ESPN may pay SEC $50-$80 mill more per year if it adds 9th conference game

[onevol74]

Then it looks like we’ll be adding a ninth game.

We all need to remember this when the players seek to maximize their haul. Because if the “adults” running the “academic” institutions are doing it, then there is nothing wrong with the players doing it, too.

It’s all about the money all the time.

If the players were smart enough to run the institutions then we would not need the institutions. The real problem is they are not that smart.

If I were the institution I would eliminate them and make them form a farm league like baseball. I am beginning to have a difficult time understanding how college athletics contributes to the education mission of colleges and universities.

Real education in this country has sold its soul to political ideology and the almighty dollar, which is destroying our society and future.

 

[Other_Guy]

Bad deal but the SEC is so up a creek anyway. Big10 going to run the sport now.

 

[HooahVol]

With 16 SEC schools now that would equal roughly 3 million to 5 million per school. While that is a lot of money I am not sure it is worth it for the extra injury risk and potential loss knocking you out of the playoffs. I actually would not be surprised if most schools turn this down.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Bad deal but the SEC is so up a creek anyway. Big10 going to run the sport now.

Since the SEC seems set to comply with the 9th game, they should require the BIG to go to 10 due to the depths of their lower echelon members.

Love to see a stratified 1-16 for both leagues and the odds on each game if they all played their ranked equivalent.

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

I hope we get Bama,Florida, and Ga

Even if we don't play UF and UGA every year, we will still play them every other year and possibly in the SECCG/Playoffs.

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

Bama, yes, but do we really care to play Vandy and Ky?

I say yes for several reasons.
1. Oldest Rivalries
2. In-State Vandy, State Legislators will withhold funding and pass bills for not playing them.
3. If your regular season schedule is too hard, you won't be going to the playoffs as much. There's a reason Clemson got to all those big games and actually won a few. Vandy and Kentucky greatly increase our Playoff odds.
4. Let FL/UGA/LSU/etc cancel each other out.
5. Continued Nashville Exposure to recruits.

Also we would still play FL and UGA every other year.

 

[lukeneyland]

As I look at how our playoff run went. You play nine SEC games and then have to play in a sec championship game - the top two teams in the SEC. Then have to play in the playoffs? You better have a lot of depth. Just another way to favor the big dogs in this mess.

Yep absolute carnage. While the big boys in other leagues get to play cupcakes

 

[NighthawkVol]

I say yes for several reasons.
1. Oldest Rivalries
2. In-State Vandy, State Legislators will withhold funding and pass bills for not playing them.
3. If your regular season schedule is too hard, you won't be going to the playoffs as much. There's a reason Clemson got to all those big games and actually won a few. Vandy and Kentucky greatly increase our Playoff odds.
4. Let FL/UGA/LSU/etc cancel each other out.
5. Continued Nashville Exposure to recruits.

1. Yes.
2. No. Legislators come from all over the state, not Nashville. But more importantly, it makes no sense to withhold funding for something UT has nothing to do with. Punish UT for an SEC decision? No.
3. Yes.
4. Yes.
5. No. Middle Tennessee is Big Orange Country because it’s the heart of Tennessee, not because we play Vanderbilt.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

And many Big10 players Heisman Trophies over more qualified SEC players. There is huge bias. You're making my point on the 3 NC in 20 years. E$PN think their preferred conferences deserve it over the rednecks/trailer park-ites in the south.

No one is making your point . Other than Woodson, what other Big 10 won the Heisman Trophy over an SEC player? The Big 10 hasn’t even had a Heisman winner since Troy Smith almost 20 years ago.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

1. Yes.
2. No. Legislators come from all over the state, not Nashville. But more importantly, it makes no sense to withhold funding for something UT has nothing to do with. Punish UT for an SEC decision? No.
3. Yes.
4. Yes.
5. No. Middle Tennessee is Big Orange Country because it’s the heart of Tennessee, not because we play Vanderbilt.

I think # 5 is yess for 2 reasons. Vanderbilt has been a rival for 2 lifetimes plus it is the heart of Tennessee and fertile recruiting grounds.

 

[Legion of Doom]

It is fine playing 9 conference games. Going to a 16 team playoff. If you can’t make a 16 team playoff no reason to complain. Sec has no business playing some of cupcakes they have been playing.

 

[NighthawkVol]

I think # 5 is yess for 2 reasons. Vanderbilt has been a rival for 2 lifetimes plus it is the heart of Tennessee and fertile recruiting grounds.

Right. But Tennessee’s recruiting in Middle TN is in no way connected to playing Vanderbilt. Because it’s Tennessee. You think playing Vanderbilt in Nashville is somehow bringing extra attention to UT football that wouldn’t already exist?

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Right. But Tennessee’s recruiting in Middle TN is in no way connected to playing Vanderbilt. Because it’s Tennessee. You think playing Vanderbilt in Nashville is somehow bringing extra attention to UT football that wouldn’t already exist?

We need to play in Nashville and Vandy is the logical team. Plus, I have a lot of relatives who went to Vanderbilt and I like to rub it in.

 

[Vfl2407]

It is fine playing 9 conference games. Going to a 16 team playoff. If you can’t make a 16 team playoff no reason to complain. Sec has no business playing some of cupcakes they have been playing.

I agree.
New 16 team playoff format will have 4 guaranteed SEC spots and 2 possible at large entries (3 if Notre Dame has a bad season).

