ATLANTA — Texas A&M Coach Jimbo Fisher mentioned that when the SEC expands to 16 groups with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas no later than the 2025 season, he hopes the Aggies will proceed to play Arkansas yearly.

“You need Texas,” Fisher mentioned. “When Texas comes into the league, when that schedule is available in, undoubtedly due to that rivalry.

“I feel LSU is a superb rivalry. However that’s in all probability our two largest. Then Arkansas goes into that, too.”

Razorbacks Coach Sam Pittman mentioned on Wednesday he’d like Arkansas’ annual video games to incorporate Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri.

Harsin confronts questions

Auburn Coach Bryan Harsin, who appeared extra snug on the major podium in his second yr at SEC Media Days, elected to not dodge the controversial matter of the on-campus inquiry he confronted in February.

Many sports activities journalists in Alabama and elsewhere predicted the inquiry, on the heels of a 6-7 season, would price Harsin his job after one season.

“I do know a few of you on the market me didn’t anticipate me to be right here presently,” Harsin mentioned Thursday throughout his opening remarks. “I’m going to dive into that right here in only a second, handle the gorilla within the room.

“Going again to what occurred again in February, what I’m going to do now’s handle it. Shifting ahead, that would be the final time I speak about this topic.

“There was an inquiry. It was uncomfortable. It was unfounded. It offered a chance for individuals to personally assault me, my household and in addition our program. And it didn’t work. Proper now our focus is on transferring ahead.”

Harsin tried to wrap it up moments later in his remarks, saying, “There’s loads of data on the market on it. In case you want any extra, simply Google it.”

Later, a reporter requested him what he realized via the inquiry course of, and Harsin dealt with it easily although clearly not eager to go deeper.

“It was fast and to the purpose with our gamers and we moved on,” he mentioned. “We’re targeted on larger and higher issues.”

Sensible cash

After main the Georgia Bulldogs to the nationwide championship final season — their first since 1980 — Coach Kirby Sensible has obtained a contract extension that can pay him a complete of $112.5 million over the .

Georgia introduced the extension Thursday and numerous media retailers reported on the monetary figures.

Sensible, 46, who has a 66-15 file in six seasons at Georgia, made $7 million final season in accordance to a school soccer coaches wage database compiled by USA At this time. Within the spring of 2018, he obtained a seven-year, $49 million extension after the Bulldogs received the SEC regular-season championship and misplaced to Alabama within the 2017 nationwide title sport.

ESPN reported that Sensible will make $10.25 million this season with the contract’s fee maxing out at $12.25 million in 2031 with a median of $11.25 million for its period.

All good

All apparently has been forgiven between Alabama Coach Nick Saban and Texas A&M Coach Jimbo Fisher in case you are to imagine what they mentioned at SEC Media Days.

“Hear, we’re nice,” Fisher mentioned Thursday, a month after he used phrases like “despicable” and “narcissist” to explain Saban. “ Two aggressive guys that go at it.

“All of us be taught from issues we do in our enterprise. Two aggressive guys on a subject in every single place, as they are saying.”

Fisher known as a information convention during which he was extremely crucial of Saban, who mentioned the Aggies had purchased their highly-regarded recruiting class due to monetary offers for Title, Picture and Likeness.

“I’ve no points or issues with Jimbo,” Saban mentioned earlier this week when he made the interview spherical at media days. “I all the time take criticisms or no matter in a optimistic method to self-assess me personally when it comes to possibly there’s something I can do higher.”

Fisher, conveniently forgetting he known as a information convention to tear Saban, mentioned it was unlucky their disagreement went public.

“All of us be taught from him,” mentioned Fisher, who was Saban’s offensive coordinator at LSU. “All of us will be taught — he’ll be taught, hopefully I be taught —from issues we do and say, and we transfer on from there.

“However I’ve nice respect for him and their program like all the time.”

KJ’s gasoline

Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson obtained a number of mileage out of being projected because the 14th finest beginning quarterback within the SEC by 247Sports.com final yr. His dual-threat manufacturing sparked Arkansas to a 9-4 file, as he handed for two,676 yards, rushed for a team-high 664 yards, accomplished 67.3% of his passes and accounted for 27 touchdowns.

Some forecasters, like former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow of the SEC Community, didn’t embrace Jefferson of their prime 5 quarterbacks within the SEC heading into the season.

