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BIRMINGHAM — Greg Sankey knows what SEC football teams are in for starting in 2026.
The rules are simple. Member teams must play nine conference games paired with at least one "high-quality" non-conference game from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 or Notre Dame. Sankey understands how that looks different in the SEC compared to other conferences across the country, and across sports. He understands the College Football Playoff implications.
But make no mistake: Sankey wants games like Alabama football vs. Ohio State, or Georgia vs. Clemson in the future.
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"No apologies for a hard schedule," Sankey said at the Associated Press Sports Editors Southeast Region meeting at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. "I do think that the games, national games with other conferences or with Notre Dame are really important."
Sankey said those games are what people want to see. It's an opportunity for players to see different competition at the highest level. And it's a showcase for the CFP selection committee to help make decisions.
Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne was firm.
Alabama did cancel its 2028-29 home-and-home with Oklahoma State to adhere to the conference's policy of nine conference games each season and one "high-quality" non-conference game. Now, instead of the Cowboys in Stillwater, Alabama will open the season against Georgia State along with with home games against Ohio State and UT Martin.
No other promises by Byrne were made, even with home-and-homes scheduled against teams like Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Minnesota and Virginia Tech looming, some of which overlap.
While the focus is on the games Alabama could play, Sankey turned the attention to the games the Crimson Tide will play.
Alabama's opportunity to play nine conference games, just like every other team in the conference, gives Crimson Tide fans and players to see everyone in the league every two years. Every four brings every SEC team into Bryant-Denny Stadium. It's good for SEC football, Sankey said. It's good for college football as a whole.
"I know it's hard," Sankey said. "But there are a lot of rewards for doing hard things."
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Greg Sankey wants SEC football to still schedule major non-conference games
Continue reading...
The rules are simple. Member teams must play nine conference games paired with at least one "high-quality" non-conference game from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 or Notre Dame. Sankey understands how that looks different in the SEC compared to other conferences across the country, and across sports. He understands the College Football Playoff implications.
But make no mistake: Sankey wants games like Alabama football vs. Ohio State, or Georgia vs. Clemson in the future.
NCAA TOURNAMENT EXPANSION: SEC commissioner Greg Sankey reveals stance on NCAA basketball tournament expansion
GREG SANKEY: What Greg Sankey said about ABS challenge system at SEC Tournament
SANKEY ON SOFTBALL: Greg Sankey explains SEC Softball Tournament move to Madison, Alabama
"No apologies for a hard schedule," Sankey said at the Associated Press Sports Editors Southeast Region meeting at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. "I do think that the games, national games with other conferences or with Notre Dame are really important."
Sankey said those games are what people want to see. It's an opportunity for players to see different competition at the highest level. And it's a showcase for the CFP selection committee to help make decisions.
Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne was firm.
Alabama did cancel its 2028-29 home-and-home with Oklahoma State to adhere to the conference's policy of nine conference games each season and one "high-quality" non-conference game. Now, instead of the Cowboys in Stillwater, Alabama will open the season against Georgia State along with with home games against Ohio State and UT Martin.
No other promises by Byrne were made, even with home-and-homes scheduled against teams like Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Minnesota and Virginia Tech looming, some of which overlap.
While the focus is on the games Alabama could play, Sankey turned the attention to the games the Crimson Tide will play.
Alabama's opportunity to play nine conference games, just like every other team in the conference, gives Crimson Tide fans and players to see everyone in the league every two years. Every four brings every SEC team into Bryant-Denny Stadium. It's good for SEC football, Sankey said. It's good for college football as a whole.
"I know it's hard," Sankey said. "But there are a lot of rewards for doing hard things."
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Greg Sankey wants SEC football to still schedule major non-conference games
Continue reading...
