SEC Spring Meetings: 6-1-1 Adopted and Playoff Stance Determined as Event Ends

The SEC Spring Meetings have evolved into the opening act to July's SEC Media Days on the SEC's offseason calendar. 

While Media Days provide the opportunity to discuss football with players and coaches, Spring Meetings are where the SEC finalizes things on the business side.

The 2012 edition of Spring Meetings came to a close on Friday, and not coincidentally, the future of the SEC came into focus.

6-1-1 Scheduling Model Adopted

The most notable news coming out of the emerald coast is that the SEC is adopting the 6-1-1 scheduling format for football starting in 2013, according to Mark Long of the Associated Press.

"

League also passes 6-1-1 football schedule (current format) and 18-game men's basketball schedule

— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) June 1, 2012"

The 6-1-1 format means that teams will play all six teams within their division, one rotating cross-division opponent and one permanent cross-division opponent per season. The format could be re-visited after three years.

That means that storied rivalries like Auburn vs. Georgia, Tennessee vs. Alabama and LSU vs. Florida will continue on an annual basis.

The SEC also announced the permanent cross-division rivalries, according to Anthony Dasher of UGASports.com.

"

UGA-Auburn, Bama-UT, Florida-LSU, Ole Miss-Vandy, Miss. State-UK, Missouri-Arkansas and USC-Texas A&M are going to be SEC permanent games.

— Anthony Dasher (@AnthonyDasher1) June 1, 2012"

Arkansas will now play Missouri on an annual basis rather than South Carolina, while the Gamecocks will take on Texas A&M every year. The rotating opponents will not be home-and-home games in consecutive seasons, as is the case now. There is no specific timetable to stick to that format, according to Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com.

"

Mike Slive said no specific time frame for 6-1-1 scheduling format

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyCBS) June 1, 2012"

This is the right call by the SEC. Is it unfair for some schools to play traditionally tough teams from across the division every year while others get traditional "cupcakes?"

Yes. But there's no way to make the schedule fair. 

Tradition is important in the SEC, and there was no way commissioner Mike Slive was going to let some of its storied rivalries disappear.

Unanimous Playoff Stance Determined

CBSSports.com's Matt Hinton wrote yesterday that playoff battle lines were being drawn by the leaders of conferences between the "top 4" option and the "conference champion" format. 

The SEC drew its ink in permanent marker on Friday, unanimously adopting the stance that the conference endorses a four-team playoff that consists of the top four teams in the nation regardless of conference affiliation, according to Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel.

"

Not surprisingly, SEC endorses four-team playoff with top four teams. Doesn't seem like will wiggle much on that.

— Rachel George (@OS_RachelGeorge) June 1, 2012"

As is the case with the 6-1-1, this is right call.

The goal for the college football playoff should be to enhance the brand and reward the championship based on merit, not half-merit and half-affiliation. If the brand of college football is healthy, the major college football conferences will follow suit. 

Does the possibility of having multiple teams in the playoff benefit the SEC in the short term? Absolutely. But conference power is fluid, and things can change in a hurry.

Having the best four teams in the playoff—however that is determined—is what best benefits college football. It rewards work throughout the entire season while still crowning a true champion on the field.

Pay That Man His Money

The SEC announced it's payout for the 2011-12 year, and it's quite impressive according to George.

"

SEC will distribute $241.5 million to its 12 schools. Each school will get $20.1 million. #SEC

— Rachel George (@OS_RachelGeorge) June 1, 2012"

That number is only going to increase with the advent of the SEC Network, a re-negotiated media rights deal and a four-team postseason. 

It still trails the Big Ten ($24.6 million) and the expected distribution of the Pac-12, which CBSSports.com estimates will be more than $30 million once the Pac-12 Network revenue rolls in.

Follow @BarrettSallee