re: How To Re-Align the SEC

2 divisions provide 112 yearly intra-div games. Pods provide only 48 yearly intra-pod games.

If cross-pod schedule slots get used for fixed cross-pod opponents, then there aren't enough slots available to accommodate rotating as frequently.

Got a link to your proposal?

My plan is 4X4 pods where you play the 3 teams in your pod (3 games), 1 fixed opponent in the other pods (3 games), & the other teams in your paired pod.
Y1 - AB vrs. CD
Y2 - AC vrs. BD
Y3 - AD vrs. BC
Best record in each "division of 8" is an SECCG team.
Everybody seen in 3; full H/H in 6.
Keeps pretty much EVERY RIVALRY if teams aren't in your pod.

Yes. Functional eight team divisions every year.

For anyone who sits down and writes out the rivalry games the pods plus fixed opponents save more of the big games than the divisions option

But your way accomplishes the rotation slower and costs too many traditional games.

You say its about traditional games and television but then you want to kill LSU/Alabama and LSU/Florida games

That's not bathwater. That's a baby.

This one sounds pretty good. Keeps the conference slate at 8 games a year.

Just a slightly different version of the 3 permanent/rivals format.

quote:

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a few yearly games like LSU-AL -

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LSU-AL would never become rotating.

You can't kill this game.

I see no real fair way that you expand the conference and dont see some of these "annual rivalries" disappear. Why even be in a conference if you arent playing a team or two more than once a decade.

quote:

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My plan is 4X4 pods where you play the 3 teams in your pod (3 games), 1 fixed opponent in the other pods (3 games), & the other teams in your paired pod.
Y1 - AB vrs. CD
Y2 - AC vrs. BD
Y3 - AD vrs. BC
Best record in each "division of 8" is an SECCG team.
Everybody seen in 3; full H/H in 6.
Keeps pretty much EVERY RIVALRY if teams aren't in your pod.

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What I suggested on Page 1 is exactly what you're saying.

Everyone stresses about this "division" thing as if it does anything more than divide the conference in to two round robins for an easy way to determine if you want a championship game.

But that is largely because the NCAA said in order to have a championship game you want a complete round robin for balanced scheduling. Duh. You want that REGARDLESS of if it allows for a championship game or not.

But here is the thing, it doesn't need to be the same division every year, it just needs to be as complete as possible.

So what you can do is create four divisions(gasp) and pair them each year and create two round robin. You don't even have to pick the winners of the new "divisions" based on standings, but you probably would because if it came down to CFP rankings there will be bias.

Cotton Division:
Arkansas
Mizzou
Oklahoma
tu

Magnolia Division:
LSU
Ole Miss
Texas A&M
Vanderbilt

Dixie Division:
Alabama
Kentucky
Mississippi State
Tennessee

Peach Division:
Auburn
Florida
Georgia
South Carolina

Ole Miss/State
Texas A&M/tu
Alabama/Auburn
Tennessee/Vanderbilt
Would be permanent cross division rivals.
LSU/Arkansas
Kentucky/Florida

Optional.

You can create secondary cross division rivalries like Alabama/LSU, Tennessee/Georgia if you want as well in off years so those teams play 2 out of every 3 years.


You maintain 8 games(which is of EXTREME importance and absolutely NO conference schedule should have 9 when the SEC is as strong as it is). You maintain rivalries. Every player(even the 3 year year guys) will play every single SEC team in their careers. You create balance.

So. fricking. Simple.

HOW is it a mess?
You've seen everybody in 3 years & FULL H/H in 6.

Ex. Team A1 schedule:
Y1 - A2, A3, A4, B1 (fixed Pod B opponent), B2 (paired pod), B3 (paired pod), B4 (paired pod), C1 (fixed Pod C opponent), D1 (fixed Pod D opponent)
Y2 - A2, A3, A4, B1 (fixed Pod B opponent), C1 (fixed Pod C opponent), C2 (paired pod), C3 (paired pod), C4 (paired pod), D1 (fixed Pod D opponent)
Y3 - A2, A3, A4, B1 (fixed Pod B opponent), C1 (fixed Pod C opponent), D1 (fixed Pod D opponent), D2 (paired pod), D3 (paired pod), D4 (paired pod)
Y4 - Y1 (switch sites)
Y5 - Y2 (switch sites)
Y6 - Y3 (switch sites)