Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork stands by Texas A&M-Texas rivalry renewal

Amid the SEC Spring Meetings, Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork sticks by the renewal of the Lone Star Showdown between Texas A&M and Texas.

On Wednesday, a new batch of SEC coaches and administrators took to the podium to continue their verbal barrage, mainly concerning the wild nature of the NIL landscape; Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork shifted the conversation to the potential renewal of the Lone Star Showdown between the Aggies and the Texas Longhorns, who last played on the gridiron during the 2011 season.

With Texas and Oklahoma slated to join the SEC in 2024, the issue of future scheduling, specifically the debate between an eight and nine-game SEC schedule, has both Bjork and Longhorns AD Chris Del Conte in agreement that for the rivalry to resume finally, a 9-game conference schedule is the preferred path.

As usual, most of these potential changes involve monetary issues, especially ESPN’s financial burden of paying for additional conference matchups, as the network is slated to become the new home for SEC play next season.

So, assuming that all is well and Texas A&M will play Texas as soon as they become full-fledged SEC members in 2024, Ross Bjork stated on Wednesday that the first game would take place in College Station to kick things off after a 13-year drought. What time of the year will the game take place? Bjork favors resuming the usual Thanksgiving weekend slot, currently occupied by LSU but knows that the importance remains unchanged no matter when the matchup occurs.

“Doesn’t matter if it’s the first game of the season or in middle, it’ll be a monumental game.”

Bjork also had some fun sniping back at Alabama head coach Nick Saban and others who called out the Aggies, Texas, and USC’s “pay for play” spending habits due to their notable collectives, which are entirely legal and abide by NCAA rules.

“They’re speculating. .. The last two years our athletes have received more than $10 million in NIL across all sports. Our fans are passionate.”

As these issues will all (hopefully) be sorted out in time, this week is just a reminder that the 2023 college football season is getting closer and closer, and for Texas A&M, the stakes could not be higher for head coach Jimbo Fisher, who Ross Bjork has all the faith in the world in going forward.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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Lane Kiffin takes jab at Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M’s 2022 recruiting class at SEC Spring Meetings

Even while attending the SEC Spring Meetings, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin was sure to take a jab at Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M’s historic 2022 recruiting class.

By this point, Lane Kiffin’s resume should read: “Ole Miss football coach by day, semi-professional social media poster by night” given the number of times he’s made waves with his comments off the field.

During the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, FL, Kiffin took a moment to chat with a handful of media reporters, including the Houston Chronicle’s Brent Zwerneman. In a clip shared to Twitter by Zwerneman, the Ole Miss coach took aim at Jimbo Fisher’s assertion that name, image, and likeness (NIL) did not play a factor in Texas A&M signing one of the best recruiting classes ever in 2022:

“I struggle letting it go on those things. My SID tells me to let it go, but when someone says that NIL has nothing to do with why someone signs at their place and they signed the best class in the history of recruiting, I struggle with that statement.”

It’s always an amusing reminder to see that Texas A&M, and namely Jimbo Fisher, continue to hold real estate in Kiffin’s head 24/7. It’s summer 2023, and the Rebels’ head coach continues to dwell on the Aggies’ vaunted 2022 recruiting class.

But as the saying goes, old habits, or perhaps an obsession (in the case of Kiffin) die hard.

That historic recruiting class has driven noteworthy conversation given that it coincided with one of the first fully-fledged cycles of the NIL era. Yet the Aggies weren’t unable to translate that talent to immediate success on the field, with a notable number of players from that 2022 class departing after one season. That truth has opened the door for the likes of Kiffin to continuously be a thorn in the side of Fisher and A&M with one-off jabs.

But an endless amount of one-off comments from Kiffin won’t change the reality at hand: which is that the Aggies will have a leg up when it comes to its donor base given Texas A&M’s high volume of enrollment compared to Ole Miss.

That leads to a more robust alumni network, and thus, more resources to allocate toward recruiting efforts. Kiffin can wind up subtle jabs and as many cryptic tweets as he wants, but at the end of the day it will always remain inconsequential.

