Started By
Message
re: SEC announces nine game conference schedule starting in 2026
Posted on 8/22/25 at 7:07 am to Smokeyone
Posted on 8/22/25 at 7:07 am to Smokeyone
The point is that with nine conference games you can have six permanent opponents instead of one or three. Why bother? It ends up not just saving more traditional games but also evens out marked irregularities in schedule strength from your to year
You could restrict every school to only one permanent rivalry game and have regular schedules with 16 teams, eight games, one permanent, and seven rotating. The rotations don't work with 16 teams, 9 conference games, and three permanenst unless you ruin a lot of the most important three games. That is, when there are sixteen different groups of three it amplifies instead of reduces irregularities of schedule strength from year to year (two years are markedly easier or harder because of variations in how many blue chip teams you play)).
I don't think people have tried their own proposals in detail. The irregularities in the rotations are pretty undesirable.
You could restrict every school to only one permanent rivalry game and have regular schedules with 16 teams, eight games, one permanent, and seven rotating. The rotations don't work with 16 teams, 9 conference games, and three permanenst unless you ruin a lot of the most important three games. That is, when there are sixteen different groups of three it amplifies instead of reduces irregularities of schedule strength from year to year (two years are markedly easier or harder because of variations in how many blue chip teams you play)).
I don't think people have tried their own proposals in detail. The irregularities in the rotations are pretty undesirable.
0
Posted on 8/22/25 at 7:56 am to Western_tiger
quote:
Any idea what the rivalries they are going to keep are?
I feel like the 9 game schedule is only agreed to now because Auburn and Alabama get their 2 main rivals and a cupcake 3rd as a guarantee.
Posted on 8/22/25 at 8:03 am to Oilfieldbiology
I called it and Texas will end up with a light schedule when they redo things.
I called this last year. Watch and see. Texas will get the cupcake like they have had this year and last.
I called this last year. Watch and see. Texas will get the cupcake like they have had this year and last.
Posted on 8/22/25 at 8:05 am to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
I feel like the 9 game schedule is only agreed to now because Auburn and Alabama get their 2 main rivals and a cupcake 3rd as a guarantee.
Na, each team is getting $5 mil extra each year and the CFP committee just announced that SOS would play a much bigger role this year.
Ultimately this is going to 16 teams sooner than later, and I think we’ll be guaranteed 4 spots.. so it won’t matter if we beat each other up.. ww’ll still get 4 teams in.
That’s my opinion at least.. I think Alabama will have AUB, TN & LSU.. AUB likely gets FL too..
Posted on 8/22/25 at 8:08 am to molsusports
quote:
And to illustrate how the six year complete rotations
To hell with 6 year complete schedules. A 3 permanent opponent, 6 rotating opponent schedule allows for teams to see every team in the SEC in 2 years and have every team in the SEC at your home stadium every 4
Posted on 8/22/25 at 8:08 am to Hawgleg
quote:
I called it and Texas will end up with a light schedule when they redo things. I called this last year. Watch and see. Texas will get the cupcake like they have had this year and last.
if we’re all playing all 15 teams 2x over 4 years + our perm rivals, everyone’s schedule is mostly the same over the 4 year period.. unless the perm’s suck..
are you saying we have an easy schedule because Arkansas sucks? that’s a valid argument I guess..
Posted on 8/22/25 at 8:09 am to Hawgleg
Texas should have OU, aTm, and Arkansas as their permanent rivals.
Posted on 8/22/25 at 8:16 am to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
I feel like the 9 game schedule is only agreed to now because Auburn and Alabama get their 2 main rivals and a cupcake 3rd as a guarantee.
Yup!
Two main rivals: fAU and Tenn
One cupcake third: LSU
Posted on 8/22/25 at 8:23 am to Sl0thstronautEsq
quote:
One cupcake third: LSU
LSU v Bama won’t be a protected rivalry. I know you’re trying to take a dig at LSU but the SEC wanting to make bama play LSU every year plus their sacred rivalries is why we didn’t have 9 games sooner.
Posted on 8/22/25 at 8:26 am to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
LSU v Bama won’t be a protected rivalry.
You're crazy if you think they're going to miss out on those tv ratings just to give us an appropriate third guaranteed opponent (which, in my opinion, would be State).
This post was edited on 8/22/25 at 8:27 am
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:22 am to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
LSU v Bama won’t be a protected rivalry.
zero chance this game is gone.
TV will not let this game be gone.
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:35 am to AHM21
Ah yes, subjectivity based on "history" and some opinions. Someone is going to get fricked.
