Jumbo Package: SEC ADs discuss scrapping Conference Championship Game for “play in” round

Happy Thursday, everyone. The men’s basketball team opted out of playing defense last night and took the loss they deserved as a result. Perhaps the women can fare better in Knoxville tonight. At least one Tennessee beat writer believes that the Lady Vols are going to handle business in that one.

The Crimson Tide is a solid team overall, but it isn’t the strongest rebounding team and it will come back to bite them. Things are coming together for the Lady Vols. They also understand their margin for error is slim to none, and on Thursday, they’ll play like it.

Perhaps they will, but that’s an awfully bold prediction for a team that is currently 6-6 in SEC play. The game tips off at 5:30pm CT and will be available to stream on the ESPN app via SEC Network Plus.

Kalen DeBoer hired an analyst that has some familiarity with his program.

Count David Pollack among those who were somewhat stunned by Roq Montgomery’s recent suggestion that some Alabama players showed up late for workouts last season.

“I’m confused. I feel like I’m missing … I would love to get more details on this and get more of the story, hear from more of the players and stuff. But I didn’t know this was ever a thing (at Alabama). I thought you always had to be on time for workouts, I thought if you didn’t, it was a punishment,” Pollack said last week on his David Pollack College Football podcast.

“Listen, what Bama went through a year ago, it was a complete and total culture shock. It was done one way that was THE way and everybody talked about it and everybody thinks it’s the gold standard. And then being Kalen DeBoer coming in next, that’s a hard life. We both thought he was a great coach, nobody disputed he was a great coach, but you’re taking over for the greatest coach of all-time. And that’s a different standard you have to live up to, while being your own man, while kids get to know you. That’s a tough job. … I wonder how much of it is true and do I really want to believe, and how much they were just allowed to free-style and do what they want (last season).”

Last, the Big Ten and SEC athletic directors had a meeting of the minds this week and playoff expansion was the topic du jour. If it happens with the autobid model we discussed on Monday, a ninth SEC game is almost sure to follow. Unfortunately the autobids also mean that there will be no incentive whatsoever to play a stronger out of conference schedule.