SEC commissioner facing challenges

Commissioner Mike Slive said Tuesday that the Southeastern Conference appeared ready to push forward on a playoff in college football. But he realizes there could be stormy waters ahead. The SEC wants the best four teams to be involved in a playoff, regardless of whether a school wins its conference title. Slive is also hopeful that the bowl system will be used in the format. He added that coaches had indicated to him that a fourteam playoff was what they wanted, but he said conversations would continue through the week before the SEC announced its stance. Slive also said the league was happy with its membership and wasn’t seeking more expansion. The SEC also has started new TV contract negotiations with CBS and ESPN after the additions of Texas A&M and Missouri. — David Jones, Florida Today

-B-tler announced Tuesday that it would begin play in the Atlantic 10 Conference this fall, a year sooner than originally planned. Athletics director Barry Collier said it was in the school’s best interest to reach an agreement to leave the Horizon League immediately. The Atlantic 10 also is adding Virginia Commonwealth this fall and will compete as a 16-team league in 2012-13.