And it’s that sweet, sweet eight-game conference schedule.
After hearing Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops‘ latest thoughts on the future of SEC scheduling, it’s obvious why there has been a holdup on the final decision. After the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Stoops told KSR why he prefers the 8-game format when the league adds Oklahoma and Texas.
He painted the bleak picture of how adding a ninth SEC game to the schedule jeopardizes the league’s own coaches.
“Just look at our league,” Stoops shared with KSR. “For instance, I go to those meetings, the last time we met in person in Destin, there’s only four coaches there (returning in 2022). How much money do all these teams have? You’re guaranteeing 50% of our room one more loss. They already fire everybody in this league all of the time.”
Along with Stoops, Nick Saban, Kirby Smart and Jimbo Fisher are the only coaches in the conference to have coached four or more seasons at their current program.
The last time the conference played more than eight SEC games in a season was in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kentucky finished with a 4-6 record.
“We were the middle of the pack and I’d consider a bad year,” Stoops said. “I don’t want to win four games. I want to win a lot more than four. But 50% of our league was the same or worse. Is that good?”
Are you asking as a coach or a fan, Mark?
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