ATLANTA, Ga. — The Southeastern Conference is a number one participant within the dramatic modifications to the nationwide soccer panorama. New Louisiana State coach Brian Kelly likens them to a sport of musical chairs and warns there usually are not sufficient chairs for each faculty.
“That’s the current state of college football,” Kelly said Monday at SEC media days, a high-pressure game to find the desired conference.
The SEC will become a 16-team conference in 2025 with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma. The Big Ten recently countered by voting to add Southern California and UCLA as conference members beginning in 2024.
Kelly’s former school, Notre Dame, may be the biggest prize in the expansion race. It continues to operate as an independent school in football but would be an attractive addition for any league.
Might the SEC have interest in another power grab? SEC commissioner Greg Sankey didn’t go that far: “It is a compliment that people from all across the country and all across the globe want to be a part of the Southeastern Conference.”
In an apparent reference to the Big Ten’s reach into California, Sankey said the SEC wouldn’t be pushed into an expansion competition.
“There’s no sense of urgency in our league, no panic, and reaction to others’ decisions,” Sankey stated. “We know who we are. We are confident in our collective strength, and we are uniquely positioned to continue to provide remarkable experiences, educationally and athletically, along with world-class support to student-athletes.”
Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin, who beforehand was at USC, stated he would not prefer to see traditions and rivalries finish.
“When you go to places, you’ve been to USC, all these different places, you see how passionate fans are about certain things, what matters, rivalries,” he said. “For those to be dismantled for money is kind of a shame.”
Kiffin additionally stated the challenges for USC and UCLA transferring to the Big Ten usually are not the identical as what Texas and Oklahoma will face when adjusting to the SEC.
“You know, they’ve been playing in great conferences and against great opponents,” Kiffin stated of the 4 colleges. “I imply, I simply say how it’s. I don’t know that there’s an enormous soar into the Big Ten. I believe going to the SEC is a complete different animal. … Said it for a very long time: The SEC simply means extra. And it does. It’s totally different, it’s forward of the sport.”
The SEC has gained three consecutive nationwide championships in soccer: Georgia beat Alabama in final season’s all-SEC championship sport. LSU gained the 2019 title, adopted by Alabama in 2020.
Sankey was cautious to say these most up-to-date championships earlier than including that 4 totally different SEC groups gained 4 consecutive nationwide titles in a stretch that started in 2007: LSU, Florida, Alabama, and Auburn. A sixth SEC crew, Tennessee, gained the 1998 championship.
“I’ll let you make the comparisons between us and our colleagues as it relates to national championship success in football,” Sankey stated.
The SEC is looking for to keep up its edge whereas different conferences are attempting to enhance their standing within the nationwide title image.
“In this environment, I’m proud to say in my view, I think in the view of our entire membership, the Southeastern Conference is stronger now than at any other time in our history,” Sankey stated.
Clearly, the SEC is open to including to that power.
“We know who we are,” he stated. “We’re confident in our success. We’re really looking forward to the expansion and being at 16 teams. Don’t feel pressured to just operate at a number. But we’ll watch what happens around us and be thoughtful but be nimble.”