Georgia-Auburn game is safe, SEC goes with 6-1-1 schedule format
DESTIN, Fla. — The SEC completed its annual spring meetings Friday with votes aimed at preserving rivalries in regular-season football and maintaining the conference’s clout in the postseason.
The league, soon to consist of 14 schools, overwhelmingly approved a football scheduling format that will keep the 120-year-old Georgia-Auburn game intact annually.
But after siding with history on that vote, the presidents of the SEC schools bucked tradition by unanimously endorsing a national four-team football playoff.
The SEC’s support of the proposed playoff came with a caveat that will be contentious in negotiations with other conferences. The SEC wants the nation’s top four teams in the playoff field, a position at odds with other leagues — the Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC and Big East — that want to give preferential treatment to conference champions.
After producing the past six national champs and placing two teams in last season’s BCS title game, the SEC is adamant that as many of its teams as possible should be able to qualify for the playoff.
On the matter of regular-season football scheduling for 2013 and beyond, the SEC put aside the objections of several schools and adopted a 6-1-1 format: six games against division opponents, one game against a permanent cross-division opponent (Auburn in Georgia’s case) and one game against a rotating cross-division opponent.
“That was our priority all along, to maintain that series with Auburn,” UGA athletic director Greg McGarity said. “… Every school has their own agenda, but at the end of the day, it’s what was best for the SEC.”
The other annual cross-division games will be Alabama-Tennessee, Florida-LSU, Arkansas-Missouri, South Carolina-Texas A&M, Kentucky-Mississippi State and Ole Miss-Vanderbilt.
In an acknowledgement of the fluid landscape of college athletics, the 6-1-1 proposal passed without a stipulation regarding how long it would be in force. SEC commissioner Mike Slive said he didn’t think the issue would be revisited for at least three or four years.
The strongest objection to the format came from LSU, which said permanent cross-division opponents should be scrapped in the interest of more equitable scheduling.
“That was my argument, and obviously it didn’t stick,” LSU chancellor Michael Martin said. “But, hey, you lose some and you win some.”
While the SEC was able to settle the issue of its football schedule, the league’s position on the national playoff merely established its stance for negotiations with other leagues. The playoff, if enacted, would begin with the 2014 season.
Meetings of the BCS commissioners are scheduled for June 13 and June 20, and a meeting of the BCS presidential oversight committee is set for June 26. By then, the goal is to have a consensus among conferences on a deal.
The SEC position calls for the semifinal games to be incorporated into the bowl system and for the championship game to be bid out to cities, like the Super Bowl.
The thorniest issue in negotiations figures to be the SEC’s view that the four best teams should reach the playoffs, regardless of whether those teams are conference championships. Other leagues have suggested various ways of favoring conference champions. The Big Ten’s position, for example, is that if four conference champions are ranked among the nation’s top six teams, those four champs should comprise the playoff field.
“If we’re going to go to a four-team playoff, which I anticipate we are, I think it needs to be — and I think the fans would expect us to provide — the four best teams in the country: one, two, three, four,” Slive said.
Slive added that he is open to different ways for determining the top four teams, “whether it’s a committee or data points,” but is opposed to “gerrymandering who is playing for the national championship” by making conference championships a criteria.
“I think people will come around some in some of the other conferences,” UGA president Michael Adams said.
But it’s not clear what will happen to the proposed playoff if they don’t.
Adams said the SEC discussed several “fallback” positions, but he wouldn’t say what they are.
“I think you have to be careful now about not painting yourself in a corner,” Adams said. “This is a new world, and I think you have to rearrange your mental furniture a little bit and say, ‘Are we really prepared for this next iteration?’
“Everybody every now and then has to give a little to make something work. You’ve got to quit thinking now about the way the world has been. You have to start thinking about the fact this is a new day with a new set of rules.”
– Tim Tucker, AJC
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148 comments Add your comment
Reality will be ugly for some ..........
June 2nd, 2012
11:53 am
With all of the talk of FSU or Va Tech or Miami jumping ship to be well received by a couple of BIG BOY conferences, does anyone notice that NO CONFERENCE is clamoring to welcome GT? Sad. Three major bowls ( 2 Urange, 1 Sugar) since 1955. Citrus Bowl in 90 was NOT considered then even a mid level bowl. Sorry.