 

[marcusluvsvols]

9 SEC games is detrimental to UT as well as any other school actually trying to win Championships in football. We are already dealing with Big10 schools like OSU and Michigan that play nobody all season long (1 or 2 ranked teams all season, usually PSU ranked in the teens and some other school ranked near the bottom of the top25) vs SEC teams that have played 5 or 6 ranked teams per season including several top10 teams. Its a huge disadvantage when it comes to playoff seeding...which will get even worse if we add a 9th conference game. So stupid. None of the schools which have legitimate playoff chances need the extra money anyway...and more money is the only "good" thing about adding a 9th game. So why the Hell would anyone want to beat up their team and possibly their W/L record even more by adding another tough SEC game? Greed will be the downfall of this conference and college sports. Smdh

 

[NighthawkVol]

9 SEC games is detrimental to UT as well as any other school actually trying to win Championships in football. We are already dealing with Big10 schools like OSU and Michigan that play nobody all season long (1 or 2 ranked teams all season, usually PSU ranked in the teens and some other school ranked near the bottom of the top25) vs SEC teams that have played 5 or 6 ranked teams per season including several top10 teams. Its a huge disadvantage when it comes to playoff seeding...which will get even worse if we add a 9th conference game. So stupid. None of the schools which have legitimate playoff chances need the extra money anyway...and more money is the only "good" thing about adding a 9th game. So why the Hell would anyone want to beat up their team and possibly their W/L record even more by adding another tough SEC game? Greed will be the downfall of this conference and college sports. Smdh

And if we don’t go to 9, we lose rivalries like the TSIO. I’d rather go to 9. We have a 12 team playoff, about to become bigger. You can lose 2 or 3 games and still make it in. Preserve the rivalries.

 

[Vfl2407]

9 SEC games is detrimental to UT as well as any other school actually trying to win Championships in football. We are already dealing with Big10 schools like OSU and Michigan that play nobody all season long (1 or 2 ranked teams all season, usually PSU ranked in the teens and some other school ranked near the bottom of the top25) vs SEC teams that have played 5 or 6 ranked teams per season including several top10 teams. Its a huge disadvantage when it comes to playoff seeding...which will get even worse if we add a 9th conference game. So stupid. None of the schools which have legitimate playoff chances need the extra money anyway...and more money is the only "good" thing about adding a 9th game. So why the Hell would anyone want to beat up their team and possibly their W/L record even more by adding another tough SEC game? Greed will be the downfall of this conference and college sports. Smdh

I JUST CANT SEE each SEC school TURNING DOWN an additional 5-6 million from ESPN. $ always wins.

 

[jackaro]

I want to watch meaningful games, the more the better. If there is a concern about getting into the playoffs with more tough games then the coaches need to recruit, develop and scheme better. Watching the vols play tomato cans does not do it for me.

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

I want to watch meaningful games, the more the better. If there is a concern about getting into the playoffs with more tough games then the coaches need to recruit, develop and scheme better. Watching the vols play tomato cans does not do it for me.

Playoff games are meaningful games to me.

 

[VolCalls]

I JUST CANT SEE each SEC school TURNING DOWN an additional 5-6 million from ESPN. $ always wins.

We all knew the 9th game was coming at some point. The masses want it and it means more money for the league.

 

[volbound1700]

Florida has a state law that requires UF play FSU. Not sure about the others. Anyway, it ain’t my problem.

Somewhat, there are ways around it for UF if it becomes to hard to schedule. They didn't play in 2020 for example. That being said, game brings in too much $$ to drop.

 

[volbound1700]

Tennessee should get Alabama, Kentucky, and Vandy going off history. The team out is Florida. If Vandy leaves the SEC, play Florida.

If they do the 3-6-6 schedule, we will still see everyone in a 2 year span, which, in a way, is better than the current format or format we have had since 2000.

 

[Vfl2407]

Tennessee should get Alabama, Kentucky, and Vandy going off history. The team out is Florida. If Vandy leaves the SEC, play Florida.

If they do the 3-6-6 schedule, we will still see everyone in a 2 year span, which, in a way, is better than the current format or format we have had since 2000.

I know that Vandy just refurbished their stadium. But to stay in the SEC they should be required to have a minimum of 50,000 seats even if they know that 80% of the fans will be visitors.

Google Search

 

[Wireless1]

Each SEC school will be losing 1/2 home game per year. I suspect even for the cupcakes UT generates more than $10m in revenue per home game- ticket sales, seat license, vending-
And the SEC will have 8 more losses per year for bowl game qualification so there might be 2 or 3 teams that don’t qualify for those additional payouts.
All this so that we can play Miss St, Ark, Mizzou and LSU every other year on average
This doesn’t increase the number of games (it’ll actually create fewer games - UT vsMSU instead of UT client st and MSU v SW La - for ESPN, it only means they would have a game between UT and Miss St, rather than UT and Kent St…. How many more eyes would that really draw over the 2 games

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

Each SEC school will be losing 1/2 home game per year. I suspect even for the cupcakes UT generates more than $10m in revenue per home game- ticket sales, seat license, vending-
And the SEC will have 8 more losses per year for bowl game qualification so there might be 2 or 3 teams that don’t qualify for those additional payouts.
All this so that we can play Miss St, Ark, Mizzou and LSU every other year on average
This doesn’t increase the number of games (it’ll actually create fewer games - UT vsMSU instead of UT client st and MSU v SW La - for ESPN, it only means they would have a game between UT and Miss St, rather than UT and Kent St…. How many more eyes would that really draw over the 2 games

Well, it's a tradeoff, do you want 1 Rivalry Game (Vandy) or do you want three rivalry games (Vandy, Kentucky, Alabama)?

The good news for us is we have 2 very winnable Rivalry Games. Bama will probably get Auburn, Tennessee and LSU. Texas will get aTm, Oklahoma and Arky. Georgia will get Auburn, Florida and perhaps SCAR.