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

[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]

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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[smootness]

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

[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

[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.

[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.

[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]

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)

[parabrave]

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