Started By
Message
re: SEC is Doing Away With Divisions Completely According to Paul Finebaum
Posted on 12/19/21 at 11:01 pm to molsusports
Posted on 12/19/21 at 11:01 pm to molsusports
Yep. I started editing (fixing) my my post while you were replying. I'm not against 6 yearly rivals, but a majority of SEC members agreeing with playing 10 SEC games is very unlikely. A majority agreeing to play 9 will be a challenge. Having 6 rivals with the other 9 rotating in 3 schedule slots every year is also a viable option.
This post was edited on 12/21/21 at 7:31 pm
Posted on 12/21/21 at 7:31 pm to TidalSurge1
To help demonstrate that pods aren't needed here are example charts for a couple of other viable options:
10 SEC games: 5 rivalries + 5/10 rotational
AL: OM TA MS LS AU + GA TX VB AR KY
AL: OM TA MS LS AU + FL OK TN MO SC
AR: TA OK LS TX MO + AL FL OM TN SC
AR: TA OK LS TX MO + AU GA MS VB KY
AU: GA MS VB FL AL + TA OK TN AR SC
AU: GA MS VB FL AL + LS TX OM MO KY
FL: LS TN GA AU SC + AL TX OM MO KY
FL: LS TN GA AU SC + TA OK MS AR VB
GA: AU SC FL TN KY + AL TA OK MS VB
GA: AU SC FL TN KY + LS AR TX OM MO
KY: TN MO SC VB GA + AL LS TA OK MS
KY: TN MO SC VB GA + AU FL AR TX OM
LS: FL AR OM AL TA + GA TX VB KY MO
LS: FL AR OM AL TA + AU OK TN SC MS
OM: AL TX LS OK MS + GA AU AR VB KY
OM: AL TX LS OK MS + FL TA MO TN SC
MS: OK AU TA AL OM + FL LS MO TN SC
MS: OK AU TA AL OM + GA TX AR VB KY
MO: TX VB KY OK AR + AU GA LS MS TN
MO: TX VB KY OK AR + AL FL TA OM SC
OK: MS AR TX OM MO + AU GA TA TN KY
OK: MS AR TX OM MO + AL FL LS VB SC
SC: VB GA TN KY FL + AU LS TX OM AR
SC: VB GA TN KY FL + AL TA OK MS MO
TN: KY FL SC GA VB + AL TA OK MS MO
TN: KY FL SC GA VB + AU LS TX OM AR
TA: AR AL MS TX LS + GA OK AU TN KY
TA: AR AL MS TX LS + FL OM MO VB SC
TX: MO OM OK AR TA + AL FL LS SC VB
TX: MO OM OK AR TA + AU GA MS KY TN
VB: SC MO AU KY TN + AL GA LS TX OM
VB: SC MO AU KY TN + TA FL AR OK MS
--------------------------------
8 SEC games:1 rival + 7/14 rotate yearly
AL: AU + GA TA OK TN MS AR VB
AL: AU + FL LS TX KY OM MO SC
AR: MO + AL FL LS OK OM TN SC
AR: MO + AU GA TA TX MS KY VB
AU: AL + FL LS TX OM KY MO SC
AU: AL + GA TA OK MS TN AR VB
FL: GA + AU TA OK MS AR KY VB
FL: GA + AL LS TX OM MO TN SC
GA: FL + AL LS TX TN OM MO SC
GA: FL + AU TA OK KY MS AR VB
KY: SC + AU GA TA OK OM AR VB
KY: SC + AL FL LS TX MS MO TN
LS: TA + AU GA TX OM KY AR VB
LS: TA + AL FL OK MS TN MO SC
OM: MS + AU GA LS TX KY AR VB
OM: MS + AL FL TA OK TN MO SC
MS: OM + AL FL TA OK TN MO SC
MS: OM + AU GA LS TX KY AR VB
MO: AR + AU GA TA OK MS KY VB
MO: AR + AL FL LS TX OM TN SC
OK: TX + AL FL TA MS KY AR VB
OK: TX + AU GA LS OM TN MO SC
SC: KY + AU GA TA TX MS AR TN
SC: KY + AL FL LS OK OM MO VB
TN: VB + AL GA TA TX MS AR SC
TN: VB + AU FL LS OK OM MO KY
TA: LS + AL FL OK MS TN MO SC
TA: LS + AU GA TX OM KY AR VB
TX: OK + AU GA LS MS TN MO SC
TX: OK + AL FL TA OM KY AR VB
VB: TN + AL FL LS OK OM KY MO
VB: TN + AU GA TA TX MS SC AR
It won't surprise me if this last option (8 SEC games, 1 annual rival, 7/14 teams rotating annually) is what we end up with.
