What's your take on how next year's SEC divisions/pools/pods

[donald igwebuike]

are gonna wind up?

[Jack Lambert]

Is it next year or the next?

[Lord McBuckethead]

I am sure it 100% depends on when OU and TX are coming this way. I assume they will be cleared to fully join the competition in conference next year, because it is worth too much money to not get it going.

I still like the idea that there are 4 pods. ABCD
Matchups include each pod plays 2 other pods, plus half of another one and it rotates every two years.

First 4 Years
A Plays B and C and Half of D
B Plays A and D and half of C
C Plays D and A and Half of B
D Plays C and B and half of A

Every 4 years, everyone would play everyone, home and away. Each Pod is set on playing 2 other pods every year. The other pod they play 2 teams cycles every two years.
The pods could be organized to maintain rivalries, I suppose.

Pod A - TX, OU, aTm, and Ark
Pod B - Ole Miss, LSU, MSU, MO
Pod C - Bama, Auburn, TN, Vandy
Pod D - UF, UsCe, Kentucky, GA

That is by strict geographical location. It is time to revamp the SEC into new traditions and to lock down the members to 16 permenantly.
9 game SEC season.
3 Non-Conference on 3 set weekends. Fix the Bye's to coincide on 2 weekends in the middle of the year to eliminate that advantage.

Here is the schedule as I see it. Fixed every year, so the overall schedule should be pretty damn easy to make out.

Week 1 - Non-conference for half, with half conference games (NC1) (sec 1)
Week 2 - Non-Conference for half, with half conference games (NC1) (sec 1)
Week 3 - Conference Games (sec 2)
Week 4 - Conference Games (sec 3)
Week 5 - Conference Games (sec 4)
Week 6 Bye Week for half Non Conference games for Half (NC2)
Week 7 Bye Week for half Non conference games for half (NC2)
Week 8 - Conference Games (sec 5)
Week 9 - Conference Games (sec 6)
Week 10 - Conference Games (sec 7)
Week 11 - Non-Conference for half, with half conference games (NC3) (sec 8)
Week 12 - Non-Conference for half, with half conference games (NC3) (8)
Week 13 - Week 10 - Conference Games (9)

Week 14 - SEC Championship Game - Best Record, TB1 Head to head, TB2 Common Opponent, TB3 CFP Ranking

[Quaoarsking]

4 pods
A&M, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss
Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma
Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Vanderbilt
Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina
All 4 pods as balanced as they can be competitively and geographically tight

Play 10 game conference schedule: the 3 in your pod, plus 2 of the 4 in each other pod, plus 1 more game to preserve rivalries:

Texas - Texas A&M
Auburn - Georgia
Ole Miss - Vanderbilt
Mississippi State - Kentucky
LSU - Arkansas
South Carolina - Missouri
Alabama - Tennessee
Florida - Oklahoma (not really a rivalry but good game)

If your permanent rivalry gets drawn as a rotating opponent (it will half the time), play another team of similar level. You could probably set it up so that everybody has 2 permanent rivals, and you draw whichever 1 isn't on your rotating schedule, but it would take careful setting up of the schedules. That would allow games like Alabama-LSU and maybe A&M-Oklahoma to become annual events.

[msstate7]

4 pods
A&M, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss
Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma
Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Vanderbilt
Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina
All 4 pods as balanced as they can be competitively and geographically tight

Play 10 game conference schedule: the 3 in your pod, plus 2 of the 4 in each other pod, plus 1 more game to preserve rivalries:

Texas - Texas A&M
Auburn - Georgia
Ole Miss - Vanderbilt
Mississippi State - Kentucky
LSU - Arkansas
South Carolina - Missouri
Alabama - Tennessee
Florida - Oklahoma (not really a rivalry but good game)

If your permanent rivalry gets drawn as a rotating opponent (it will half the time), play another team of similar level. You could probably set it up so that everybody has 2 permanent rivals, and you draw whichever 1 isn't on your rotating schedule, but it would take careful setting up of the schedules. That would allow games like Alabama-LSU and maybe A&M-Oklahoma to become annual events.

