LSU’s Kelly on 9-game slate: Wish to play the very best
As the SEC continues to go over a 8- or nine-game conference schedule to ultimately adjust to the additions of Oklahoma and Texas in 2024, LSU coach Brian Kelly informed ESPN on Monday he’s in favor of facing 9 league groups due to the fact that he desires “to play the best”– consisting of Alabama as a permanent opponent.While absolutely nothing has been completed, the SEC is trending towards a scheduling model without divisions that consists of nine SEC challengers(6 turning, and 3 long-term), and the conference office has sent out possible permanent rivals to each school to think about. Kelly said the model he was offered for 9 SEC teams included Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M as repaired challengers.”I have actually remained in this for 3 years, and no disrespect to any of the other
schools that we play beyond the SEC, however they just do not delight me,”stated Kelly, who is entering his second season at LSU.”I wish to play the very best. I came down here to the SEC because I wished to play against Alabama. I want to play A&M. I wish to play Auburn, the fantastic groups, and in our brand-new scheduling we get to play Alabama every year, Ole Miss every year and A&M, and that’s actually why I came down here. I want to play those games, and I think playing 9 SEC games is excellent for your schedule, and it prepares you for the opportunity to play for a championship but likewise bet the championship game.”In an interview with Sports Illustrated last week, Alabama coach Nick Saban questioned the fairness of needing to play
Tennessee, Auburn and LSU every season.Editor’s Picks
“I’ve constantly been an advocate for playing more [conference] games,” Saban said. “But if you play more games, I think you need to get the 3 fixed [challengers] right. They’re offering us Tennessee, Auburn and LSU. I do not understand how they pertain to that [decision]”
Kelly stated Monday he wasn’t knowledgeable about Saban’s remarks about the scheduling design.
“I believe everyone has their take on the schedules,” he said. “Nick has never pulled back from a difficulty. I’m not too concerned about whether Nick Saban is going to have his team all set when he plays LSU. He’ll be prepared.”
The conference is likewise still thinking about an eight-game scheduling design, which would consist of one fixed opponent for each team.Last month
, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey stated one of the factors he was anticipating leading a 16-team conference was to “restore rivalries” like Texas A&M-Texas, Arkansas-Texas and Oklahoma and Missouri. In order to do that, though, he has actually urged athletic directors to rotate teams throughout the league “with higher frequency.”
“We also understand that there are truly unique competitions that should be honored as part of this procedure,” he said, “and that’s in this consideration.”
The SEC’s athletic directors need to accept a scheduling model to provide to the league’s presidents and chancellors for approval. The athletic directors are expected to meet in-person in late April or early May. Leaders throughout the league are expecting a resolution by the SEC’s yearly spring conferences in Destin, Fla., if not faster.