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Which SEC teams could leave, go independent and have success?
Posted on 3/17/26 at 2:33 pm
Posted on 3/17/26 at 2:33 pm
It would be tough but I think a few teams could pull it off:
Texas - would be easier than any other program in the country not independent. Would be the most likeliest success at it.
Georgia - not a blue blood but now could maybe pull it off, they've become a national brand over the last 25 years.
Bama - a blue blood would be a little harder (they would need to do it pretty soon). Everybody knows Bama but will have to overachieve in the new era of CFB.
Oklahoma - another blue blood but their star is fading.
Only a few others could even consider it ... A&M, Florida and LSU but each would likely fail.
Of this group, A&M would have the best chance.
Florida is a great all around program but hates to play OOC.
LSU would have to sustain excellence in football and get back to being a decent basketball program to pull it off.
A&M has a lot of money but has never been able to truly excel for long in anything.
Texas - would be easier than any other program in the country not independent. Would be the most likeliest success at it.
Georgia - not a blue blood but now could maybe pull it off, they've become a national brand over the last 25 years.
Bama - a blue blood would be a little harder (they would need to do it pretty soon). Everybody knows Bama but will have to overachieve in the new era of CFB.
Oklahoma - another blue blood but their star is fading.
Only a few others could even consider it ... A&M, Florida and LSU but each would likely fail.
Of this group, A&M would have the best chance.
Florida is a great all around program but hates to play OOC.
LSU would have to sustain excellence in football and get back to being a decent basketball program to pull it off.
A&M has a lot of money but has never been able to truly excel for long in anything.
3
Posted on 3/17/26 at 2:38 pm to theballguy
Hard to say.
This could be wrong but my thought is that teams who did this in the past and were successful (really only Notre Dame comes to mind) were successful because they were able to maintain rivalries and keep people invested in the program. Unsuccessful teams like Georgia Tech needed a conference apparatus to keep them in games that people cared about.
Nowadays, the rivalry aspect probably matters less and depends more on tv contracts to keep eyes on the program.
Programs like Alabama and Texas would be able to do this with the enormous amount of tshirt fans they have. I’m not so sure LSU or UGA could do this. Maybe UF.
This could be wrong but my thought is that teams who did this in the past and were successful (really only Notre Dame comes to mind) were successful because they were able to maintain rivalries and keep people invested in the program. Unsuccessful teams like Georgia Tech needed a conference apparatus to keep them in games that people cared about.
Nowadays, the rivalry aspect probably matters less and depends more on tv contracts to keep eyes on the program.
Programs like Alabama and Texas would be able to do this with the enormous amount of tshirt fans they have. I’m not so sure LSU or UGA could do this. Maybe UF.
Posted on 3/17/26 at 2:41 pm to theballguy
Only Texas could pull that off, but I'm not sure they could ever have the negotiating power that Notre Dame has, because they don't have as many fans in as many states as Notre Dame. That makes a difference in media negotiations.
Reminds me of a line in Godfather III. "Only Lucchesi can reach between these two worlds."
Reminds me of a line in Godfather III. "Only Lucchesi can reach between these two worlds."
This post was edited on 3/17/26 at 2:47 pm
Posted on 3/17/26 at 3:51 pm to AllbyMyRelf
quote:
Nowadays, the rivalry aspect probably matters less and depends more on tv contracts to keep eyes on the program.
You can always create "rivalries" which are just pretend really.
Georgia Tech proved that they were nothing of interest to anyone when outside the SEC. They are a very minor program today unfortunately compared to yesteryear (we're talking a LONG time ago).
UF might could.
There's a lot of LSU fans here in Colorado Springs but unfortunately, LSU has almost no appeal outside La. mostly or among general cfb fans.
When they're really good, people pay attention to them but when they're not, it's like LSUWho?
It's unfortunate. Hopefully Kiffin can turn that perception around for them.
Posted on 3/17/26 at 3:56 pm to theballguy
quote:
There's a lot of LSU fans here in Colorado Springs but unfortunately, LSU has almost no appeal outside La. mostly or among general cfb fans.
That's not remotely true.
LSU athletics is one of the premier brands in all of college sports, according to the experts.
LSU is a premier brand
Posted on 3/17/26 at 4:01 pm to AllbyMyRelf
quote:
really only Notre Dame comes to mind
Much of the Notre Dame success is Catholics vs Protestants at the national and international level. All other teams are regional with national exposure. South Bend is 2 weeks from everywhere but Notre Dame brand is global. Only team that might could be similar is BYU but small percent of global Mormons compared to global Catholics.
Posted on 3/17/26 at 4:04 pm to theballguy
none. next question
Posted on 3/17/26 at 4:06 pm to SEC Doctor
heh the public opinion seems to refute that.
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