GT can soon align with Millsaps, Christian Brothers, Samford, College of Charleston, Furman and Elon College and Davidson College and Bill & Mary and possibly Ga. State to form a new league. WOW!! Can you imagine the TV revenues with that deal?
GT …………………soon to be relegated to a third level conference. We have tried and tried to tell you. Soon, the harsh reality of it all.
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
12:01 pm
Nobody wants to see cupcakes on the schedule. I want to see Clemson or UCF. More games on the east coast will help with recruiting. We need to limit the easy games to one a year. Do it for the fans…
GTBob
June 2nd, 2012
1:20 pm
GT …………………soon to be relegated to a third level conference. We have tried and tried to tell you. Soon, the harsh reality of it all.
Word is that we might shut down the football program, and possibly the school too. All GT graduates will also be required to leave the country and work in the diamond mines in Africa. The sky is falling!
wallydawg
June 2nd, 2012
2:54 pm
I could give a rat’s butt if we ever played Auburn again. Fraudulent program. Redneck fans. Upside, if we had to pick a weak permanent opponent, Auburn would be the choice. We’ve won five of the last six against this podunk school, a trend I see as what we should expect forever. Go ‘Dawgs!
DawgNole
June 2nd, 2012
3:38 pm
Jborodawg
June 2nd, 2012
11:37 am
Great to see they’re keeping the traditional rivalries. Playing Awbun and Flawduh every year is practically required. Whatever they do, just maintain at least those two…and the Vowels too.
What’s Miles and LSU’s problem with playing Flawduh? I don’t understand their belly-achin’.
_____________________
We only began playing Tenn every year when the two teams were aligned in the East–and you see what a rivalry that became. The more SEC teams on the schedule, the better. Those are the games destined to become memorable–and that will eliminate the empty seats–NOT the cupcakes.
DawgNole
June 2nd, 2012
3:41 pm
Jborodawg
June 2nd, 2012
11:48 am
@ozzfest and @dawgnole…almost every D1 school in the country plays cupcakes. For instance, this year Bama plays W.Kentucky, Fla Atlantic, and W.Carolina. LSU plays N.Texas, Washington, Idaho, and Towson (Towson?!).
______________________
Ah, the old “but everybody else does it” excuse. That doesn’t justify it. It is immoral–and should be illegal–for D-1 teams to buy victories.
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
4:02 pm
Bama
you are so stupid. First off, your team missed the SEC championship game last year.
Your 2012 schedule includes::::WESTERN KENTUCKY,,,FLA. ATLANTIC,,,AND LOL WESTERN CAROLINA… What a hypocrite. Go look in the mirror for a good laugh boy. This doesn’t even include a 2–10 Ol Miss and a 5–7 U.T.
You have no credibility on this blog…
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
4:07 pm
2011 Bama played:
KENT ST.
NORTH TEXAS
GEORGIA SOUTHERN
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
4:11 pm
2010 Bama played:
SAN JOSE ST.
DUKE
GEORGIA ST.
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
4:14 pm
2009 Bama played:
FLA. INTERNATIONAL (is that a high-school?)
North Texas
CHATTANOOGA (the Choo-Choo’s)
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
4:21 pm
Bama
You say that UGA is ducking you? Try winning your divison for a change, and maybe your school will have a chance to play the Dogs! Otherwise, shut your piehole…
BTW, Bama’s 2008 CUPCAKES:
TULANE
WESTERN KENTUCKY
ARKANSAS ST……….YOU GET THE POINT???
GTBoob
June 2nd, 2012
4:36 pm
Hi, I’m GTBobs imaginary friend with benefits. Does it matter that I’m a guy sometimes?
Anyway, as Tech is a part of the ACC (the conference that can’t win the Orange Bowl), I think the ACc should be excluded altogether from the proposed 4 team playoff.
It should consist of the SEC, the Big 10, the Big 12, the Pac 12, the Big East and the MWC since it is a tougher conference than the ACC and always kicked ACC patooey when the played in the Shorty’s Truck Stop Humanitarian Bowl or the Emerald Nut Bowl or the now defunct Silly Con Valley Bowl. Remember those Techies? I do.
