SEC Reportedly Leaning to Conference Only Schedule

Ross Dellenger of SI.com reports that the SEC is moving closer to a 10-game conference only schedule. Dellenger reports that the conference Athletic Directors have already agreed on this model and the conference presidents will meet Thursday to discuss it, however the presidents may wait a week until officially making a decision.

This decision comes on the heels of the Big 10 and the Pac-12 announcing earlier in the month that they would be competing in only conference games.

This decision would mean each team would play two more games against the opposite division to increase the conference schedule from eight opponents to 10.

Conferences are making this decision in order to ensure each university in competition with one another is following the same COVID-19 health and safety protocols. It also gives athletic directors flexibility on the chance that games must be postponed to later dates.

SEC Commisioner Greg Sankey was hesitant to confirm or deny the report by Dellenger.

While the Crimson Tide will likely lose two home games this year because of this decision the Tide will likely play more marquee matchups.

There is speculation that each school will add the cross division opponent from the 2021 and 2022 schedules in order to make the schedules fair on everyone. Alabama will likely play at Florida and play a home game against Vanderbilt.

Alabama last played a regular season game with Florida in 2014 in Tuscaloosa, the Tide rolled to a 42-21 victory. The last time Alabama went to Gainesville to play the Gators in 2011 where the Tide enjoyed a 38-10 win.

The Crimson Tide last beat Vanderbilt in Nashville in a 59-0 victory in 2017. The last time the Commedores ventured to Tuscaloosa the Tide won 34-0 in 2011.