SEC considering 10-game season with non-conference matchups, per report

The uncertainty around college football has everyone wondering what the 2020 season will look like or even if there will be a season.

On Wednesday, Sports Illustrated reported that the SEC athletic directors discussed a potential plan moving to a 10 game schedule consisting of the 8 scheduled conference games and 2 non-conference matchups.

“The more preferred plans are a nine- or 10-game schedule with one or two non-conference games, respectively. But there are issues with that, too. Testing protocols may vary from conference to conference. Because of limited resources and availability, Group of 5 and FCS programs may not follow the same procedures as those on the Power 5 level. However, the NCAA and Power 5 conferences are working on a minimum testing standard that is expected to be released in the next week, officials told SI.”

If this is the route that they decide to go with, it would allow teams to keep the number of games against other conferences. For example, in week 2 LSU is scheduled to host Texas while Tennessee will play at Oklahoma, Auburn and North Carolina are schedule to play a neutral site game, and Mississippi State is supposed to travel to NC State.

This is just one of the several options that the league is considering as they also are looking at potentially play an 8-game conference only schedule or even a 9 or 10 game schedule adding two games from the other side of the conference.

Also, in the report it was noted that despite the rising number of Coronavirus cases “the consensus among administrators is that their communities and athletes are strongly in favor of playing football this fall.”

Switching to an 8-game conference only schedule would allow a lot more flexibility when it comes to the official start date of the season. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey is expected to make a final decision by late July.

We will bring you any other updates on the situation as more information is released.