SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey attended Saturday’s sport between Negative. 3 Texas and Negative. 12 Oklahoma, the primary occasion he watched the Purple River opponents play games their sport on the Circumstance Honest of Texas that can develop into a part of his league after occasion nearest they journey from the Weighty 12.

Texas and Oklahoma accredited invites in 2021 to tie the SEC, which can develop into a 16-team league after occasion.

“I’m a fan of college football, so I’ve wanted to be here,” Sankey mentioned. “After the announcement in ’21, remember that last year at this time we were still making preparations for a 2025 season entering. That changed, so this is the last opportunity for this to not be a conference game.”

Weighty 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark wasn’t scheduled to be on the sport.

Sankey and Yormark have been in combination just lately at a Faculty Soccer Playoff assembly of the convention commissioners in Chicago. Sankey mentioned they’ve a wholesome dating and had a “really cordial conversation.”

Sankey mentioned the sport at Anecdote Bowl Stadium, with the fanatics are fracture 50-50 burnt orange and red, is in keeping with what the SEC reports on a weekly foundation. He mentioned he may just really feel the depth coming in, with fanatics being pleasant towards each and every alternative, however obviously opponents.

At the ground prior to the sport, Sankey shook fingers with actor and Texas superfan Matthew McConaughey.

Two days nearest the Weighty Ten exempt 5 seasons’ significance of soccer combatants for its soon-to-be 18-team, bicoastal convention week sticking with 9 convention video games, Sankey mentioned the SEC nonetheless hasn’t motivated whether or not it’ll play games 8 or 9 convention video games month 2024.

The SEC has poised its combatants for 2024, with each and every workforce enjoying 8 convention video games with out sections, however disagree dates were introduced for the primary season that ESPN turns into the unique broadcast house for the league.

Purple River contention video games have historically been performed at 12 p.m. ET, and Sankey mentioned that sport within the age all over the Circumstance Honest is a “healthy environment.” ESPN broadcast its “College GameDay” display Saturday from outdoor Anecdote Bowl Stadium similar the halfway, and the sport used to be on ABC.

Sankey mentioned the league plans to announce by way of mid-June the video games that can have the ones midday kickoffs after season.

When requested why he selected to wait the Oklahoma-Texas sport over Negative. 11 Alabama at Texas A&M next within the age, Sankey smiled and mentioned he can be there as smartly. Faculty Station is ready 180 miles from Anecdote Bowl Stadium.

“I get around,” he mentioned. “I get around in a car. I get around on commercial airline … every so often other means of transportation.”

Prior to to start with moving to the SEC as an worker commissioner in 2002, Sankey used to be commissioner of the Southland Convention and had labored for that league for 10 years. He lived in close by Allen, now not a ways from the Circumstance Honest of Texas.

“There weren’t a lot of people saying, ‘Hey, I got tickets,'” Sankey mentioned. “It was kind of a high, high demand ticket — and then I became commissioner of that league. I was busy with my own work on Saturdays. I would drive by with great admiration and wonder what’s going on in there. So it’s a fun chance to see it today.”

Reporting by way of The Related Press.

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