Eli Drinkwitz: SEC coaches regret moving to 9-game conference schedule

Key Points:

• The last three national champions—Michigan, Ohio State, and Indiana—faced relatively weaker non-conference opponents like East Carolina, UNLV, and Bowling Green on their paths to titles, a point highlighted by Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz as a factor in the Big Ten's success.
• The Big Ten counters by emphasizing its victories over strong SEC and Pac-12 teams, including Alabama, Washington, and Texas, and holds a 4-0 record against the SEC in the last three College Football Playoffs, underscoring its competitive edge.
• The SEC argues that its schedule is tougher due to more conference games and challenging environments, with Drinkwitz noting the difficulty of playing in large, hostile stadiums and the high number of NFL draft picks on SEC teams, even those with losing records.
• SEC coaches express frustration that the College Football Playoff selection committee does not adequately factor strength of schedule into rankings, leading to perceived inconsistencies in evaluating wins and losses.
• As the SEC moves to a nine-game conference schedule and anticipates an expanded 12-team playoff bracket, some within the league may experience regret over the increased grind and its impact on postseason opportunities.