They said they will preserve secondary rivalries, so games like Tennessee-Alabama or LSU-Alabama, Georgia-Auburn, Texas-A&M are still on the table

It's helpful to Vanderbilt for the SEC to have an eight-game league slate. But those days are likely numbered.

The temporary schedules usually make the secondary ones easier to hold. Ohio State has Illinois I think in every version of one for example in transition years. Longer term holding them without a fixed rotation is harder.

(06-01-2023 05:06 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  It's helpful to Vanderbilt for the SEC to have an eight-game league slate. But those days are likely numbered.

Vanderbilt hasn't made a bowl game in years under an eight game schedule, they really shouldn't be complaining. The teams close to the bubble are the ones who should be complaining.

I've said all along that unless ESPN is willing to pony up more $$$, the SEC should not move to 9 games.

(06-01-2023 05:04 PM)Glenn360 Wrote:  They said they will preserve secondary rivalries, so games like Tennessee-Alabama or LSU-Alabama, Georgia-Auburn, Texas-A&M are still on the table

I think Saban wound up on the 8 game side because of his rumored permanent rivals, Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU. I would think if SEC schools have more than one permanent rival and Alabama is still stuck with Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU, it's probably worse for him as it's one fewer SEC game for everyone else and the schedules are more imbalanced while teams may play each other less often. I think if Saban knew he was going to get stuck with Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU, he probably would have preferred 9 games.

(06-01-2023 05:31 PM)schmolik Wrote:  Vanderbilt hasn't made a bowl game in years under an eight game schedule, they really shouldn't be complaining. The teams close to the bubble are the ones who should be complaining.

Once the playoff expands to 12 teams and then again to 24 teams, bowl eligibility is gonna be even less meaningful then it is today

This is the smart play. I doubt the CFP will hold it against the SEC. I bet the Big Ten would love to go back to 8 games if they could.

And it's only for one season.

9 games is coming. Heck, more expansion could be coming so I don't think there's a need to come up with a long term format today.

I'm glad they dropped divisions though. I think that will make things more interesting as long as they have a good set of tiebreakers in place.

I hope we see more old school games like Tennessee-Auburn, Bama-Vandy, Auburn-Florida, and LSU-Kentucky for history's sake. There are probably a few others that were impeded by divisions.

(06-01-2023 08:01 PM)esayem Wrote:  I hope we see more old school games like Tennessee-Auburn, Bama-Vandy, Auburn-Florida, and LSU-Kentucky for history's sake. There are probably a few others that were impeded by divisions.

I came up with a suggestion for guaranteed rivalries protected for 2024. Each team got 3-6 rivals protected. The remaining conference schedule would be filled out to try to give everyone a competitively balanced schedule.

Alabama (6)
Auburn, Tennessee, LSU, Mississippi St., Ole Miss, Georgia

Arkansas (5)
Texas A&M, LSU, Ole Miss, Texas, Missouri

Auburn (4)
Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi St.

Florida (5)
Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Auburn, LSU

Georgia (6)
Auburn, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Alabama

Kentucky (4)
Vanderbilt, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi St.

LSU (6)
Ole Miss, Arkansas, Mississippi St., Alabama, Texas A&M, Florida

Mississippi St. (5)
Ole Miss, Kentucky, LSU, Alabama, Auburn

Missouri (3)
Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma

Oklahoma (3)
Missouri, Texas, Texas A&M

Ole Miss (5)
LSU, Mississippi St., Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Alabama

South Carolina (3)
Florida, Georgia, Tennessee

Tennessee (6)
Alabama, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina

Texas (3)
Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Arkansas

Texas A&M (4)
Arkansas, Texas, LSU, Oklahoma

Vanderbilt (4)
Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Georgia

Honestly thinking about it. OU and UT already are prepared for 9 conference games. I wonder if for 2024, they would ask the SEC not to schedule them for a conference game. Then they use their 4th non-conference game to play each other and get an additional 8 SEC games. They're used to play 9 conference games, 1 P5 opponent, and 2 G5/FCS games so it wouldn't change things for them. This is assuming this is indeed a 1 year thing and obviously ESPN would obviously air the OU-UT game in Dallas.

