When the SEC eventually has 20 teams, how should the conference be structured?

The eventual fans who cry about it should be locked away in shipping containers like on Dexter and fed moldy bread. That's the first thing we should do.

I feel like there would also be a pod of Bama, Auburn, State, Ole Miss, and LSU.

Gimme dem intricate fan pod schemes, stat!

Clemson and A&M should be permanent nonpod rivals. The game will be named the “Cult Classic.”

West:
Texas
Oklahoma
LSU
Arkansas
A&M
Ole Miss
Miss State
Mizzou
2 new west teams

East:
Florida
Georgia
Bama
Auburn
Tenner
Vandy
Kentucky
USC
2 new east teams

Every team plays each division opponent once, best record to SEC CG

AI

Perfect — you want to push the SEC to **20 teams**, then organize them into **4 pods of 5** with balance based on:

1. **Historic rivalries** (must protect them).
2. **TV value** (ESPN portfolio of “must-watch” annuals).
3. **Competitive balance** (avoid loading one pod with all the heavyweights).

Let’s do this step by step.

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## 1. Expansion Candidates (Best Fits for SEC)

Looking at geography, rivalries, and ESPN TV value, the most likely additions are:

* **Clemson** – Fits SEC footprint, natural rival with South Carolina, powerhouse brand.
* **Florida State** – Monster brand, natural rival with Florida.
* **Miami** – South Florida market, rivals FSU/UF.
* **North Carolina** – Expands SEC footprint into a huge market + basketball brand.

Other “dark horse” options (if 3 ACC teams can’t all jump): NC State, Virginia Tech.
But **Clemson + FSU + Miami + UNC** give you the best combo of tradition + ratings.

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## 2. Pod Structure Logic

* **Each pod = 5 teams**.
* Every team has its 3 permanent rivals locked inside the pod.
* Cross-pod scheduling rotates (like the 3–6–6 model scaled to 20).
* Pods should each have **2 top-tier brands + 3 mid/lower teams** for balance.

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## 3. Proposed SEC20 Pods

### ?? Pod A – *Deep South Classic*

* **Alabama**
* **Auburn**
* **LSU**
* **Ole Miss**
* **Mississippi State**

*The true SEC “meat grinder.” Protects Iron Bowl, LSU–Bama, Egg Bowl, Auburn–UGA crossover remains intact.*

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### ?? Pod B – *Texas & Plains*

* **Texas**
* **Oklahoma**
* **Texas A\&M**
* **Arkansas**
* **Missouri**

*All the old Big 12/Southwest Conference powers stay clustered. Red River, Texas–A\&M, Arkansas–Texas all preserved.*

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### ?? Pod C – *Sunshine & Carolina*

* **Florida**
* **Florida State**
* **Miami**
* **South Carolina**
* **Clemson**

*An ESPN dream pod. Locks UF–FSU, Clemson–SC, UF–Miami, Clemson–FSU. Ratings gold.*

---

### ?? Pod D – *East Coast & Bluegrass*

* **Georgia**
* **Tennessee**
* **North Carolina**
* **Kentucky**
* **Vanderbilt**

*Georgia–Florida stays as annual cross-pod. Tennessee–Bama preserved cross-pod. Adds UNC into a natural fit with UK/UT (basketball/football blend). Vandy balances it out.*

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## 4. Balance Check

* **Pod A**: 3 elites (Bama, LSU, Auburn) + 2 mids (Ole Miss, MSU). Brutal, but balanced by softer games cross-pod.
* **Pod B**: 3 elites (Texas, OU, A\&M) + 2 mids (Arkansas, Mizzou). Clean SWC pod.
* **Pod C**: 2 elites (UF, FSU) + 1 strong (Clemson) + 2 mids (Miami, SC). Super TV-friendly.
* **Pod D**: 2 elites (UGA, UT) + 1 strong (UNC) + 2 mids (UK, Vandy). Good balance.

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## 5. ESPN Portfolio Every Year

* Iron Bowl, Bama–LSU, Red River, UF–FSU, Clemson–SC, UF–Georgia, Texas–A\&M, Auburn–UGA, Clemson–FSU.
* Huge TV games guaranteed every week, spread across pods.

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? That gives you a **clean SEC-20 with 4 pods of 5**:

* Pod A = *Old SEC West core*
* Pod B = *Southwest/Big 12*
* Pod C = *Florida & Carolinas*
* Pod D = *East + Bluegrass*

I would love 11 league games and 1 vs an SEC team. It would make for must-watch football every week. This is how it plays out.

Miami is NEVER coming to the SEC. I think Kansas has a better chance than them. Miami does not make the league any more money. I'm even iffy on FSU Clemson even joining. The targets are UNC and Virginia. You only take FSU Clemson, if you feel the BIG10 is coming for them, I actually think they could end up in BIG12

Just recast it as an NFL type of organization division winners and wildcard in the playoff…..

Yeah I get that matchups matter now but I feel like the SEC also wants a presence in Virginia for the long term viability of the conference. Virginia is the 12th most populated state and will get bigger over the next twenty years.