Pods are Dumb

Agreed: play 9 SEC game and get rid of locked-in 'rivalries'. It's what everyone's wanted for years and we'd play each other no less frequently than before. I'm honestly in favor (and partially expect it going forward) to 10 SEC games a year. At some point, P5/4 will cut out G5/FCS from scheduling imo

Half the benefit of going to 16 is to have all these interesting matchups regularly. Kind of defeats the purpose if Texas doesn’t go to Florida but once every 17 years.

A pod system keeps a good number of the rivalries but also allows everyone to play everyone home and home every 4 years.

No, pods look great to make sure you play every sec schools at least once every 4 years.

quote:

---

A pod system keeps a good number of the rivalries but also allows everyone to play everyone home and home every 4 years.

---

How does 3 permanent + 6 rotating not accomplish this? 3 permanent allows you to tailor each team’s rivals.

Alabama and Auburn should play.
Auburn and UGA should play.
Alabama and UT should play.
UT and Vandy should play.

Pods can’t accomplish that.

3 permanent opponents is a pod smart guy, but you can’t make the schedule work reasonably with THAT many moving parts.

I’m not sure even an advanced AI could come up with a schedule rotation that takes into account circular permanent opponents like that.

I guess it's possible. I haven't heard much about the logistics, only the possible arrangement. Would there be a 4-team playoff for SEC Championship? Two teams would end up with an 11-game SEC schedule and I don't necessarily see that happening

Or would they take the two best teams, because I can already foresee that being a problem in the event of ties

quote:

---

Pods offer no benefit over giving every team 3 permanent opponents.

There is no way to do Pods without killing rivalries.

---

You know, I actually agree, as I get older I have come to respect that Charter Member Schools should not give up historical rivalry games. Those games are 1)Auburn/Bama, 2)Auburn/UGA, 3) UGA/Florida and 4) TENN/Bama. Those games are the historical brand name rivalries in the SEC.

I think all schools are willing to adapt to the new 12 team playoff model, the era of the Transfer Portal (which is basically free agency) and now NIL.

3 Permanent Rivals and play 6 of the other 12 teams in years 1 and 2, then the other 6 in years 3 and 4 and rotate

That way, traditional rivalry games are maintained and for scheduling purposes, I as a LSU season ticket holder will see LSU play every team twice in a 4 year period and see everybody come Tiger stadium 1 time in that 4 year period.

9 game league schedule, top 2 teams go to Atlanta, tie breakers would be Head to Head, if that does not resolve it, then winning% of teams you beat, etc.

For LSU, we can play Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Miss State

Auburn for example can play UGA, Bama and say Miss. State

Bama, TENN, Auburn and Miss State.

Miss State, Bama, LSU and Auburn.

Texas can play OU, MIZZOU and Arkansas

That way, Texas A&M can maintain hey we are not going back to being Texas little brother.

You're probably right about that

quote:

---

There is no way to do Pods without killing rivalries.

---

4 tm Pod + 1 perm rival and 10 game conf schedule could keep most important rivalries, offer an even home and away scheduling split, and ensure a H and A matchup vs all other SEC teams over a 4 year period.

Best two conf records go to SEC CG. Use head to head, then final CFP reg season poll as tiebreakers.

I am already cringing at the thought of Pod championship banners