Once more, the dearth of recognition is a set off for Jefferson.

“I do take a look at that,” Jefferson mentioned Wednesday. “I imply, I take a look at the statistics. I take a look at the rankings. It’s simply including gasoline to the fireplace. That’s all.”

Ty’Kieast time

Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman promoted the work of offensive lineman Ty’Kieast Crawford over the past yr, saying the switch from North Carolina-Charlotte deserved enjoying time on a unit that returns each starter apart from left deal with Myron Cunningham.

“Ty’Kieast Crawford goes to be a man that’s going to play someplace in there,” Pittman mentioned. “This man is an distinctive soccer participant and had a fantastic offseason.”

The Razorbacks deliver again bonus-year senior Dalton Wagner at left deal with, senior Ricky Stromberg at heart, and junior guards Brady Latham and Beaux Limmer.

Luke Jones got here out of spring coaching as the highest left deal with. Crawford has labored at guard and in addition proper deal with when Wagner missed time in spring because of minor illnesses.

Storm breaks

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey needed to speak loudly to mission over heavy rainstorms whereas introducing the primary two coaches Thursday, Auburn’s Bryan Harsin and Tennessee’s Josh Heupel.

The School Soccer Corridor of Fame has a fiberglass-style roof, permitting the sound from the rain and thunder to growth down into the room.

Heupel mentioned he would mission together with his coach’s voice as he took the rostrum throughout a very noisy swell within the storm.

Alabama’s Nick Saban got here to the dais throughout a stormy outburst Tuesday, however the climate instantly calmed down. The identical factor occurred for Harsin, however lasted some time throughout Heupel’s opening remarks.

Glass smash

Auburn defensive finish Derick Corridor was in the midst of speaking about his tailback teammate Tank Bigsby when destiny intervened.

Simply behind him within the hospitality part of the occasion, a glass fell to the bogus turf floor on the School Soccer Corridor of Fame and smashed into items.

“Whoa!” Corridor mentioned. “When Tank goes via the opening, that’s what you hear.”

Golf ball seize

Ole Miss Coach Lane Kiffin talked about Monday he had signed mustard bottles and golf balls throughout the offseason, a reference to the chaotic finish to the Rebels’ 31-26 victory at Tennessee final season, when Volunteers followers pelted the sphere with objects like these and others throughout the remaining minute.

Requested for his prime recollections of that sport Thursday, Heupel mentioned he had not signed any mustard bottles or golf balls, however added, “I want I’d had a golf ball that night time. I’m solely kidding.”

The sport was stopped for 20 minutes with 54 seconds left on the clock after the Vols have been deemed to have come up 1 yard quick on a fourth-and-24 play.

Occasions Sq. tout

Tennessee purchased area on a Occasions Sq. video board in New York Metropolis earlier this week.

Quarterback Hendon Hooker and receiver Cedric Tillman have been in New York visiting numerous companies, together with NASDAQ, as a part of their Title, Picture and Likeness offers Tuesday. Their photographs, with a Tennessee orange and white checkerboard within the background, graced the video board at Occasions Sq. and forty second Avenue.

Deck runs

The Auburn gamers have been doing an outdated coaching method in working the bleachers this summer time.

The bleacher runs, which the Tigers name “decks,” have featured Coach Bryan Harsin becoming a member of the gamers.

Operating again Tank Bigsby mentioned the gamers did 17 “decks” Wednesday and have been focused for 20 immediately. Their file, Bigsby mentioned, was 22 final season.

Robust schedule

Auburn opens the season with 5 consecutive residence video games towards Mercer, San Jose State, Penn State, Missouri and LSU earlier than touring to face defending nationwide champion Georgia.

When a reporter prefaced a query with the assertion that the Tigers have a troublesome schedule, Harsin butted in for a fast second.

“Does anyone have a straightforward schedule within the SEC?” Harsin requested.

The reporter went on to ask in regards to the significance of getting off to a sizzling begin with the 5 at residence to open the season.

“Residence or away, you wish to get off to a quick begin regardless,” Harsin mentioned. “It’s nice to be in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“To be round our followers, to have these groups coming in, enjoying in Jordan-Hare, we’re enthusiastic about that. Hopefully we’re having success via these 5 video games.”