Friday, May 29, 2026

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College Football

SEC coaches say they were misled about nine-game schedule and 16-team playoff

Kirby Smart, Jon Sumrall, Steve Sarkisian

The SEC's era of scheduling comfort is officially over. After years of playing eight conference games while winning national championships at a historic clip, the conference finally added a ninth league game this fall, and the coaches who will have to navigate the new reality aren't exactly hiding their concerns.

The move was supposed to come with something in return. Coaches say they were led to believe the additional game would push the College Football Playoff from 12 to 16 teams. It didn't. "Talking to the other coaches, they felt like by going to nine games, they felt like it would shift the playoff model (to 16), but it didn't," Florida coach Jon Sumrall said. "They felt misled."

The financial incentive was real, at least. Each school is set to receive roughly $5 million from ESPN for the additional game. But the competitive costs could outweigh the cash. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian called the schedule "a gauntlet." That label holds up against the data.

Like it or not, the SEC's nine-game experiment starts now, and several coaches had plenty more to say about what that means for their programs.

STORY FROM BRETT MCMURPHY →

Elite 11 Finals Preview: Headliners, challengers, and names to watch

Jake Nawrot, Trae Taylor, and Will Mencl

Twenty of the nation's top 2027 quarterbacks convene in Los Angeles this weekend for the Elite 11 Finals, the premier QB camp where the country's best signal callers compete side by side for the first time in the cycle.
Oregon commit Will Mencl leads the field as the top-ranked prospect, joined by Kentucky commit Jake Nawrot and Nebraska commit Trae Taylor, who enter as favorites after standout regional showings this spring.
A talented group of challengers committed to schools including Alabama, Michigan, and Florida will look to make a splash and potentially crack the coveted final Elite 11 list.

NIL

With college football under 100 days away, SEC ADs running scenarios as NIL deals remain in limbo

With north of $100 million in NIL deals stuck in the clearinghouse, coaches have openly raised fears about players potentially holding out before Week 1 if contracts go unpaid.
One SEC athletic director told Pete Nakos that "everything is on the table" if deals aren't settled before the season kicks off, adding that "nothing would surprise me."
The Protect College Sports Act, collective bargaining, and a growing call for NIL transparency among coaches are all hovering over a college football landscape that's less than 100 days from the start of the season.

READ MORE FROM PETE NAKOS →

BASKETBALL TRANSFER PORTAL

Leader emerges for top transfer Milan Momcilovic

Following his withdrawal from the NBA Draft, all eyes are now on Milan Momcilovic, the top available player in the transfer portal. Pete Nakos and Joe Tipton have the latest on the current leaders for the former Iowa State standout.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Ole Miss coach Pete Golding navigating post-Lane Kiffin era, pushes back on NCAA tampering investigation

Pete Golding has spent the spring watching Ole Miss take verbal shots from SEC peers. He was also publicly accused of tampering by Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney in January. Addressing media members at SEC spring meetings on Wednesday, Golding made clear he's not caught up on everyone else's opinions of Ole Miss.