If FSU and Clemson go to the Big 12, then I think VT and Miami will follow.
When that happens Pittsburgh and Syracuse will do a 180 back to the Big East and college football will again be as it should.
ACC: the Anemic Crummy Conference.
Your Girlfriend
June 2nd, 2012
6:26 pm
Heh!
A Georgia fan…. Whining about some other team’s schedule???
ROFLMAO!
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
7:15 pm
@your g.
jealousy will get you nowhere, neither will your stupidity. Bama @1:22 was crying about our schedule without talking about his weak schedule, SORTA LIKE YOU! I’ll bet you don’t want anyone to know you support, do you dingle-berry???
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
7:21 pm
Your g-friend, what team floats your boat???
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
7:24 pm
Who???
gtfanfrom1951
June 3rd, 2012
6:43 am
UGA does not want to play “somebody” because they lose. 0-4 against the “Big Boys”. If they did not play in the weak side of the SEC they would not win at all! JUST THE FACTS
kingdaddy
June 3rd, 2012
9:30 am
The trolls are out early this morning, throwing bombs as usual.
GT-1951—Obviously, you’ll never learn, as long as G.T. stands side by side with the UGA, the Doggies will look like Dash Rip-Rock while the Techies are CRYING, STANDING IN A POOL OF PEE, EATING A BOOGER!!!
Jborodawg
June 3rd, 2012
9:38 am
IF we insist on maintaining traditional rivalries, we just about have to go to 9 conference games. I don’t think Slive will let it continue where some teams only play each other every 10-12 years. I don’t like it any more than the next fan, but, we’ve gone down the expansion route to 14 teams and now have to sleep in the bed we made.
“…dropped Oregon so they wouldn’t have a loss…” That’s BS. It’s a PITA for both the teams and fans to travel to the west coast…and there’s no recruiting to be gained.
“…Dawgs shying away from/afraid to play Bama, LSU, Arky…” BS. For the thousandth time, we didn’t make up the sked; the SEC did.
@dawgnole, “…immoral to buy victories…” Strange language; indicting about 120 football programs. I agree, however, that I’d much prefer we play Clemson than Buffalo, for example. That used to be a great rivalry; would usually come down to a last minute FG or TD. Heck, I’d rather play Central Fla instead Fla Atlantic; revenge would be sweet. I like playing Ga Southern every now and then. I think the teams and fans both like those games. And not all D2 teams are equal….like if we played the MAC champs every now and then; or Louisville or Cincy. Don’t forget, it can be difficult to get some OOC D1 schools to agree to home and home; eg Ohio State.
Anyway, I see nine conference games becoming reality…soon.
kingdaddy
June 3rd, 2012
9:38 am
The village idiot on the plains***
We going down in flames just like last year, 45-7??? Dude, I feel sorry for you…
kingdaddy
June 3rd, 2012
9:48 am
Jborodawg
the morons you’re referencing just want to talk about Ga.s cupck.s, not theirs. They are just drive-by shooting trolls with no creditibility. Most Dawg fans prefer a stronger schedule. Clemson was a great rivalry. I want another shot at UCF too…
Rainbow Tide Pride
June 3rd, 2012
10:00 am
UGA is 4 out 5 against allbarn. Without Cam, Cheese D is exposed.
Drop the bees and make a nine game sec sched.
CPJ's mouth will be agape
June 3rd, 2012
10:38 am
When the new alliances take shape and form up new SUPER conferences of the BOG BOYS only getting bigger and GT left standing at the alter, only to scurry into some new lil oc nference, CPJ’s big mouth will be wide open like …………………duh, what happened? Can you see it now? Sort of like when Caleb King and Waushuan Ealey blew past him for what? 450 yds rushing? AHAHAHAHAHA
GT it is acoming …………………..the ultimate humiliation for your lil boy programs.
Pitbull
June 3rd, 2012
11:22 am
Oh good, we get to contine playing over in the Barnyard every other year.
Hope they scrape the cow patties off before the game.
kingdaddy
June 3rd, 2012
1:06 pm
Pitbull
It is one of the Great Traditional Rivalries, but we need to play all the SECw teams more regularly.
