6 days ago
Paul Finebaum Reveals He's 'Losing Patience' with Some SEC Coaches
Paul Finebaum Reveals He's 'Losing Patience' with Some SEC Coaches originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The SEC spring meetings have come and gone, and there is still no decision on whether the conference will adopt a nine-game conference schedule, similar to the Big Ten and Big 12. Currently, both the SEC and ACC have an eight-game conference slate.
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However, after adding the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns, it seemed likely that the SEC would soon shift to a nine-game schedule. With so many teams in the league now, this change would ensure that certain rivalries continue.
Additionally, because the OU-Texas game is held at a neutral site, it would guarantee the Sooners and Longhorns both receive four home and away conference games. Under the current eight-game format, depending on which team is the home team at the Cotton Bowl, that team would only get three true home games compared to four road games in conference play.
The same is said for the neutral site game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators. Last season, the Bulldogs were the home team, so they only got three true home games in conference.
On "The Paul Finebaum Show," the SEC Network analyst expressed his dissatisfaction with SEC coaches who have voiced their opposition to the move to a nine-game schedule.
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Texas Longhorns defensive back Derek Williams Jr. (2) recovers a fumble against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Dieb-Imagn Images
"I'm losing patience with some of the coaches in this league," Finebaum said. "I think the SEC is long overdue to go to nine. They're reluctant to for legitimate reasons. The commissioner said to us four weeks ago, he's in favor of nine. I think ultimately they will get there. But I am not convinced they will get there in time for the first year of this 2026 playoff."
Finebaum previously stated that although he believes the conference will eventually adopt a nine-game schedule, it is no longer as certain as it once seemed. He expressed concern that significant rivalries, such as the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Tennessee Volunteers, might diminish if scheduling does not change.
Finebaum suggested that some schools are resisting this change because they want to maximize their chances of making the College Football Playoff. There is worry that adding another conference game could negatively impact those chances.
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However, he argues that if a school is strong enough, the potential expansion of the CFP to 16 teams — something that could happen soon, would make it difficult for competitive teams to miss out on postseason play.
While it remains unclear when SEC schools will vote on the nine-game proposal, it is expected to occur later this year, with potential implementation as early as 2026. However, no official date has been announced.
Related: Paul Finebaum Reveals Major SEC Change No Longer a Sure Thing Amid Growing Pushback
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