Talk is cheap until the score is settled where it matters most: on the gridiron. For the Aggies, that opportunity arrives on November 4 when they travel to face Ole Miss in Oxford. With A&M motivated to even the score on the field, we’ll see whether Kiffin has any barbs up his sleeve then and there.

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‘We’re not going to live our life worried about Texas’- Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher talks potential renewed rivalry

Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher briefly gave his opinion on the future SEC scheduling format and the potential renewed rivalry with Texas.

Suppose you’re longing for content surrounding the upcoming 2023 college football season. In that case, SEC Spring meetings in Destin, FL, may entice you enough to listen to what every of the 14 SEC head coaches has to say on varying matters. Still, this is as technical as our jobs get as scheduling, NIL, and transfer portal “tampering” take center stage for the next few days.

Outside of Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s bizarre stance on Texas A&M, Texas, and USC’s NIL collective programs (which are entirely legal, mind you), the debate surrounding conference scheduling, specifically a choice between an eight or-nine-game SEC schedule, Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher, who caught up with reporters on Tuesday afternoon, shed some light on reigniting the Lone Star Showdown between Texas and Texas A&M while talking to Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Stateman.

“When Texas comes into the thing, of course, you’d want Texas. because that’s a traditional rival.”

Fisher noted that LSU, who the Aggies have played every year since entering the conference in 2012, has become a significant rivalry for both programs.

“Of couirse, there’s a lot of great ones in the SEC. LSU’s become a great rivalry for us, but I think you go a traditional route.”

Lastly, in classic Jimbo Fisher fashion, Bohls stated that Texas would not pick A&M as a permanent rival, leading to Fisher’s now memorable and clear-eyed response.

“We’re not going to live our life worrying about Texas. We’ll worry about A&M. That has nothing to do with them. They’re a great school. They do what they need to do; we do what we need to do.”

While the scheduling format is primarily tied to the most straightforward path toward the College Football Playoff, which will expand to 12 teams in 2024, Fisher is 100% correct in focusing on what is best for Texas A&M as a whole because whatever changes are made, all 14 SEC programs will have to adjust accordingly.

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Nick Saban takes a shot at Texas A&M while bemoaning ‘pay-for-play’ state of college NIL

With the SEC Spring Meetings underway, Alabama’s Nick Saban commented on the “pay-for-play” state of NIL while, naturally, taking a shot at Texas A&M.

As administrators and coaches descend upon the annual SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, FL, there is no shortage of topics on the agenda. From the debate between an eight-game versus nine-game schedule to the upcoming expansion of the College Football Playoff, you can expect plenty of soundbites to make waves in the coming days.

But those subjects pale in comparison to the discussion around the ever-evolving name, image, and likeness (NIL) landscape and the need for uniform legislation. Coaches everywhere have chimed in on the matter, not only because of the gravity of the situation but also for the opportunity to take a (playful) shot at another program.

Take, for example, Alabama’s own Nick Saban.

In comments from Tuesday’s SEC Spring Meetings, and shared through Saturday Down South, Saban offered an interesting perspective on the argument that college football’s embrace of NIL is hurtling toward an NFL-like “pay-for-play” model:

“You think (parity) is here? I think the way Southern Cal, Texas, and Texas A&M are spending money … it hasn’t hit yet. What are you willing to spend?”

Could there be a more accurate example of “the pot calling the kettle black?”

Saban playing the NIL card has slowly become one of the great traditions in college football, and doing so at the expense of Texas A&M isn’t unique to the Crimson Tide coach either. Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin has a bonafide addiction to taking playful shots at the Maroon and White when comparing respective donor bases.

More donors equal more money, crucial for success in a competitive NIL landscape. But hearing Saban gripe about the way other programs are spending money is particularly amusing, given Alabama’s track record of emptying its pockets.

Does anyone remember when he was bragging about Bryce Young’s NIL value? Or how about when he highlighted the total amount of NIL money his players had received?

By no means was that message meant to be relayed to potential recruits and transfer targets, right?

