At recent SEC meetings, Greg Sankey said little about the conference’s future expansion. In the spring, Sankey dedicated his expansion comments to his belief that the NCAA men’s basketball tournament should expand.When the SEC met in Miramar Beach, Greg Sankey said: “We respect contracts and situations that prevent a lot of movement, so we will focus on 16.” As others have noted, Sankey’s comment does not indicate a lack of interest in SEC expansion. Sankey added: “But I’m paying attention.”The SEC can and will remain selective about its next expansion. As with Texas and Greg Sankey, the SEC is looking for one more conference to crack the division. This current conference is the ACC. Much has been written about Florida State and Clemson’s quest to leave the ACC.Both schools are sad that the ACC fees are well below the SEC and Big Ten. Many college football experts are confident that the Seminoles and Tigers will leave the ACC. Nobody knows when. Much speculation has centered on both schools moving to the SEC. As major brands of college football, these two schools are a good fit for the SEC.Recent rumors include the 2025 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Florida State as SEC vs. Big Ten matchup. The rumor is fueled by others who say North Carolina and possibly Virginia have a better chance of getting votes from SEC schools than FSU and Clemson. Unofficially but publicly, Florida said it would not fight the SEC over adding FSU. South Carolina may be less open to adding Clemson.Rumors aside, Blake Toppmeyer explained why SEC schools might prefer North Carolina over FSU and Clemson: “I think North Carolina would be the most attractive to the SEC. Big brand and UNC would expand their footprint into border areas. The Tar Heels would serve the growing market of Charlotte, home of the SEC Network.”Toppmeyer also cited Virginia as an opportunity for the SEC to expand its footprint. Contrary to Toppmeyer’s view, it is hard to see SEC schools wanting to share .the same revenue with Virginia because the school does not have a top football brand that cannot define a season or ruin the chances of SEC football teams to compete in the playoffs. But in the 2024 season, many early games could set the stage for a strong or disappointing season.The late September game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs is the biggest game of the SEC regular season. The winner has overcome his most difficult obstacle before the next season. But the loss does not damage the final chances of both teams.Other SEC football teams pay a steeper price for early losses. Key early games for the remaining 14 SEC teams are listed below.Arkansas Razorbacks – According to ESPN Analytics, the Razorbacks are a five-for-seven win team. Arkansas-Pine Bluff and UAB should win early, but two September road games against Oklahoma State and Auburn could prove to be blowouts. At 2-2 on Sept. 28, the Hogs can have a must-win against Texas A&M or Arkansas’ season could turn ugly.Auburn Tigers – Even Auburn fans see seven or eight games as the win limit in 2024. Three wins should come early against Alabama A&M, Cal and New Mexico. A home win over Arkansas would make the Tigers 4-0. After that, a new victory can come only in November. in September Game 28 against Oklahoma could start a three- or four-game losing streak for the Tigers.Florida Gators – The owner of the toughest schedule in college football needs an opener against Miami after a brutal second half of Florida’s season.Kentucky Wildcats – During the first five weeks of the season, the Wildcats will likely be either 3-2 or 2-3. Beating South Carolina in week two is necessary to get to 3-2 before facing Georgia and Ole Miss in Oxford in September..