We have seen Netflix succeed in diving into the sports docuseries realm on numerous occasions with Drive to Survive following Formula 1 and Full Swing following the PGA Tour. And now, the streaming platform could be looking to offer an in-depth look into the world of college football to follow what has largely been regarded as the most competitive conference in the sport.
According to The Athletic, Netflix is reportedly “closing in” on a deal with the SEC for a new docuseries that would take an in-depth look into the conference this coming football season.
No deal had been struck on either side just yet. And it seems like neither side is willing to offer many thoughts on the matter. Netflix declined to comment when asked by the New York Times. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey did offer some comments but largely stated that he would not confirm anything at the moment.
“We make announcements when we make announcements,” Sankey said in a statement retrieved by the New York Times. “Despite what sources like to say, nothing’s done until it’s done.”
If this venture does get the green light, it will be interesting to see what teams, and particularly how many teams agree to opt-in to being filmed for the docuseries.
Obviously at the moment considering there isn’t a deal fully in place, there are details that have yet to be revealed as to how the format of the docuseries could go. Would it be multiple teams being followed throughout their upcoming 2024-25 season? Or perhaps only just a portion of the year?
And how much access are these SEC teams really willing to have shown on camera? We have seen plenty of sports docuseries fail in the past because there is a lack of in-depth content that viewers didn’t already know about. And some teams could certainly be a bit hesitant to give up that much insight into some of the behind-the-scenes activities within their program.
The concept of behind-the-scenes access to an SEC school isn’t a new idea for the conference. ESPN previously offered a look into the 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide team just one year removed from winning a National Championship in a four-episode miniseries called Training Days: Rolling with the Tide.
Only time will tell how this docuseries does if it does get the green light. But given how much popularity Drive to Survive in particular helped bring to Formula 1 as a whole, there is at least some hope that this looming venture certainly could pay dividends for the SEC.
