Some rumblings about future SEC scheduling and logistics

Nothing matters more than the 2023 season and the 3-0 Texas Longhorns readying to travel to Waco to play the Baylor Bears. After that game Texas has visiting Kansas, a dangerous offensive team, and then travels to Dallas for the annual rivalry game against Oklahoma. So there’s plenty to concern ourselves with in the present.

As for the future, Texas’ inaugural 2024 SEC season is already scheduled. But that schedule is a placeholder, a one-off designed to buy the schedulers and politicians in the SEC time to figure out a more permanent arrangement.

Nine game conference schedule

We are not reporting this as fact but we’ve heard it credibly the SEC will revert to a nine game conference schedule in 2025. Currently the SEC employs an eight game slate that typically features four pushovers in non-conference. SEC scheduling has largely helped to build the mystique of the conference once you get past Alabama, Georgia, LSU and sometimes Florida. That fourth non-conference game equates to a whole lot of conference wins rather than the 50/50 win-loss split you see in other conferences.

The extra conference game is something Texas power brokers have supported as a way to improve gates and concessions as well as the overall product and fan experience. As you know, the current UT leadership wants all the challenges, best represented by the move to the SEC in the first place. Why switch conferences to play an extra directional school each year?

The NCAA moving to a 12-team playoff has made this schedule more palatable to conference decision-makers.

Pod of Rivals

We aren’t reporting this as fact, either, but we’re also hearing the 16 member universities will be broken into four pods. The best guess on Texas’ pod includes Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Arkansas. That would be a Pod of Rivals if there ever was one.

RRS game time

Speaking of OU, we’ve heard that game will permanently move to a 2:30 p.m. time slot. We expect it to be held at 11:00 a.m. this year but going forward you’ll likely have the chance to drink much more wax beer and eat much more fried foods at the State Fair. Pace yourselves accordingly.

Natural grass

A final note, the topic of a natural playing surface returning to DKR is often brought up, especially after the scorching conditions on the field turf against Rice and Alabama. Grass will make its return but that’s probably still a few seasons away. We weren’t given a reason for that but we’re sure there’s a good one.

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