Tradition wins out for AU, UGA

Membership dues for Southeastern Conference teams are $50 per year. On Friday in Destin, at the conclusion of spring meetings, commissioner Mike Slive announced the average payout per team for this year will be $20.1 million. That's up from $19.5 million last year.

SEC commisioner Mike Slive

In 1980, the SEC distributed just more than $4 million. This year, it is more than $240 million.

Slive met the media at the Sandestin Beach Hilton after presidents cast the only votes that truly count.

Here are other highlights:

* With the addition of Texas A&M and Missouri, the SEC will go to a 6-1-1 scheduling format. That means teams will play all the teams in their divisions, one permanent opponent from the opposite division and one rotating opponent from the opposite division.

For Auburn and Georgia, that means the Deep South's oldest series will remain an annual event.

* Equestrian will be an SEC sport starting in the coming year. Four teams - Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas A&M - will compete for the championship.

* SEC men's basketball teams will play an 18-game league schedule. Each team will have one permanent home-and-home series. Auburn's will be against Alabama.

* Women's basketball will continue to play a 16-game scheule.

* Slive reiterated the SEC is committed to having the top four teams, regardless of whether they won conference championships - in the coming four-team playoff. Asked what his fallback position would be, he said "1, 2, 3, 4."

* The SEC men's basketball tournament will include double byes for the top four seed and will last five days.