‘Wish of the room’: SEC coaches want to play B1G

Published

1 month ago

May 29, 2025

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DESTIN, Fla. — LSU‘s Brian Kelly on Wednesday said SEC coaches favor adding one nonconference game against a Big Ten opponent in a scheduling agreement, but they “need a partner” to do it.

“We want to compete against the Big Ten,” Kelly said, following the last day of coaches meetings at the annual SEC spring meetings. “Look, the Big Ten right now holds it on the SEC. They won the last two national championships. That’s the reality of it. We want to get challenged in that regard, and we’d like to be able to get that done.

“That is up to our commissioner and the ADs to see if that can happen or not, but that’s the wish of the room.”

SEC scheduling has been a major topic of conversation this week as the league works to determine if it wants to stay at eight conference games or move to nine.

Kelly said he would favor playing nine SEC games and adding the additional Big Ten opponent. The possibility of a scheduling partnership between the two leagues developed from multiple in-person meetings of the Big Ten-SEC advisory group, but one SEC source said the topic was “dead in the water” at the commissioner level.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said there are three ways that a scheduling partnership can work: stay out of it, and let it happen naturally like it does now through athletic directors; try to facilitate more; and agree to mandate to play.

“That third one’s incredibly difficult,” Sankey said. “So I understand the position. That’s a long row to hoe to get to the end of that particular row.”

Still, Kelly said the coaches made their “voices clear” this week to their respective athletic directors and Sankey.

“You’ve got to get a partner who says we’re in for that, too,” Kelly said.

Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said the decisions should be made on what would be exciting for television and what the fans would most enjoy. Pittman said the “SEC wants us to go to nine” conference games.

“So how are we going to do it?” Pittman asked. “Are we going to go to nine, playing ourselves, and maybe invite another conference to play us on a given weekend?”

There’s an overwhelming sense this week from coaches and athletic directors that they’d like to know what the future playoff format will look like before making any scheduling decisions.

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said the coaches didn’t vote on anything this week. He said that while he would be willing to play a Big Ten opponent along with rival Clemson, he still prioritizes the in-state rivalry over other scheduling options.

“For me, I think it’s ironclad,” Beamer said of the South Carolina-Clemson game. “There’s people above me who make that decision, but I would never want that game to go away. Rivalries and rivalry weekend are what make this sport great. … I know how important that game is to the people of South Carolina, and I don’t want that game going anywhere.”

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said the Big Ten has caught the SEC’s attention with Michigan and Ohio State winning the national title the past two seasons.

“It bothers us as competitors,” Drinkwitz said. “We feel like we’re the best conference in college football, and we want to make sure that the ultimate prize at the end of the year is that national championship trophy.

“We haven’t been able to do that the last two years, and I think we’re all competitive enough that’s often what we’re competing for. I don’t know if two years is a data point yet or a trend. Obviously, we have to take a look and see what we can do better.”

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Johnson, 2-time Cup winner with Lightning, retires

Published

25 mins ago

July 8, 2025

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Johnson, 2-time Cup winner with Lightning, retires

Associated Press

Jul 7, 2025, 07:09 PM ET

Tyler Johnson has announced his retirement after playing 13 NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Johnson called it a career in a lengthy message posted on social media Monday. Johnson had battled injuries in recent years and is set to turn 35 on July 29.

“As a short kid from a small town, I saw my chances of playing in the NHL as very slim,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. “But my family — my parents, Ken and Debbie, and my grandparents — believed in me when doubt clouded my mind. Their unwavering faith turned that dream into reality.”

Listed at 5-foot-8 and 191 pounds, Johnson won at just about ever level, capturing the Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup championships in 2008 with his hometown Spokane Chiefs and the Calder Cup championship with Norfolk of the American Hockey League in 2012.

The NHL brought more success, as he skated in 863 regular-season and playoff games since debuting in the league in 2013, putting up 498 points. Johnson was part of the Lightning’s core when they reached the final in 2015 and helped them hoist the Cup back to back in 2020 and ’21.

Johnson finished with Chicago, playing three seasons with the Blackhawks, and Boston, signing with the Bruins early last season following his training camp tryout.

“After a lifetime devoted to hockey, I’m ready for what’s next,” Johnson said. “This moment is bittersweet, but I leave the game with no regrets.”

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‘Gritty’ McBain secures 5-year deal from Mammoth

Published

25 mins ago

July 8, 2025

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'Gritty' McBain secures 5-year deal from Mammoth

Associated Press

Jul 7, 2025, 09:52 PM ET

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Mammoth re-signed center Jack McBain to a five-year contract worth $21.25 million on Monday.

McBain will count $4.25 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season, which was announced a little more than 24 hours since the team elected salary arbitration with the restricted free agent forward.

“He is a big, strong, physical player who competes hard on a nightly basis and brings a gritty toughness to our group,” general manager Bill Armstrong said. “Jack is an important part of the championship-caliber team we are building, and we look forward to having him back on our roster for the foreseeable future.”

McBain, 25, is coming off setting a career high with 27 points and playing all 82 games. He was one of six players to skate in every game of the organization’s first season in Salt Lake City.

“Jack’s versatility as a player, his care for his teammates and his demonstrated willingness to do whatever it takes to win, are all critical elements to our future team success,” president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said.

McBain has 82 points in 241 games with the franchise, which moved to Utah from Arizona. Since debuting in April 2022, he ranks third in the league with 832 hits.

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‘Workhorse’ York nets five-year deal from Flyers

Published

25 mins ago

July 8, 2025

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'Workhorse' York nets five-year deal from Flyers

Associated Press

Jul 7, 2025, 10:18 AM ET

Cam York and the Philadelphia Flyers agreed to terms Monday on a five-year contract worth $25.75 million, with re-signing the restricted free agent defenseman completing perhaps the team’s last important piece of offseason business.

York, 25, will count $5.15 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season. That price could turn out to be a bargain with the upper limit rising from $88 million this past season to $113.5 million by 2027-28.

“Cam has been a workhorse for our team over the last few seasons,” general manager Danny Briere said. “We’re excited by his development and look forward to his continued growth and emergence as a young leader within our group.”

The Flyers are trying to shift from rebuilding to contending, and York was the final player on the roster without a contract. They acquired Trevor Zegras in a trade from Anaheim last month and signed fellow center Christian Dvorak and backup goaltender Dan Vladar on the first day of free agency.

York, the 14th pick in the 2019 draft, has skated nearly 21 minutes a game so far in his pro career, all with Philadelphia. He has 77 points in 235 games for the Flyers, who have not made the playoffs since 2020.

“I believe in this team, and I love the direction we are heading,” York said. “I couldn’t be more excited to continue this journey and build something special together.”