SEC keeps 8-game conference schedule, rivalries preserved

AUBURN -- The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry will continue to be an annual affair, as the SEC announced on Sunday the conference's future football schedule format will be a continuation of its 8-game slate with permanent division crossover opponents preserved.

Following a vote of the league's institutions held at a joint meeting of the league's presidents and chancellors and each conference athletic director in Atlanta on Sunday, the SEC announced the 6-1-1 format for football schedules will continue and the addition of at least one opponent from the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten or Pac-12 must be scheduled by each SEC school on an annual basis beginning in 2016, with "assistance" from the conference office.

"This has been a thoughtful and deliberative process that has resulted in maintaining the current format and adds a provision that will bolster our collective annual non-conference schedule," SEC commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement. "Critical to maintaining this format is the non-conference opponent factor which gives us the added strength-of-schedule we were seeking while allowing continued scheduling flexibility for institutional preferences, and acknowledges that many of our institutions already play these opponents.

"The concept of strength-of-schedule is based on an entire 12-game schedule, a combination of both conference games together with non-conference games. Given the strength of our conference schedule supplemented by at least one major non-conference game, our teams will boast of a strong resume' of opponents each and every year."

Slive said the SEC's strength of schedule, which he cited the conference as having the five toughest schedules last season according to the NCAA, was "certainly a significant factor" in the decision to stay with an eight-game format.

The SEC had been considering a nine-game format for some time, with the league's coaches holding a vote during last year's Spring Meetings in Destin, Fla., the result of which was 13-1 against a nine-game slate with only Alabama coach Nick Saban in favor, or "unanimous" as LSU's Les Miles put it.

On Tuesday, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn reiterated his view in favor of an eight-game schedule with the Georgia game preserved. Tigers defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson felt a nine-game schedule "made more sense."

During an hour-long session with reporters in Birmingham on Monday, Slive said each format, whether it was eight or nine-games, with or without permanent cross-division opponents, "has a series of advantages and disadvantages."

This year is the start of the new four-team College Football Playoff, which has sparked debate about whether uniformity in league schedules by the power five conferences was best. The Big XII and Pac-12 are already playing nine conference games and the Big Ten will move from eight to nine in 2016 while the ACC still has yet to decide on its future format.

Four SEC teams (Kentucky, Florida, South Carolina and Georgia) already play ACC teams (Louisville, Florida State, Clemson and Georgia Tech) in annual non-conference games.

Only Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt are not playing a non-conference game against a power conference opponent in 2014. Alabama open the season against West Virginia at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and Auburn plays at Kansas State on Sept. 18.

Traditional rivalries such Auburn and Georgia, which have met 117 times since 1892 with the Tigers holding a 55-54-8 edge following last season's Prayer at Jordan-Hare, will be maintained as well.

"Me, nor Dr. (Jay) Gogue, nor Gus were going to give on that," Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs said. "The history and the proximity of the two schools and the relationship we've had with coaches and players, that was non-negotiable for Auburn. We're very fortunate and we're very pleased we're able to maintain that rivalry."

Auburn is scheduled to open the 2015 season against Louisville, who moves to the ACC this season, in the Chick-fil-A season kickoff in the Georgia Dome. The Tigers have not scheduled into 2016 and beyond as of yet, but Jacobs said there have been "informal conversation for the last year" with prospective future opponents.

Alabama will continue to play Tennessee, Arkansas will face Missouri, LSU will take on Florida, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and Kentucky, and Texas A&M and South Carolina.

"Tradition matters in the SEC, and there is no denying that tradition was a significant factor in this decision because it protects several long-standing cross-division conference rivalries," Slive said in a statement. "It has been a hallmark of the SEC over our history to be able to make continued progress while also maintaining traditions important to our institutions."