10 SEC games: 5 rivalries + 5/10 rotational
AL: OM TA MS LS AU + GA TX VB AR KY
AL: OM TA MS LS AU + FL OK TN MO SC
AR: TA OK LS TX MO + AL FL OM TN SC
AR: TA OK LS TX MO + AU GA MS VB KY
AU: GA MS VB FL AL + TA OK TN AR SC
AU: GA MS VB FL AL + LS TX OM MO KY
FL: LS TN GA AU SC + AL TX OM MO KY
FL: LS TN GA AU SC + TA OK MS AR VB
GA: AU SC FL TN KY + AL TA OK MS VB
GA: AU SC FL TN KY + LS AR TX OM MO
KY: TN MO SC VB GA + AL LS TA OK MS
KY: TN MO SC VB GA + AU FL AR TX OM
LS: FL AR OM AL TA + GA TX VB KY MO
LS: FL AR OM AL TA + AU OK TN SC MS
OM: AL TX LS OK MS + GA AU AR VB KY
OM: AL TX LS OK MS + FL TA MO TN SC
MS: OK AU TA AL OM + FL LS MO TN SC
MS: OK AU TA AL OM + GA TX AR VB KY
MO: TX VB KY OK AR + AU GA LS MS TN
MO: TX VB KY OK AR + AL FL TA OM SC
OK: MS AR TX OM MO + AU GA TA TN KY
OK: MS AR TX OM MO + AL FL LS VB SC
SC: VB GA TN KY FL + AU LS TX OM AR
SC: VB GA TN KY FL + AL TA OK MS MO
TN: KY FL SC GA VB + AL TA OK MS MO
TN: KY FL SC GA VB + AU LS TX OM AR
TA: AR AL MS TX LS + GA OK AU TN KY
TA: AR AL MS TX LS + FL OM MO VB SC
TX: MO OM OK AR TA + AL FL LS SC VB
TX: MO OM OK AR TA + AU GA MS KY TN
VB: SC MO AU KY TN + AL GA LS TX OM
VB: SC MO AU KY TN + TA FL AR OK MS
--------------------------------
8 SEC games:1 rival + 7/14 rotate yearly
AL: AU + GA TA OK TN MS AR VB
AL: AU + FL LS TX KY OM MO SC
AR: MO + AL FL LS OK OM TN SC
AR: MO + AU GA TA TX MS KY VB
AU: AL + FL LS TX OM KY MO SC
AU: AL + GA TA OK MS TN AR VB
FL: GA + AU TA OK MS AR KY VB
FL: GA + AL LS TX OM MO TN SC
GA: FL + AL LS TX TN OM MO SC
GA: FL + AU TA OK KY MS AR VB
KY: SC + AU GA TA OK OM AR VB
KY: SC + AL FL LS TX MS MO TN
LS: TA + AU GA TX OM KY AR VB
LS: TA + AL FL OK MS TN MO SC
OM: MS + AU GA LS TX KY AR VB
OM: MS + AL FL TA OK TN MO SC
MS: OM + AL FL TA OK TN MO SC
MS: OM + AU GA LS TX KY AR VB
MO: AR + AU GA TA OK MS KY VB
MO: AR + AL FL LS TX OM TN SC
OK: TX + AL FL TA MS KY AR VB
OK: TX + AU GA LS OM TN MO SC
SC: KY + AU GA TA TX MS AR TN
SC: KY + AL FL LS OK OM MO VB
TN: VB + AL GA TA TX MS AR SC
TN: VB + AU FL LS OK OM MO KY
TA: LS + AL FL OK MS TN MO SC
TA: LS + AU GA TX OM KY AR VB
TX: OK + AU GA LS MS TN MO SC
TX: OK + AL FL TA OM KY AR VB
VB: TN + AL FL LS OK OM KY MO
VB: TN + AU GA TA TX MS SC AR
It won't surprise me if this last option (8 SEC games, 1 annual rival, 7/14 teams rotating annually) is what we end up with.
This post was edited on 1/4/22 at 4:12 pm
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
Posted on 12/22/21 at 10:47 am to ALTiger
quote:
North - Mizzou, Kentucky, Tenn, Vandy
I would love this pod.


Posted on 12/22/21 at 10:59 am to I-59 Tiger
They should have no divisions and cancel the SEC championship game, add 8 teams to the playoff, and boom.
No more shitty bowls
No more conference championship games, that truthfully, don’t really matter either.
No more skipping bowl games
No more participation trophies
No more 7-win teams wining the Nerds Bowl and jumping around like idiots pouring Gatorade on their Coach because they won 8 games
No more shitty bowls
No more conference championship games, that truthfully, don’t really matter either.