Why would you separate texas and aTm?

I'd go...
Texas, aTm, Oklahoma, LSU
State, bama, OM, auburn
Mizzou, ark, Kentucky, tenn
Georgia, Florida, SC, vandy

Something like that.

[Maroonthirteen]

State needs Vandy as permanent. OM or Ark can have Kentucky as a permanent. If your going to switch it up, might as well. We have no rivalry with Kentucky.

[Quaoarsking]

Why would you separate texas and aTm?

I'd go...
Texas, aTm, Oklahoma, LSU
State, bama, OM, auburn
Mizzou, ark, Kentucky, tenn
Georgia, Florida, SC, vandy

Something like that.

Because it's more balanced in the arrangement I suggested and lets A&M continue it's some exciting new rivalries.

I definitely kept it as a permanent rivalry though.

[msstate7]

Because it's more balanced in the arrangement I suggested. I definitely kept that as a permanent rivalry though.

I understand the balance deal, but I think geography is a better plan. Teams are up and down over time. Now if you rebalance every 5 years or so, I can go with competitive balance

[Coursesuper]

Whatever the alignment it will almost certainly be a nine game conference schedule. Four team pods make the most since, that way teams can play each other more frequently than happens now.

[msstate7]

Whatever the alignment it will almost certainly be a nine game conference schedule. Four team pods make the most since, that way teams can play each other more frequently than happens now.

Hell, I wish they'd go 10-game sec schedule. I absolutely can't stand weekends where sec teams play total garbage. Drop the P5 requirement, and just require it be a G5 or up, and play 10 sec games. Bowls suck now anyway since opt outs, and the sec champ would be in playoffs no matter what

[smootness]

They're not putting UK and Vandy in the same 4-team pod.

[Coursesuper]

Hell, I wish they'd go 10-game sec schedule. I absolutely can't stand weekends where sec teams play total garbage. Drop the P5 requirement, and just require it be a G5 or up, and play 10 sec games. Bowls suck now anyway since opt outs, and the sec champ would be in playoffs no matter what

I don't see that happening, nine game will almost certainly eliminate the FCS payday games. The G5 games are hear to stay. I agree with your premise the two weeks leading up to rivalry week are some shitty football for the most part. It would be nice to see all the payday games at the front of the schedule but the nine game schedule may result in fewer cross country/conference P5 match ups.

[Gutter Cobreh]

Here is the way I see it shaking out:

Pod A
1) A&M
2) Oklahoma
3) Texas
4) Mizzou

Pod B
1) LSU
2) Arkansas
3) OM
4) State

Pod C
1) Bama
2) Auburn
3) Kentucky
4) Tenn

Pod D
1) UGA
2) UF
3) USC
4) Vandy

This gives the conference potential POD division winners of: A&M or OK, LSU, Bama, and UGA. They'll be a pecking order within the PODS based on historical relevancy, so they can create desirable matchups from "division" winners.

[Pinto]

Mine is close to yours

Pod A
1) A&M
2) Oklahoma
3) Texas
4) Mizzou

Pod B
1) LSU
2) Arkansas
3) OM
4) State

Pod C
1) Bama
2) Auburn
3) Florida
4) UGA

Pod D
1) KY
2) Tenn
3) USC
4) Vandy

Will never happen due to Pod C.

[parabrave]

Pods A the Same. Pod B BAMA AUBBIE LSU MSU, Pad C OM TN Vandy ARKY, Pod D KY FLA UGA USCe/

[Coursesuper]

Pod A

Fla
Ga
SC
Vandy

Pod B

Auburn
Bammer
Tenn
UK

Pod C

LSU
MSU
UNM
Mizzu

Pod D (SWC Pod)

A&M
Ark
Tx
OU

1 permanent team and the rest will rotate in a yearly rotation ensuring that all teams play home and away in the league as much as possible with a 9 game schedule.

[chef dixon]

The pod idea sucks. Go to a 9 game league schedule, keep 2-3 permanent opponents and then rotate everyone else. Keep scheduling one P5 out of conference game. Scrap the conference championship game and go to an 8 or 16 team playoff.

