re: 16-team SEC scheduling model(s)

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SEC--East (8): FL GA KY SC TN VU + AL AU

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They’ve discussed a scenario where they do four divisions of four each, but one source didn’t think that had enough traction. The attraction there would be that lack of stigma for finishing 16th in a 16-team league, but their basketball counterparts could tell them they’ve been dealing with that since 2012.

Pods have also long been discussed, which essentially would be unofficial divisions of four each for scheduling purposes, but the standings would be determined 1-through-16.

“We still have some time based on a July 1, 2025 entry date, but it’s really been a healthy opportunity to look at how do we keep things fresh and new by moving teams through? Whether it’s divisions, single division, we’ll keep pods alive for conversation purposes today, but it’s really been an interesting conversation,” Sankey said.

That leaves a “3-6” scheduling arrangement, where each school has three permanent opponents, then rotates the other six. It could also become “4-5”, with one source not believing it would go beyond four permanent opponents. How many permanent opponents, three or four, evidently remains a big part of the discussion. Multiple sources told The Athletic that multiple options are on the table. Regardless of what option emerges, the SEC Championship Game isn’t going to go away with broadcast partners seeing such value from a game that annually yields high ratings, including 17.9 million viewers for last year’s game between Alabama and Georgia, the highest-rated non-bowl game of the 2021 season.

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Last I read, they didn't want to pony up the exit fee to leave early. That could change, but I don't see the Big 12 letting them out of it in any way.

From SECRant A&M poster:
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Regardless of when they leave, they have to give 18 months notice, and the league will then withhold two years worth of revenue (which is paid at the end of the year, so there will be two payment dates within that 18 months). That doesn't really change much regardless of which year they go.

The problem is that, if they want to come before 2025, they have to find a way to buy themselves out of the grant of rights--there is no buyout provision, and they can't just leave and tell the Big XII to sue them because if they did that, they wouldn't bring their TV rights when they come to the SEC.

On the other hand, if they just wait until 2025, then they regain their TV rights and don't have to pay anything out of pocket (just suffer the loss of that last 2 years of conference distributions).

There are some other factors that have reinforced the Okies' view that they probably need to wait until 2025, but money is the largest factor.

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