SEC rumored to be going to pods for football

[Johnson85]

Here's how you keep every important traditional rivalry.

Alabama: Auburn, Tennessee, State
Auburn: Alabama, Georgia, Florida
Georgia: Auburn, Florida, SCar
Tennessee: Alabama, Vanderbilt, Kentucky
Florida: Georgia, SCar, Auburn
State: Ole Miss, Kentucky, Bama
Ole Miss: State, LSU, vandy
LSU: Ole Miss, A&M, OU
Texas: OU, A&M, Arkansas
OU: Texas, Mizzou, LSU
A&M: Texas, LSU, Arkansas
Mizzou: Arkansas, Kentucky, OU
Kentucky: Tennessee, Mizzou, State
Vandy: Tennessee, Ole Miss, SCar
SCar: Georgia, Florida, Vandy
Arkansas: Mizzou, A&M, Texas

Then rotate the other 6 games with H&Hs. You'll play everyone at their place and at home at least once in a 4 year span. Plus you don't lose your rivalry games.

There's wiggle room too. But i stuck with the most traditional rivals.

I think the problem with your approach is that it makes it almost impossible to maintain balanced schedules. You are going to have imbalanced schedules regardless, but the pods make it easier to balance them the best you can based on traditional strength.

But at the least, you can't preserve say, Ole Miss v. Vandy. Can't give them LSU, State, and Vandy each year without them having a pretty big advantage. Similarly, you probably can't preserve Bama, UGA, and Florida for Auburn. Just guarantees they are going to have a harder schedule on average.