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re: SEC is Doing Away With Divisions Completely According to Paul Finebaum
Posted on 12/22/21 at 10:45 am to TidalSurge1
Posted on 12/22/21 at 10:45 am to TidalSurge1
Debating Pods is wasted time and energy.
14-team/8-game model: 6 in-div + 1 cross-div fixed rival (AL-TN, AU-GA...) + 1 of 6 cross-div rotating every other year; requires 12 years to rotate all 6. Is fixing that flaw priority #1, and are four 4-team pods a good way? Pods make 80% of all SEC matchups rotate and sacrifice many rivalries and their big financial benefits. Maybe that's why the 14-team/8-game model isn't already 3 fixed rivals, rotating the other 10 teams in 5 schedule slots (like pods).
SEC 16-team structure & scheduling solution with more rivalries + more frequent rotation:
SEC--East (8): AL, AU, GA, FL, KY, TN, SC, VU
SEC-West (8): OK, TX, TA, LS, AR, 0M, MS, M0
This not only facilitates more SEC rivalries, it ends the need for fixed cross-div rivals, which frees a 2nd schedule slot for more rotations.
SEC schedules = 3 non-SEC + 9 SEC games;
7 in-division + 2 cross-div rotating yearly:
4 Rotations - #1, #8 | #2, #7 | #3, #6 | #4, #5
2 E teams --- AL, VU | GA SC | KY, FL | TN, AU
2 W teams -- LS M0 | 0K MS | AR TX | 0M TA
All 8 cross-div teams rotate in 4 years, playing 2 per year once, and then the home/aways flip (as often as all 12 cross-pod teams rotate).
Consistent SEC schedule format: 7-8 homes; aligns rotationals; limits post-bye opponents.
Sep: non-SEC & cross-division games
Oct: in-division games & bye (mid-season)
Nov: in-division & non-SEC rivalry games
Dec: SEC Championship game
Benefits include balanced divisions, equitable schedules, more frequent cross-div rotations, and a net gain in high-value annual rivalries: AL-LS, FL-LS rotate, but added annuals include AL-GA, FL-AU & SEC-W games vs TX, OK, MO.
Facts: With four 4-team pods (or 3 fixed rivals), the SEC would play only 48 yearly games and thereby less high-value annual rivalries. But with 8-team divisions, the SEC would play 112 yearly in-div games and thereby more high-value annual rivalries. Both options resolve the 14-team/8-game model's 12-year rotation flaw; but pods' financial impact is negative, while divisions' financial impact is positive.
Not only do the new 8-team divisions enable more financially beneficial scheduling (twice as many high-value yearly games as pods), they also offer more intrinsic value, such as division winners earning opportunities to compete in the SEC Championship game.
14-team/8-game model: 6 in-div + 1 cross-div fixed rival (AL-TN, AU-GA...) + 1 of 6 cross-div rotating every other year; requires 12 years to rotate all 6. Is fixing that flaw priority #1, and are four 4-team pods a good way? Pods make 80% of all SEC matchups rotate and sacrifice many rivalries and their big financial benefits. Maybe that's why the 14-team/8-game model isn't already 3 fixed rivals, rotating the other 10 teams in 5 schedule slots (like pods).
SEC 16-team structure & scheduling solution with more rivalries + more frequent rotation:
SEC--East (8): AL, AU, GA, FL, KY, TN, SC, VU
SEC-West (8): OK, TX, TA, LS, AR, 0M, MS, M0
This not only facilitates more SEC rivalries, it ends the need for fixed cross-div rivals, which frees a 2nd schedule slot for more rotations.
SEC schedules = 3 non-SEC + 9 SEC games;
7 in-division + 2 cross-div rotating yearly:
4 Rotations - #1, #8 | #2, #7 | #3, #6 | #4, #5
2 E teams --- AL, VU | GA SC | KY, FL | TN, AU
2 W teams -- LS M0 | 0K MS | AR TX | 0M TA
All 8 cross-div teams rotate in 4 years, playing 2 per year once, and then the home/aways flip (as often as all 12 cross-pod teams rotate).
Consistent SEC schedule format: 7-8 homes; aligns rotationals; limits post-bye opponents.
Sep: non-SEC & cross-division games
Oct: in-division games & bye (mid-season)
Nov: in-division & non-SEC rivalry games
Dec: SEC Championship game
Benefits include balanced divisions, equitable schedules, more frequent cross-div rotations, and a net gain in high-value annual rivalries: AL-LS, FL-LS rotate, but added annuals include AL-GA, FL-AU & SEC-W games vs TX, OK, MO.
Facts: With four 4-team pods (or 3 fixed rivals), the SEC would play only 48 yearly games and thereby less high-value annual rivalries. But with 8-team divisions, the SEC would play 112 yearly in-div games and thereby more high-value annual rivalries. Both options resolve the 14-team/8-game model's 12-year rotation flaw; but pods' financial impact is negative, while divisions' financial impact is positive.
Not only do the new 8-team divisions enable more financially beneficial scheduling (twice as many high-value yearly games as pods), they also offer more intrinsic value, such as division winners earning opportunities to compete in the SEC Championship game.
This post was edited on 1/25/22 at 3:11 pm
1
Posted on 12/22/21 at 11:13 am to TidalSurge1
"Pods" make zero sense. Why force some rivalries that don't exist and end rivalries that do?
The premise behind the pods is the right idea though. 9 game schedule, each team has 3 permanent rivalry games, and the other 6 rotate... Every team gets to keep the games most precious to them. For example: Just because LSU might have Ole Miss and A&M in theirs doesn't mean A&M should need to play Ole Miss instead of Texas.
The premise behind the pods is the right idea though. 9 game schedule, each team has 3 permanent rivalry games, and the other 6 rotate... Every team gets to keep the games most precious to them. For example: Just because LSU might have Ole Miss and A&M in theirs doesn't mean A&M should need to play Ole Miss instead of Texas.
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