I find it interesting that the SEC is already discussing changing schedules to accommodate makeup games. I know that this requires some forward thinking by the B1G leadership and maybe that's too much to ask for with their track record.
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The SEC could play multiple football games on Dec. 19, the day of the conference championship game, according to a new “scheduling flexibility” plan announced Friday.
In response to several games — including four this weekend — being postponed due to COVID-19 concerns, the SEC has established new parameters for “adjustment of game opponents.” Games not previously scheduled can now be set as late as five days prior to game day, that is, 8 p.m. Central on Monday for games taking place on Saturday.
In addition, the SEC announced that games of Nov. 21 will be played as scheduled, at least for now. There had been widespread speculation that some games on that day could be moved back in order to accommodate re-scheduling Alabama-LSU, among other postponed games.
“It has been a goal of the SEC to play a complete football schedule provided we maintain a healthy environment for student-athletes and everyone around our football programs,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said. “The added flexibility of a December 19 playing date for teams that do not qualify for the SEC Football Championship and the ability to adjust opponents on five-day notification provide a greater opportunity for our schools to play a full schedule of games in 2020.”
The SEC championship game is set for Dec. 19 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Teams that do not qualify for the championship could play on that day if necessary.
The SEC made it through the first seven weeks of the 2020 schedule having had to postpone only a handful of games due to the virus. This week, however, Alabama-LSU, Auburn-Mississippi State, Texas A&M-Tennessee and Georgia-Missouri were all postponed.
That compromised the SEC’s ability to complete its regular-season schedule, as Missouri and LSU had already postponed earlier games to Dec. 12. The SEC had set aside that Saturday as a make-up day when the league schedule was re-configured in mid-August to 10 intra-conference games amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Saturday’s SEC schedule includes only three games: Arkansas at Florida, Vanderbilt at Kentucky and South Carolina at Ole Miss. Following the postponement of Alabama-LSU, CBS opted not to carry an SEC game during its regular Saturday afternoon slot.
