Among the topics SEC football coaches discussed at the league’s spring meetings, a possible scheduling pact with the Big Ten was on the table. The proposal, which would be sold as a separate TV package to networks, would see each SEC team play one Big Ten game in the regular season.

At least one SEC coach was all in favor. LSU’s Brian Kelly said the idea of facing the Big Ten appealed to him on a competitive level.

“The Big Ten right now holds it on the SEC,” Kelly said. They’ve won the last two national championships, OK? 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. But that’s the wish.”

Ohio State won the most recent national championship, one year after Michigan won the title. The Big Ten also has a richer TV contract, in part due to the larger markets many of its schools inhabit.

A scheduling agreement could be lucrative for schools on both sides. However, it could make things more difficult for SEC teams, especially if the league opts to adopt a nine-game conference football schedule.

Still, Kelly was in on the idea, claiming the league’s coaches were for it. He fielded a question on why he would like to play Big Ten teams in the regular season.

“Because it won the last two national championships,” Kelly said. “I mean, we want to show that we have the depth in this league from top to bottom, and that we are the premier league.”

The debate over a nine-game schedule seems unlikely to end until SEC coaches and administrators receive clarity over what a new College Football Playoff format could entail. Coaches were nervous that adding a ninth game would not be rewarded by the selection committee come playoff time.

Not Kelly though. He explained both side of the argument, and noted he would table the issue until the CFP format is settled, but said he was hoping to land on nine games.

“I’m in the SEC because I want to play SEC games,” Kelly said. “They matter. When you go on the road in the SEC, it’s a different deal. I mean, I love that. After doing it for 35 years, I wanted the competition. You’re not gonna get everybody feeling the way I do in our room. I’m a guy who would like to play as many games against SEC teams as possible.”

The SEC will continue spring meetings through Thursday in Miramar Beach, Fl.