[Coursesuper]

The pod idea sucks. Go to a 9 game league schedule, keep 2-3 permanent opponents and then rotate everyone else. Keep scheduling one P5 out of conference game. Scrap the conference championship game and go to an 8 or 16 team playoff.

Way to much $$$$ in the championship games for them to go away.

[sleepy dawg]

Without a legit playoff, the less SEC games we play the better. Otherwise we just have even more of a chance to beat each other up while the other conferences just cup-cake their way in.

I do think the pod idea is cool, but how do you handle the conference championship game reasonably? And if it doesn't relate to the pods, then what's the point of the pods really.

Geographically, I've seen a few different ways you could do the pods that make sense, so I think there's plenty of options there.

It would never happen, but I'd like to see us get rid of divisions and permanent opponents and rotate everyones schedule while keeping an 8 game conference slate.

[PikeDawg15]

Pod A
Miss St
Ole Miss
Arkansas
LSU

Pod B
Alabama
Auburn
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

Pod C
Oklahoma
Texas
Texas A&M
Missouri

Pod D
Georgia
Florida
Kentucky
South Carolina


Cross Pod Permanent Opponents
Miss St - Kentucky
Ole Miss- Vanderbilt
Arkansas - Texas
LSU- Florida
Auburn- Georgia

The rest i have no clue

But I really think those pods are as balanced as you can get and as best as you can do it

[parabrave]

Pod A

Fla
Ga
SC
Vandy

Pod B

Auburn
Bammer
Tenn
UK

Pod C

LSU
MSU
UNM
Mizzu

Pod D (SWC Pod)

A&M
Ark
Tx
OU

1 permanent team and the rest will rotate in a yearly rotation ensuring that all teams play home and away in the league as much as possible with a 9 game schedule.

OU was never in the SWC. They and Mizzou were Big 8.

[MoreCowbell]

4 pods
A&M, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss
Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma
Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Vanderbilt
Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina
All 4 pods as balanced as they can be competitively and geographically tight

Play 10 game conference schedule: the 3 in your pod, plus 2 of the 4 in each other pod, plus 1 more game to preserve rivalries:

Texas - Texas A&M
Auburn - Georgia
Ole Miss - Vanderbilt
Mississippi State - Kentucky
LSU - Arkansas
South Carolina - Missouri
Alabama - Tennessee
Florida - Oklahoma (not really a rivalry but good game)

If your permanent rivalry gets drawn as a rotating opponent (it will half the time), play another team of similar level. You could probably set it up so that everybody has 2 permanent rivals, and you draw whichever 1 isn't on your rotating schedule, but it would take careful setting up of the schedules. That would allow games like Alabama-LSU and maybe A&M-Oklahoma to become annual events.

Switch UK and Tennessee and I agree

[MoreCowbell]

OU was never in the SWC. They and Mizzou were Big 8.

They were but for a very short period of time (OU not Missouri)

[sleepy dawg]

I am sure it 100% depends on when OU and TX are coming this way. I assume they will be cleared to fully join the competition in conference next year, because it is worth too much money to not get it going.

I still like the idea that there are 4 pods. ABCD
Matchups include each pod plays 2 other pods, plus half of another one and it rotates every two years.

First 4 Years
A Plays B and C and Half of D
B Plays A and D and half of C
C Plays D and A and Half of B
D Plays C and B and half of A

Every 4 years, everyone would play everyone, home and away. Each Pod is set on playing 2 other pods every year. The other pod they play 2 teams cycles every two years.
The pods could be organized to maintain rivalries, I suppose.

Pod A - TX, OU, aTm, and Ark
Pod B - Ole Miss, LSU, MSU, MO
Pod C - Bama, Auburn, TN, Vandy
Pod D - UF, UsCe, Kentucky, GA

That is by strict geographical location. It is time to revamp the SEC into new traditions and to lock down the members to 16 permenantly.
9 game SEC season.
3 Non-Conference on 3 set weekends. Fix the Bye's to coincide on 2 weekends in the middle of the year to eliminate that advantage.

