SEC coaches on 9-game schedule and 16-team playoff: ‘They felt misled’
SEC coach said the idea was to go to 9 conference games to prepare for expanded playoff.
Olivia Bennett 
The SEC spring meetings have been buzzing with candor this week, and Florida head coach Jon Sumrall has been right in the middle of the conversation. Sumrall recently pulled back the curtain on the frustrations brewing among conference coaches regarding the long-discussed shift to a nine-game SEC schedule.
Coaches Feel Misled
In a discussion with On3, Sumrall highlighted that many coaches operated under the impression that moving to a nine-game conference slate would serve as a catalyst for expanding the playoff format to 16 teams. Unfortunately, that expansion has yet to materialize. As he told Brett McMurphy, there is a clear sentiment among the coaching fraternity that they were misled throughout the process.
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz echoed those sentiments, pointing to the lengthy timeline of the debate. Reflecting on his initial entry into the SEC in 2020, Drinkwitz recalled the constant anticipation of a vote on the schedule format. He expressed frustration that despite assurances regarding playoff expansion, the landscape remains stuck at a 12-team playoff, falling short of the 16-team model coaches expected in 2026 if they committed to the nine-game schedule.
Tension Behind the Scenes
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey addressed the league’s strategy for CFP talks on Monday, further highlighting the ongoing friction between the SEC and the Big Ten regarding the future of the postseason.
In other news from the meetings, Sumrall garnered significant attention after clarifying that his acceptance of the Florida job was contingent on his ability to finish out the previous season with his former team, the Tulane Green Wave, during their appearance in the CFP.
