SEC commissioner replies to Arkansas AD’s complaint about ESPN scheduling

SEC Athletic Director Expresses Concern Over Game Scheduling

The athletic director at Arkansas is quite upset about the scheduled start times for two upcoming games. Conference commissioner Greg Sankey commented on the situation on Wednesday.

Hunter Yurachek, the Arkansas athletic director and College Football Playoff president, voiced his frustrations with the Razorbacks’ kickoff time against Utah on September 5 at 10:05 p.m. ET. This is particularly challenging as the team has to play Georgia the following Saturday at noon, September 12.

Yurachek attributed this scheduling issue to the influence of media revenue, pointing specifically to ESPN.

Sankey mentioned that he understands Yurachek’s frustrations, noting that the league has already addressed the concerns with ESPN.

“We expressed our displeasure from the start,” Sankey said. “That sentiment hasn’t changed. This is part of what we allow our broadcast partners to do.”

Unfortunately, a petition to the SEC regarding the schedule was denied, leaving ESPN as the only entity that can make adjustments.

ESPN holds the power to change scheduling even after changes have been made, having signed a ten-year agreement with the SEC that involved giving up control over kickoff times.

While the network has flexibility to alter the schedule, that decision ultimately lies outside Yurachek’s and the SEC’s control.

In a statement on X, Yurachek emphasized that he wasn’t just concerned about flight costs or the late nights that fans might face during Week 1. Rather, he stressed the more pressing issue: the health of the players when facing back-to-back games in a single week.

“This schedule allows our student-athletes very little time for rest and recovery,” Yurachek pointed out. “It’s not just a competitive disadvantage; it raises real welfare concerns for the young men representing our programs and contributing to our television partners’ interests.”

Yurachek is urging both the SEC and ESPN to work together to find a resolution to this scheduling dilemma.

This might be the first time Arkansas has raised this issue, but it’s likely to remain a concern, especially as the Big Ten and ACC have added West Coast teams in recent years, which could lead to similar scheduling challenges.