As the 2026 college football season approaches, the SEC is already engaged in a word battle. This year, the SEC will introduce a schedule with nine conference games, which marks a significant shift. This change impacts team records and removes a former advantage over the Big Ten or other conferences with similar formats. At recent SEC media days, several coaches and Commissioner Greg Sankey began promoting their stance on the College Football Playoff.
Despite failing to reach the National Championship game for three consecutive seasons and holding a 2-7 playoff record against other Power 4 conferences, the SEC argues for more spots in the tournament. Their claim rests on their depth and strength of schedule.
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Depth and tough schedules are crucial, but winning games is essential as well. Greg Sankey and the SEC now face a dilemma. When the SEC was thriving, its narrative was that the depth readied teams for the playoffs. Other conferences did not experience the rigorous SEC regular season, making them less prepared.
Now, with the SEC trailing behind the Big Ten and shifting to a nine-game schedule, the narrative is evolving. ESPN’s Laura Rutledge suggested this schedule may hinder the SEC’s playoff success.
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Rutledge explained that the SEC’s intense competition might leave teams unable to advance far in the playoffs. According to Rutledge, nine challenging games exhaust players, leading to injuries. She shared this view during a discussion with Pat McAfee and stressed she was stating facts, not making excuses.
The SEC’s prior eight-game schedule was apparently overwhelming, undermining claims of conference toughness. The argument of being ‘battle-hardened’ now seems outdated.
Consider the 2024 Ohio State National Championship team for a comparison. The Buckeyes faced tough road games against top-ranked Oregon and Penn State, hosted Indiana, and competed in a physical rivalry game with Michigan. They played three playoff teams in one season, including the top seed, Oregon. They later crushed Tennessee and Texas from the SEC, and overcame Notre Dame for the championship. Good teams prevail in adversity.
Stop making excuses and win important games.
Indiana’s head coach Curt Cignetti criticized the SEC’s culture of excuses. He expressed this at the Big Ten media days, emphasizing that achievements must be earned.
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Cignetti’s statement reflects a belief in overcoming challenges without complaints. Notre Dame, despite being in the Midwest, did complain after missing the playoffs last season.
The SEC seems focused on discussing the challenges of road games rather than winning them. Reclaiming dominance might require a shift toward prioritizing victories. Writer Ian Miller at OutKick suggests that focusing on winning could resolve SEC’s challenges.
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