DawgNole
June 3rd, 2012
3:59 pm
Jborodawg
June 3rd, 2012
9:38 am
@dawgnole, “…immoral to buy victories…” Strange language; indicting about 120 football programs. I agree, however, that I’d much prefer we play Clemson than Buffalo, for example. That used to be a great rivalry; would usually come down to a last minute FG or TD. Heck, I’d rather play Central Fla instead Fla Atlantic; revenge would be sweet. I like playing Ga Southern every now and then. I think the teams and fans both like those games. And not all D2 teams are equal….like if we played the MAC champs every now and then; or Louisville or Cincy. Don’t forget, it can be difficult to get some OOC D1 schools to agree to home and home; eg Ohio State.
Anyway, I see nine conference games becoming reality…soon.
__________________________
I don’t care how many other teams are doing it; doesn’t make it right.
I strongly agree with you on the Clemson series. Inexcusable to play Buffalo or any other cupcake when you have such a natural rival 80 miles away.
Louisville and Cincy are not D-2 teams; they’re D-1 (FCS), just like UGA. Problem with GA Southern is that it’s a D-1AA (FBS) team. Even their national championship team was no match for an average UGA team a few years ago. D-1 (FCS) has no business playing lower-division teams. Empty seats, loss of respect, no network TV, boring/lopsided games, if you beat them it’s “so what,” if you lose to them you never live it down (Mich-App St). And to top it off, you have to pay them big bucks to come to your place; i.e., buying a victory.
Playing cupcakes should be prohibited; then there would be little problem getting other FCS teams to play. A good start would be to give more weight to strength of schedule in the rankings.
I hope you’re right about a 9-game SEC schedule–if only to remove one cupcake from the schedule.
teeAtlTiger
June 3rd, 2012
5:24 pm
War Eagle..Glad they are keeping my favorite game going.
romantictoysed
June 3rd, 2012
5:35 pm
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FLA DAWG
June 3rd, 2012
6:45 pm
DAWG NATION,
This is good news.
This rivarly is one of the oldest in college football and win or lose, hate’m or love’m it’s just one of those matchups that’s gotta stay around.
Congrates to all of DAWG NATION and Auburn Fans…………the great tradition continues.
bitter dwag sign guy
June 3rd, 2012
7:46 pm
I would watch this game if there was any way both teams could lose.
William Smith
June 3rd, 2012
8:11 pm
I for myself see problems for any playoff system. What if a conference has two teams ranked five and six. That conference will have no teams in the playoffs. On the same token what if the best team in the conference losses the conference championship game and is then out of the playoffs. When will we stop kidding ourselves and realize college football is a business. I believe in one super conference just like the NFL. The playoff system will be entirely like the NFL. The NFL should chip in and send money to the colleges for football programs. The colleges are no more than a minor league system. The players could then play for the highest bidder. Lastly, with the problems of concussions football as we know it could slowly fade away. It could take it’s lesson from boxing.
dawgs01
June 3rd, 2012
10:21 pm
dawgs just signed a 4star receiver out of tallahassee fl. go check it out the ajc is asleep
jj
June 4th, 2012
3:04 am
Lots of machinations just to add two mediocre programs.
SEC Football Daily: June 4th | Saturday Down South
June 4th, 2012
4:46 am
[...] The Auburn-Georgia rivalry will live on. With the adoption of the 6-1-1 scheduling model, this rivalry is indeed preserved for future battles. Both UGA and Auburn were slightly worried this game would be no more. Also, LSU-Florida and Tennessee-Alabama rivalries will continue as well with no further worry, unless the conference expands to 16 teams. [AJC] [...]
ugab
June 4th, 2012
9:03 am
Goo Dawgs Beat Auburn
ugab
June 4th, 2012
9:04 am
Every game Uga plays is a darn rivalry.
ugab
June 4th, 2012
9:08 am
Bama fans have the right to brag. Uga does not.. CMR has embarrassed the fans at times. Saban is a real football coach..Saban has his players focused and game ready..I see good things happening at Uga under CMR. I wonder why millions of dollars were waised and years waisted just for CMR finally to step it up a level at Uga? The facilities are better than they were before MR come the Uga.
