The case for patience in determining future SEC football schedule once OU, Texas arrive

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There's no need to rush.

That's a lesson that emerged from the 2020 college football season. While the Big Ten and Pac-12 announced in August of that year they would not play  in the fall, amid the pandemic, the SEC delayed its decision. Ultimately, the SEC decided to push back the season's start and play a 10-game, conference-only schedule. The Big Ten and Pac-12 reversed course and played, too.

Now, the SEC is once again deploying patience as it considers the future of its conference scheduling after Texas and Oklahoma begin competing in the conference in 2025.

Conference officials considered eight- and nine-game schedule models at its spring meetings two weeks ago but tabled the decision.

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Some schools have not publicly declared their schedule preference, but the picture is starting to come into focus.

Alabama, Florida and Texas A&M are on record as favoring a nine-game conference schedule.

Kentucky, Ole Miss and South Carolina are on the eight-game side of the aisle.

When I visited with South Carolina athletics director Ray Tanner earlier this week, he explained that his hesitancy about adding a ninth conference game is linked to the unknown format of the College Football Playoff after the current playoff contract expires following the 2025 season.

"There's some questions still to be answered," Tanner told me. "Does the CFP expand? When does it expand? That, to me, makes a difference."

Tanner added that he "potentially" could be more comfortable with a nine-game SEC schedule if the playoff expanded.

"Until we know all those factors, we probably should stay right where we are," he said.

Strength of schedule would become particularly beneficial if the playoff were to expand to 12 teams, with six at-large bids.

Tanner noted that the Gamecocks play Clemson every year in a nonconference game, and they're also scheduled to play North Carolina and Virginia Tech in 2023 and 2025, respectively, meaning they already have 10 games scheduled against Power Five opponents in those seasons.

I understand athletics directors' and coaches' hesitancy to approve a future schedule without knowing the CFP's future format.

However, I remain in favor of a nine-game conference schedule, which would bring the SEC in line with the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12.

Fans and television executives, alike, enjoy conference clashes. Having an additional conference home game in alternating years would appeal to season-ticket buyers. SEC athletes frequently say that one of the top draws to playing in this conference is the opportunity to challenge themselves against the best competition in conference games.

You don't come across many fans or players who say, "You know what makes this sport special? Nonconference cupcake games."

Yes, adding a ninth conference game would make the path to bowl eligibility tougher by potentially eliminating a weakling from the schedule. But no one's goal should be to go 6-6 and play in the Birmingham Bowl, and a coach's job isn't going to be saved by a victory against a Mid-American Conference foe.

Patience is prudent, but when the votes are finally cast, those with the loftiest aspirations should see the logic of a ninth conference game.

Blake Toppmeyer is an SEC Columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer. If you enjoy Blake’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Patience is a fair approach in deciding future SEC football schedule