The SEC has been exploring the possibility of expanding its intraconference football schedule from eight to nine games for some time now. A year ago, leaders opted to not make a decision on the move at the league’s spring meetings. This week’s gathering of athletic directors and other executives in Destin, Fla., rendered a similar outcome—but with a new wrinkle.

As meetings wrapped up, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey made it clear that the conference wants Disney to fork over more money in order for schools to add another annual game against one another. This season, the company will begin paying $710 million a year for SEC games on ESPN and ABC, as the broadcast network takes over the game of the week that has been on CBS since 1996.

The Big Ten and Big 12 each play nine-game conference schedules, while the ACC plays eight. Sankey confirmed the SEC had reengaged in conversations with ESPN officials about the value of expanding its conference schedule. Right now, at eight conference games, schools can schedule an extra home game against anyone they choose, allowing for an influx of ticket, concession, and other gameday revenue. Under a nine-game conference schedule, each school would have to give up that home game every other year. If ESPN is willing to pay enough to offset that, then adding an extra conference game seems like it will be a given.

It Pays to Win

One change the SEC did make this week was how it plans to distribute revenue for schools that play in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Teams that play in the first round will receive $3 million, the second round will be worth an additional $3.5 million, the semifinals another $3.75 million, and a championship game appearance $4 million.

Grab Some Popcorn

The SEC also released some early-season game broadcast windows, with some tantalizing matchups in ABC’s new 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday slot. The first all-SEC game at that time to not air on CBS will be South Carolina–Kentucky on Sept. 7. Texas and Oklahoma will resume the Red River Rivalry as new members of the SEC in that window on Oct. 12. Georgia-Alabama will get a prime-time slot on ABC on Sept. 28.

The NHL this weekend, and perhaps early next week, will have a rare stretch of the calendar without any competition for viewers from the NBA playoffs—a development likely to enhance what has already been a banner spring for hockey. 

The NBA, which has shared the prime-time playoff spotlight with the NHL for six weeks, is now beginning a six-day layoff following the rapid conclusion of its two conference finals series. The Celtics swept the Pacers while the Mavericks toppled the Timberwolves in five games, with the NBA Finals between Dallas and Boston not scheduled to begin until June 6. 

That creates a unique opening for the NHL to capture even more of a spotlight for itself during the remainder of its conference finals. Game 5 of the Oilers-Stars series will happen Friday night, followed by Game 6 of Rangers-Panthers on Saturday, and a return to the Edmonton-Dallas matchup Sunday. The seventh games of the two series, should they be needed, would happen Monday and Tuesday. By comparison, last year’s NHL conference finals featured just one day not shared with the NBA. 

Surging Viewership

Even before this upcoming stretch, the NHL has been riding a high on the ratings front. Across North America, the first round was the second-most-viewed in league history. In the U.S., the first two rounds of the playoffs combined to average 1.16 million viewers per game across Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery networks, up 9% from a year ago and the NHL’s best figure ever through the conference semifinals. 

Viewership has been further boosted by the continued presence of the Oilers’ Connor McDavid (above), by many accounts the league’s best player, and a resurgent Rangers team enjoying one of its most successful seasons.

But if the Stars prevail over the Oilers, they will join the Mavericks in championship-round appearances to extend a furious run of activity at the American Airlines Center, which the two Dallas teams share.

Not Really Without Basketball 

Despite the extended NBA postseason break until late next week, the sports world is not without pro basketball. The WNBA has 16 games scheduled between Friday and the start of the NBA Finals. But after the Mavericks’ series-clinching win over the Timberwolves on Thursday night, the X account for Nike’s basketball division posted: “And that’s that… a week without hoops smh,” accompanied by the exasperated upside-down smiley face emoji.

Not surprisingly, the now deleted tweet generated immediate outcry, particularly given Nike is an investor in the WNBA.

“A league investor tweeting that there’s a week without hoops when there is a full slate of WNBA games is wild,” posted women’s basketball media personality Khristina Williams.