quote:
Ericvol2096
Finebaum took up the "Auburn to the East" thing again today.
Extend that to 2006 and TN went 11-5 Vs Bama over a 16 year stretch. The series is 13-11 Bama in the last 25 years. It is an even series.

In two years Divisions won't even be required.

Divisions won't be required in 2016 and Beyond

This is going to allow the Big 12 to have a title game with only 10 teams and no divisions. Which means the SEC can get rid of its current division format and rotate through teams much more frequently. Here is my plan - basically the roomate swap without the diviision caveat.

Each SEC Team needs 3 permanent rival games every year that rotate home and away. You pick these by history of the current rivalry, proximity, balance of strength and future rivalry opportunities.

Then the other 10 teams can rotate home and away every two years through the other 5 slots. You cycle through those 10 teams home and away in 4 seasons so each 4 year player sees every stadium in the conference and plays each team at least twice.

So Tennessee's 4 year schedule could look like this.

2016
Permanent
Alabama
@Vanderbilt
Florida
Alternate
@Kentucky
@South Carolina
LSU
Arkansas
Ole Miss

2017
Permanent
@Alabama
Vanderbilt
@Florida
Alternate
Kentucky
South Carolina
@LSU
@Arkansas
@Ole Miss

2018
Permanent
Alabama
@Vanderbilt
Florida
Alternate
@Georgia
@Missouri
A&M
Auburn
Miss St

2019
Permanent
@Alabama
Vanderbilt
@Florida
Alternate
Georgia
Missouri
@A&M
@Auburn
@Miss St

I think this would be the best way to do it. The three teams for each team would obviously cause some drama but wouldn't be impossible to figure out and keep most happy, IMO.

Alabama
Tennessee
Auburn
Miss St

Arkansas
Missouri
LSU
A&M

Auburn
Alabama
Georgia
Ole Miss

Florida
Georgia
Tennessee
Kentucky

Georgia
Florida
South Carolina
Auburn

Kentucky
Florida
Vandy
Miss St

LSU
Ole Miss
Arkansas
A&M

Miss St
Alabama
Ole Miss
Kentucky

Missouri
Arkansas
A&M
South Carolina

Ole Miss
Miss St
Auburn
LSU

South Carolina
Georgia
Missouri
Vandy

Tennessee
Alabama
Vandy
Florida

Texas A&M
Missouri
LSU
Arkansas

Vandy
Tennessee
South Carolina
Kentucky

Thoughts?

#1/3 - I don't think they'll get rid of divisions. It's the ONLY FAIR way to compare 1/2 your conference against each other because of so many common opponents. You open it up to anybody play anybody & we'll NEVER hear the endless b****ing about who's playing whom. Also, how are you going to determine who's better than whom? You know that multiple tie-breakers are going to have to be implemented over this.

#2 - You gave Florida Kentucky? That's a guaranteed "W" without playing the game.

#4 - Why don't you give UGA Miss. They're one of our long-term rivalries. We shouldn't have to play SC just because they're next door. Why not give them LSU (from Miss.'s 3 opponents)?