I wasn't a huge fan of going to 9 conference games, but it was largely because of the TV/media rights deal & inventory for that - not necessarily expansion.
RE; getting healthy, the SEC has that handy little get-right, low-effort game against an FCS team week 11, so that's a built-in semi bye week right before the postseason grind starts, where the B1G has their tune-up games early, then no breaks 'till the season's over.
I'd be just as fine with everyone going to 8 conference games as I would with the SEC going to 9, but mainly it's a little ridiculous to have the different setups when we're most of the way to a pro-style model.