MadDog
June 4th, 2012
11:48 am
Only 1 vote out of 14 to go to a 9 game sec schedule by ADs at recent sec meeting, so we will continue to have 3 cupcakes on our home schedule in Athens.
If you don’t want this schedule to continue, write or e-mail your athletic director.
Athens GA Auburn Tiger
June 4th, 2012
12:39 pm
Big Wally has the best idea, but it can’t work right now.
The NCAA rule that provides for a conference championship game also states that the conference must have two divisions and play a complete round-robin within the division. If the SEC can get that rule changed, then Big Wally’s plan will come to fruition.
Here is what the SEC would like to occur: each school would have three permanent opponents and would then rotate the other 10 teams on a “five-on, five-off” basis. That way, any kid that signs scholarship papers with any SEC school will play in every SEC stadium and also host every SEC team during a four-year span. The two best teams would play in the title game.
Permanent opponents:
Alabama- (Auburn, Miss State, Tenn)
Arkansas- (LSU, Mizzou, Kentucky)
Auburn- (Alabama, UGA, Miss State)
Florida – (UGA, UT, USC)
Georgia- (Auburn, Florida, USC)
Kentucky (Tenn, Mizzou, Arkansas)
Ole Miss- (LSU, Miss State, Vandy)
Miss State- (Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss)
Mizzou- (Arkansas, Kentucky, A&M)
LSU- (Arkansas, Ole Miss, A&M)
South Carolina- (UGA, Florida, Vandy)
Tennessee- (Alabama, Florida, Kentucky)
Texas A&M- (LSU, Mizzou, Arkansas)
Vandy (Ole Miss, USC, Kentucky)
shankit
June 4th, 2012
2:05 pm
Dawgs just need to win the East, and they can add
another cross over team from the West every year.
Gordon
June 4th, 2012
2:44 pm
I suggested Big Wally’s idea months ago. I didn’t know you had to have divisions to have a conference championship game, though.
The 6-1-1 is horrible. You won’t see teams in the other division but once every 12 years in your stadium. But you will see another team like Idaho State every year.
DawgNole
June 4th, 2012
3:56 pm
MadDog
June 4th, 2012
11:48 am
Only 1 vote out of 14 to go to a 9 game sec schedule by ADs at recent sec meeting, so we will continue to have 3 cupcakes on our home schedule in Athens.
If you don’t want this schedule to continue, write or e-mail your athletic director.
___________________
Better yet, don’t buy tickets for–or attend–the cupcake games. Nothing speaks louder than fans disguised as empty seats.
I don’t understand the’ fear of a 9-game conf schedule. Even the teams with long-time inter-conf rivals (UGA, USC, fla) STILL have room on the schedule for those rival games AND 2 cupcakes. And those w/o such rivalries have room for 3 cupcakes. Why is that not enough bought-and-paid-for wins? COWARDS!
Atlanta87
June 4th, 2012
4:26 pm
kingdaddy went on quite a rant there, didn’t he?
Atlanta87
June 4th, 2012
4:28 pm
@ Pitbull that’s so funny man! I say all three of those things all the time. You’re hilarious!!
Auburn Grad
June 5th, 2012
7:48 am
Went to the UGA-TN game in 2010. We had seats around the 30 yd. line on the UGA side. Considering all the “F” words being thrown around in mixed company by the 30+ year olds, UGA fans could probably use an upgrade in class themselves.
Lakedawg
June 5th, 2012
10:36 pm
Dawgnole—Let me try to explain the 9 game schedule and what it would do to the Dawgs.
If you or content to playing 4 home 5 away SEC games every year and possibly 3 home 6 away some years then go for it. I for one see that as a horrible disadvantage and totally unfair to the Dawgs.
Just take this years schedule 3 home SEC games Tenn., Vandy, Ole Miss. On the road Missouri, S. Car., Auburn, Fla, Kentucky. Project that out the next several years. The only possible solution is get the Fla. game home and home and not play in Florida every year.
jc_dawg
June 6th, 2012
2:19 pm
Why not just go back to the way it was before the BCS? 4 major bowl games.