They should require that all in-state teams be a mandatory annual opponent.
Why they can't just play a full round robin, we will NEVER know.
Meh.
They should require that all in-state teams be a mandatory annual opponent.
Why they can't just play a full round robin, we will NEVER know.
Meh.
Posted on 8/22/25 at 10:00 am to AHM21
I hope Sankey makes sure the B10, ACC, and B12 play a minimum of 1 non- conference Power 4 game. Best idea would be to have rotating full conference challenges. I would love to see an ACC vs SEC challenge just like basketball. It would probably be a 14-2 SEC rout like last year's basketball challenge. That way the committee would have to tell SMU "Just shut up!"
Posted on 8/22/25 at 10:01 am to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
LSU v Bama won’t be a protected rivalry.
It would be tough pulling Aub, TN, and LSU, but these are the games I want on my schedule personally as a Bama fan. They are the ones that get me excited for college football. Pure joy when you win them, and sucks to lose them, but those are the ones the fuel the passion for the sport (for me). Plus, considering some of the loss in (or at least hit to) interest due to NIL and transfer rules, to me it seems these are the kind of games that help interest.
Posted on 8/22/25 at 10:08 am to UBamaJelly
quote:
It would be tough pulling Aub, TN, and LSU, but these are the games I want on my schedule personally as a Bama fan. They are the ones that get me excited for college football. Pure joy when you win them, and sucks to lose them, but those are the ones the fuel the passion for the sport (for me). Plus, considering some of the loss in (or at least hit to) interest due to NIL and transfer rules, to me it seems these are the kind of games that help interest.
agree with all of this 100%.
Posted on 8/22/25 at 10:16 am to BigBro
quote:
are you saying we have an easy schedule because Arkansas sucks? that’s a valid argument I guess..
Except Arkansas is 4-3 against UT since Arkansas left the SWC, and spanked UT going out the door.
An interception on a deflection by the Arkansas receiver (Broden couldn't catch a ball if you tossed it from two feet) on Arkansas' first possession last year most likely turned that game completely around. Arkansas driving, UT int and scores for a 20-10 final score.
Posted on 8/22/25 at 10:40 am to Open Dore Policy
quote:
In Vandy's case, they failed to get to 6 wins most of the time anyway. Maybe now this will prompt the school to put the money and effort in to make the team continue to improve.
You certainly hope so!
They are going to have to start upping the investment if they even want to keep the status quo level that they’ve had the past few decades. It’s going to take multiple levels more investment if they truly want to be a team that could be expected to get above 6 wins in a season now
Vandy fans are loyal, but we’ll see how that goes if Vandy keeps doing what they are doing. Even thinking about bowl games goes out the window before the season even starts, if things don’t change there
Posted on 8/22/25 at 11:17 am to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
hell with 6 year complete schedules. A 3 permanent opponent, 6 rotating opponent schedule allows for teams to see every team in the SEC in 2 years and have every team in the SEC at your home stadium every 4
At the expense of playing many of your biggest games. I'd rather play Alabama, Florida, Auburn, OM, A&M, more and see the other less traditional rivalries whenever they rotate
Four years instead of six years for a complete rotation isn't even close to added value. Would you like to see Alabama, Florida, A&M, OM every other year in Tiger Stadium? Or every fourth year?
Posted on 8/22/25 at 11:45 am to Lt. Columbo
quote:
If we can't continue UF vs LSU as a perm slot, I hope we can restart UF vs Auburn
Great low key rivalry/matchup that was so fun to watch. I guess bc both schools home fields were nuts. If LSU loses florida, I’d love to bring back the auburn series.
Posted on 8/22/25 at 11:54 am to Fan1958
quote:
An interception on a deflection by the Arkansas receiver (Broden couldn't catch a ball if you tossed it from two feet) on Arkansas' first possession last year most likely turned that game completely around. Arkansas driving, UT int and scores for a 20-10 final score.
It was the 2nd play of the 2nd drive from your own 35 yard line..
Driving..
1st Half Arkansas possessions
3 plays 7 yards (punt)
2 plays 9 yards (interception)
3 plays 6 yards (punt)
7 plays 15 yards (punt)
3 plays 4 yards (punt)
1 play -6 yards (end of half)
2nd Half Arkansas possessions
6 plays -5 yards (punt)
Summary: 6 drives, 25 plays for 30 yards
The score was 13-0 with 8 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
Yes, you had back to back good drives after that.. but you hadn't been doing anything up that point.
Page 7 of 8
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News