No more skipping bowl games
No more participation trophies
No more 7-win teams wining the Nerds Bowl and jumping around like idiots pouring Gatorade on their Coach because they won 8 games
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.
Posted on 12/22/21 at 11:19 am to Hussss
15 conference games
1 OOC game
Champ goes to the Sugar Bowl and plays whoever the selection committee made up of all living non-active SEC Coaches with a Natty decides to invite.
It.
Just.
Means.
More.
1 OOC game
Champ goes to the Sugar Bowl and plays whoever the selection committee made up of all living non-active SEC Coaches with a Natty decides to invite.
It.
Just.
Means.
More.
Posted on 12/22/21 at 11:23 am to starkvingrad
quote:
Central: Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Alabama
Poor Vandy. Three of the thirteen winningest programs of all-time.
quote:
South: A&M, LSU, State, Ole Miss

Posted on 12/22/21 at 11:34 am to ALTiger
quote:
East - Bama, Auburn, UGA, SCAR

Posted on 12/22/21 at 11:46 am to GeauxPack81
quote:
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.
Right but LSU would keep Arkansas and A&M would keep Texas from the Northwest pod. It's a similar premise to Alabama playing Tennessee and Auburn playing Georgia in the 12 or 14 team versions of the SEC.
Posted on 12/27/21 at 2:27 pm to molsusports
A permanent cross-pod opponent takes away one of the schedule slots for rotating opponents, which is really the only benefit pods offer. At a glance pods seem like a cool idea. But closer examination reveals that pods actually cause problems instead of being a viable solution for SEC football -- Better solution.
This post was edited on 12/27/21 at 2:39 pm
Posted on 12/27/21 at 2:43 pm to Hussss
With the pod format, you can have a mini CFP playoff with the winner of each of the 4 division playing in a semi-final toward the SECCG. It sounds crazy, but this is the nature of the nations first "Super Conference"
Posted on 12/27/21 at 2:51 pm to KCM0Tiger
quote:
Missouri
Oklahoma
Texas
Texas A&M
The Big 12 pod is the most reasonable.
LSU
Arkansas
Ole Miss
State
Bama
Auburn
Tennessee
Vandy
UGA
UF
Kentucky
South Carolina
Posted on 12/27/21 at 2:53 pm to TigerinKorea
quote:
The Big 12 pod is the most reasonable.
Nope.
Posted on 12/27/21 at 2:56 pm to SammyTiger
quote:
So what are the pods?
POD 1
UF
UGA
UT
SC
UK
POD 2
bammer
POD 3
AU
MSU
Ole Miss
Arky
Vandy
POD 4
LSU
Missouri
OU
Texas A&Puss Out
UT
Posted on 12/27/21 at 3:24 pm to TidalSurge1
quote:
But closer examination reveals that pods actually cause problems instead of being a viable solution for SEC football -- Better solution
As noted on the Alabama board, Alabama, UF, UGa, Auburn, and UT are 5 of the 6 teams that have won SEC titles since divisional play started. Putting them all in the East division would make for a very unbalanced conference and will never happen.
Posted on 12/27/21 at 6:13 pm to C W
TN hasn't won the SEC in this century. AU has only twice. FL hasn't since Urban Meyer left. OK might become better with Venables. TA & TX are both recruiting well and likely to improve. This season, OM won 10 games, TA & AR won 8 & MS won 7. LSU has fallen pretty far, but will likely rebound soon. AL & GA in the SEC-E does make it stronger than the SEC-W initially, but only at the top. Overall, the new E & W will be pretty equal.
New SEC--E: AL, GA, FL, AU, KY, TN, SC, VB
New SEC-W: LS, OK, TX, TA, AR, OM, MS, MO
Factors such as financials, fan interest, brand, facilities, recruiting, coaching & culture will impact teams' future strength more than winning the SEC a decade or more ago will. Those two divisions are much more likely to happen than pods are.
New SEC--E: AL, GA, FL, AU, KY, TN, SC, VB
New SEC-W: LS, OK, TX, TA, AR, OM, MS, MO
Factors such as financials, fan interest, brand, facilities, recruiting, coaching & culture will impact teams' future strength more than winning the SEC a decade or more ago will. Those two divisions are much more likely to happen than pods are.
This post was edited on 1/16/22 at 1:21 am
Posted on 12/27/21 at 6:21 pm to KCM0Tiger
Want TEXAS LSU AGGIES and my team OU
I went the hardest possible teams in the west …. Playing arky and Missouri doesn’t do it for me ….. yes I know arky was average this year
I went the hardest possible teams in the west …. Playing arky and Missouri doesn’t do it for me ….. yes I know arky was average this year
This post was edited on 12/27/21 at 6:22 pm
Popular
Back to top