Here is the schedule as I see it. Fixed every year, so the overall schedule should be pretty damn easy to make out.

Week 1 - Non-conference for half, with half conference games (NC1) (sec 1)
Week 2 - Non-Conference for half, with half conference games (NC1) (sec 1)
Week 3 - Conference Games (sec 2)
Week 4 - Conference Games (sec 3)
Week 5 - Conference Games (sec 4)
Week 6 Bye Week for half Non Conference games for Half (NC2)
Week 7 Bye Week for half Non conference games for half (NC2)
Week 8 - Conference Games (sec 5)
Week 9 - Conference Games (sec 6)
Week 10 - Conference Games (sec 7)
Week 11 - Non-Conference for half, with half conference games (NC3) (sec 8)
Week 12 - Non-Conference for half, with half conference games (NC3) (8)
Week 13 - Week 10 - Conference Games (9)

Week 14 - SEC Championship Game - Best Record, TB1 Head to head, TB2 Common Opponent, TB3 CFP Ranking


So are you saying A pod wouldn't play the teams in its own pod? Also, if a team plays all the teams in 2 pods and half in another, that's 10 games. This is based on your example of:
A Plays B and C and Half of D

[Quaoarsking]

The pod idea sucks. Go to a 9 game league schedule, keep 2-3 permanent opponents and then rotate everyone else. Keep scheduling one P5 out of conference game. Scrap the conference championship game and go to an 8 or 16 team playoff.

Agree. No divisions, 3 permanent + 6 of the other 12 is the best system. But I think it's the least likely.

[Quaoarsking]

Way to much $$$$ in the championship games for them to go away.

If all conferences agree to scrap the championship games in exchange for a larger playoff, there's probably more money to be had.

[BrunswickDawg]

If all conferences agree to scrap the championship games in exchange for a larger playoff, there's probably more money to be had.

I've never understood the resistance to a I-AA or DII style playoff. DII teams play 10 regular season games, FCS play 11 games. Playoffs are broken into 4 regions of 7 teams - 28 teams total. #1 seed in each region gets a first round bye. 5 potential playoff games. We should drop 1 fluff game and go with the 28 team playoff. Conference Champs get auto-spot and then the rest are at-large selected by committee that also seeds teams. Screw the bowl games and make a real champ.

[RocketDawg]

are gonna wind up?

Why not just 2 divisions with 8 teams each?

[Catfish]

Why not just 2 divisions with 8 teams each?

Texas in the West, Oklahoma in the East.

[Coursesuper]

OU was never in the SWC. They and Mizzou were Big 8.

Close enough for government work.

[1bigdawg]

I believe a deal was made with A&M and they get to choose whether they are in the pod w/ Texas or not. I will be hard, IMO, for UT, OU, and A&M to be in the same pod.

[parabrave]

Close enough for government work.

If you count 1920.

[Quaoarsking]

Texas in the West, Oklahoma in the East.

If they do that, it will be Alabama and Auburn to the East, and Missouri, Texas, and Oklahoma to the West.

This will better balance the divisions and make no need for permanent opponents.

However, I still would rather 3 permanent, 6 rotating than 7/1 or 7/2 because I want to play everyone more often

[Coursesuper]

If they do that, it will be Alabama and Auburn to the East, and Missouri, Texas, and Oklahoma to the West.

This will better balance the divisions and make no need for permanent opponents.

However, I still would rather 3 permanent, 6 rotating than 7/1 or 7/2 because I want to play everyone more often

I like that, the set up now sux, The scheduling is broken and this is one way to fix it.

[preachermatt83]

Pod A
Miss St
Ole Miss
Arkansas
LSU

Pod B
Alabama
Auburn
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

Pod C
Oklahoma
Texas
Texas A&M
Missouri

Pod D
Georgia
Florida
Kentucky
South Carolina


Cross Pod Permanent Opponents
Miss St - Kentucky
Ole Miss- Vanderbilt
Arkansas - Texas
LSU- Florida
Auburn- Georgia

The rest i have no clue

But I really think those pods are as balanced as you can get and as best as you can do it

This

[Cooterpoot]

Just do it by athletic budgets