(06-01-2023 04:54 PM)GoBuckeyes1047 Wrote:  

I think it is smart of the SEC, to go slow to go fast. What I mean id they can always go to 9 conf games, better for the fans, and the SA and league to discuss it with all 16 members and unveil the 9 conf game moving fwd. No need to rush it.

It’s gonna be fun to watch the SEC with no divisions!

(06-02-2023 11:41 AM)GoBuckeyes1047 Wrote:  Honestly thinking about it. OU and UT already are prepared for 9 conference games. I wonder if for 2024, they would ask the SEC not to schedule them for a conference game. Then they use their 4th non-conference game to play each other and get an additional 8 SEC games. They're used to play 9 conference games, 1 P5 opponent, and 2 G5/FCS games so it wouldn't change things for them. This is assuming this is indeed a 1 year thing and obviously ESPN would obviously air the OU-UT game in Dallas.

Had the same thought. Coaches would rather add a tune-up than have a high-profile, mid-season opponent that doesn’t count in the standings. Coaches don’t make the decision.

(06-01-2023 05:39 PM)schmolik Wrote:  

(06-01-2023 05:04 PM)Glenn360 Wrote:  They said they will preserve secondary rivalries, so games like Tennessee-Alabama or LSU-Alabama, Georgia-Auburn, Texas-A&M are still on the table

I think Saban wound up on the 8 game side because of his rumored permanent rivals, Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU. I would think if SEC schools have more than one permanent rival and Alabama is still stuck with Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU, it's probably worse for him as it's one fewer SEC game for everyone else and the schedules are more imbalanced while teams may play each other less often. I think if Saban knew he was going to get stuck with Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU, he probably would have preferred 9 games.

If they use the 3-6-6 method with three permanents it isn’t fair that LSU would be Bama’s third game after Auburn and Tennessee. Auburn shouldn’t get LSU with Bama/UGA. Texas shouldn’t have to play LSU after OK/A&M.

Mississippi State would be a better third opponent. They aren’t really a power program in the SEC. They are Alabama’s second most common opponent and the geographically closest university to Tuscaloosa.

(06-03-2023 07:00 AM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  

(06-01-2023 05:39 PM)schmolik Wrote:  

(06-01-2023 05:04 PM)Glenn360 Wrote:  They said they will preserve secondary rivalries, so games like Tennessee-Alabama or LSU-Alabama, Georgia-Auburn, Texas-A&M are still on the table

I think Saban wound up on the 8 game side because of his rumored permanent rivals, Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU. I would think if SEC schools have more than one permanent rival and Alabama is still stuck with Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU, it's probably worse for him as it's one fewer SEC game for everyone else and the schedules are more imbalanced while teams may play each other less often. I think if Saban knew he was going to get stuck with Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU, he probably would have preferred 9 games.

If they use the 3-6-6 method with three permanents it isn’t fair that LSU would be Bama’s third game after Auburn and Tennessee. Auburn shouldn’t get LSU with Bama/UGA. Texas shouldn’t have to play LSU after OK/A&M.

Mississippi State would be a better third opponent. They aren’t really a power program in the SEC. They are Alabama’s second most common opponent and the geographically closest university to Tuscaloosa.

You know you play in a tough conference when the proposed non-power program on your lineup has won 8 bowl games since 2010.

(06-03-2023 07:00 AM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  

(06-01-2023 05:39 PM)schmolik Wrote:  

(06-01-2023 05:04 PM)Glenn360 Wrote:  They said they will preserve secondary rivalries, so games like Tennessee-Alabama or LSU-Alabama, Georgia-Auburn, Texas-A&M are still on the table

I think Saban wound up on the 8 game side because of his rumored permanent rivals, Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU. I would think if SEC schools have more than one permanent rival and Alabama is still stuck with Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU, it's probably worse for him as it's one fewer SEC game for everyone else and the schedules are more imbalanced while teams may play each other less often. I think if Saban knew he was going to get stuck with Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU, he probably would have preferred 9 games.

If they use the 3-6-6 method with three permanents it isn’t fair that LSU would be Bama’s third game after Auburn and Tennessee. Auburn shouldn’t get LSU with Bama/UGA. Texas shouldn’t have to play LSU after OK/A&M.

Mississippi State would be a better third opponent. They aren’t really a power program in the SEC. They are Alabama’s second most common opponent and the geographically closest university to Tuscaloosa.

If You expect to be the best, You play the Best ! Those schools recruit hard and play hard