Then….the winners of each bowl game would advance to the final 4. 6 conf champs would get a major bowl plus 2 wild card at large teams. And yes….the SEC or any conf should be allowed to have the 2 at large spots. Would have worked perfectly last year.
fupunrernlels
June 7th, 2012
8:15 pm
The Philadelphia Eagles have several second year players that have a lot to prove. Names like Casey Matthews and Danny Watkins found their way on the field in 2011 but need to improve. Meanwhile, other second year guys saw little to no playing time but will be counted on to contribute in 2012. Safety Jaiquawn Jarrett is the most obvious player that fits that bill. However, cornerback Curtis Marsh is also a guy that will need to do more in 2012. As an Eagles fan, I think the offseason will be critical for Marsh. He needs to prove that he can be a part of this team before it is too late.
The Eagles used a third round pick on Marsh in 2011. Typically, a player drafted that high makes an immediate impact on the team. Seeing that the Eagles were deep at cornerback entering 2011, it isn’t surprising that Marsh didn’t make it onto the field very often. But things are different in 2012. The Eagles have traded Asante Samuel. Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are the starting cornerbacks but there are questions after that. Joselio Hanson is a decent player but he is one that already hit his ceiling. Rookie Brandon Boykin has potential but still needs to develop. Even if he is ahead of schedule he will likely play the slot this season. That leaves Marsh as the primary backup to Asomugha and DRC. If one of those players is hurt, he is the likely starter on the outside.
Marsh has already gotten work with the first team during OTAs. DRC missed the practice on June 4, allowing Marsh to step in as a starter. Since the Eagles are going to adopt a more pressing scheme, Marsh should do well. His size and talent make him much better in the press than in the zone. It is important for him to continue to work on those skills throughout OTAs and training camp. His playing time will be much greater in 2012, and there is a chance that he might end up starting a game here and there. This is his opportunity to prove that the Eagles can depend on him to do that. If he can’t earn his playing time in 2012, the Eagles might have no choice but to abandon the Marsh experiment.
The Philadelphia Eagles will hold their first round of OTAs starting on May 22. While certain players might not be participating, this is still the first chance for the entire 2012 team to work out together. As the 2011 season turned into a disaster, we heard a lot about how the Eagles didn’t have a full offseason to get ready. In light of that excuse, I would like to think that the team would take OTAs seriously. With that in mind, here is a look at how the quarterbacks stand as the team begins OTAs.
Michael Vick
We have heard a lot about Vick not having a full offseason as a starter with the Eagles, and that is true. He inherited the job in the season opener in 2010 and there was essentially no offseason in 2011. That means that Vick will finally have an entire summer to get ready. He had better take advantage of it because his game needs a lot of work. Vick can no longer be the guy that tries to win games with his feet. The Eagles need him to become a complete pocket passer. That is the best chance that he has of remaining healthy throughout the season. If Vick can’t get the job done in 2012, the Eagles won’t have any excuses. I hope he is ready to take OTAs seriously because the journey starts here.
The backups
The other three quarterbacks on the roster have a lot to prove, so I expect them to really push hard during OTAs. Mike Kafka has the inside track to be the number two guy on this team. That name doesn’t do a lot to excite Eagles fans, but he does have experience in this system. A full offseason of work could help Kafka improve significantly. He has the tools so he is capable of grasping the number two job. However, he will need to prove his value right away.
Free agent signee Trent Edwards has plenty of NFL experience but he is pretty far removed from playing. The Eagles really took a flyer by signing him after he didn’t play in 2011. No fan really expects him to have a shot at being the first backup. However, experience can be an advantage and Edwards will have a chance to play his way onto this team.
Other than Vick, rookie Nick Foles will be the most intriguing quarterback throughout OTAs. As a third round pick, he has likely secured the number three job on this team. He showed potential during rookie camp but clearly needs a lot of work. I am anxious to see how much he improves over the course of OTAs and into training camp. No one expects Foles to be a contributor in 2012, but he still faces a lot of expectations in the offseason.
The Eagles have also signed undrafted rookie Jacory Harris to a deal, but he has no shot at making this team as a quarterback. He has great athleticism so the Eagles might be able to find something else for him to do. However, he is likely destined to wind up on the practice squad.
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