McGarity: “I don’t forsee a nine-game schedule happening”

With the addition of the Texas A&M Aggies to the SEC in 2012, UGA athletics director Greg McGarity doesn’t think there will be a nine-game conference football schedule.

“We are locked into nonconference games with very high liquidated damages for both parties in some games through 2016, so I don’t foresee a nine-game schedule happening,” McGarity told the Times Free Press. “If the conversation goes to nine games, then you’re going to have a number of institutions that already have signed agreements on nonconference opponents on set dates.”

McGarity went on to state “I fully expect to play every one of our nonconference opponents on the Saturdays we have fully executed contracts with.”

Texas A&M will likely be placed in the SEC Western Division. If no other schools are added for 2012, the divisions will be unbalanced with seven teams in the west and six in the east. That creates a scheduling problem, but there are several scenarios that could be used.

If the conference were to move to a nine-game schedule, Georgia would be forced to cancel several non-conference games that are already on the books.

Currently, the Bulldogs have executed contracts for twelve non-conference games, not including their annual rivalry game against Georgia Tech. Georgia also has a “memorandum of understanding” to play Ohio State in 2020 and 2021.

The highest buyout UGA would have to pay is $1.2 million (ULM), while the lowest would be $450,000 (Charleston Southern).

Listed below is Georgia’s future non-conference football schedule with guarantees and buyouts. Georgia Tech is excluded. Also, note that Georgia receives $300,000 for  playing at Clemson and then pays the Tigers to come to Athens.