As the discussion around the NIL landscape and future legislation continues to heat up, there won’t be a lack of comical one-off comments like Saban’s. Instead, it’s just perplexing that after all these years of him stockpiling talent, suddenly “parity” becomes an issue of concern.

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Texas A&M’s Henry Coleman III will represent the Aggies in the SEC Spring Meetings

On Thursday, it was announced that Texas A&M senior forward Henry Coleman III will represent the Aggies in the SEC Spring Meetings starting on May 30

Henry Coleman III, embarking on his final senior season with the Texas A&M Basketball program, isn’t just known for his exceptional play on the court. Still, his leadership outside the game has already made him one of the most respected student-athletes on campus and in the country.

With a potential future in politics, something Coleman III pondered on occasion, and it was announced that he would unsurprisingly represent the Aggies as one of four South Eastern Conference representatives during the SEC Spring Meetings, starting on Tuesday, May 30. Coleman III will join Kentucky’s Eli Cox (Football), Missouri’s Jude Dierker (Men’s Swimming & Diving), and Tennessee’s Tamari Key (Women’s Basketball).

In a release from Texas A&M Athletics, Henry Coleman III’s selection was a no-brainer if we’re basing it on his resume alone.

Coleman III, a senior from Richmond, Va., is deeply involved in a variety of off-the-court endeavors. Recently, Coleman III was announced as serving in a leadership role for the student-athlete-led initiative – F.A.C.E. Mental Health. The mission of F.A.C.E. (Fostering Athletes’ Continued Excellence) Mental Health is to generate awareness, develop a sense of community, provide education, and advocate for the variety of mental health concerns and challenges student-athletes experience. Additionally, Coleman III represents Texas A&M as the chair of the SEC Basketball Leadership Council. The council serves as a conduit of communication from student-athletes to the conference office on issues related to student-athlete experience.

Coleman III will serve as the SEC Men’s Basketball Leadership Council Chair, and there’s no doubt that he’ll provide the necessary input while fairly representing every student-athlete in the conference. Congratulations, Henry! Gig ‘Em,

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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Tamari Key to attend SEC spring meetings

Lady Vols’ Tamari Key to attend SEC spring meetings.

Lady Vols’ basketball player Tamari Key will participate in SEC spring meetings.

SEC spring meetings are slated to begin May 30 in Sandestin, Florida.

Key will be one of four student-athletes in attendance throughout the week to offer input on issues that impact their college experiences.

She will attend along with Texas A&M men’s basketball player Henry Coleman III, Kentucky football player Eli Cox and Missouri’s Jude Derker, who competes in men’s swimming and diving.

A dinner with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey begins the week. Student-athletes will meet throughout the week with SEC presidents, chancellors, athletic directors, faculty athletics representatives and senior women administrators throughout the week.

Student-athletes will also meet with Dr. Katie O’Neal, the conference’s chief medical advisor, to discuss student-athlete’s mental health.

Greg Sankey weighs in on how TV partners will influence scheduling

Greg Sankey recently spoke on how TV partners could play into scheduling decisions

How future schedules will be made is one of the biggest conversations in college football right now.

The latest round of conference realignment has brought about a need to reevaluate scheduling. Even conferences such as the Big Ten, which did not participate in realignment, are looking what they need to do to make the conference as competitive as possible.

Media partners are as interested the coming scheduling shakeups as anyone. Interesting schedules mean interesting games, and that’s good for TV.

However, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said the league’s media partners will not be dictating the new format, but they will be kept in the loop.

“I don’t talk about TV contracts,” Sankey said, according to On3’s Nick Schultz. “We keep our future TV partner … long up to speed on the conversations.”

Sankey knows what we all know: The SEC will be one of the top brands in sports no matter the schedule. The TV partners know this, as well, which allows the SEC to call the shots. With Texas and Oklahoma joining the conference, that power only grows.

Some of the new formats being discussed involve the conference moving to nine conference games. It’s not clear how this would affect nonconference scheduling and if that extra game would take the place of a Group of Five or FCS opponent, or Power Five opponent, instead.

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