College Football reality is rapidly evolving, for good or for bad. When we shifted to an abrupt top 12 playoff bracket from the top 4 last year, it brought a lot of doubts to the table. After one full-fledged season, critics found room for tweaks. Most of the time we have seen some cloudy judgment in the weekly rankings, favoring one over the other with no clear distinction on grounds.

With so much riding on its decisions, the selection committee should incorporate more transparency into its process of evaluation. Also, the seeding concept can be adjusted a bit, giving top seeds a clear advantage to ensure better functioning. Another change that has been hanging in balance for a few years is the SEC’s ninth-game transition. What does it mean for school? Texas AD had an enthralling response

We are still processing and reassessing the leftovers of a capped off top-12 first year and the talks of some more format changes loom large. Big 10 and SEC reportedly sat for a consensus to decide on a 14-team or 16-team format from the next year onwards. As another integral part of the expansion, the SEC is finally moving to the ninth-game schedule.“There’s a lot of interest in (a nine-game conference schedule),” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey dished hope while attending a meeting of the conference commissioners and athletic directors to continue reshaping the new college landscape.

Well, we don’t know about a lot of interest. All we know is Texas AD Chris Del Conti is wholeheartedly welcoming this move. Steve Sarkisian is already making waves by joining the coaches who opted out of the Spring games. He backed off to give the players a breather time after playing 30 games in a row. Chris echoed the same sentiment. Now, he has something more on his mind. A ninth-game move that would have happened four years back is still up in the air due to the two big additions (Texas and Oklahoma) to the SEC and the top 12 team expansion of college football last year.

Now, when we are unfolding the constant changes, a nine-game for SEC powerhouses seems to be the last, the most pivotal one. During a one-to-one chat with Bobby Burton of On Texas football, the Texas Vice President and athletic director said, ”I’m a big proponent of nine games. Okay, I’m a big proponent of nine games selfishly, we play one game at a neutral sight. So, last year we had the benefit of having four SEC games at home, this year we only get three, so a nine-game schedule gives us a balance of four on the road forward home and then our neutral site game.”

The potential change by the SEC opens the opportunity for the two conferences to build a non-conference scheduling agreement. Those games, and the nine conference games, are the driving factor behind selling more elite games to media rights partners ― and generating revenue from it. So, yes, you can say it is a pure money move because, or else what’s the point of beating yourself up with more losing chances if it doesn’t add to your strength of schedule in the postseason opportunities?

There might be pros and cons to the decision but there is no rocket science in understanding why the coaches and ADs flock to support the move in New Orleans this Wednesday. But even when no one did, Nick Saban was the lone advocate.

Nick Saban has been the first advocate of the SEC ninth-game schedule but with some necessary reflection

The NIL scarcity, increased demand for more TV deals, and more revenue have changed the college football dynamic a lot in the past two years. Now, every decision comes to a halt in such a spot where money flows in. But back in 2022, it was Saban who could see the other prospects of the move with his wide-awake eyes.

During the  SEC spring meetings of 2022, when Saban said the league not only needed nine conference games — but should add at least one non-conference game against another power conference opponent.

“I’ve always been for playing more conference games. I think the nine-game format is a start in that direction, but what is the best model?” he said. “I think that’s the issue. What is the best model? That’s No. 1. And No. 2 is: Are other conferences doing the same thing? Are they going to play more conference games? Are they going to have the same kind of competitive balance?

Saban asked for that elusive balance of a fair schedule, which is pretty good to pursue, but it is better to know it’s just an illusion like perfection.