Ole Miss
Miss St
Missouri
LSU
A&M
Arkansas
OU
tu

I agree. Bama and AU go to the East with UGA and UF.

West contenders would be: A&M, LSU, OU, and tu

If they do let tu in, which would be a big mistake, this divisional split would be the most palatable IMO

Call it the Southwest division, best to just break it off and call it the Southwest Conference, SWC for short.

Right there - is a big friken sign of the apocalypse.

Add UTSA and you got a deal!

runontexas said:

---

Add UTSA and you got a deal!

---

It will be four team pods. The only question is what happens to LSU.

A&M t.u. OU and Arky would be one pod

You would think the Alabama and Miss schools would be a pod. But that leaves LSU out.

ironmanag said:

---

It will be four team pods. The only question is what happens to LSU.

A&M t.u. OU and Arky would be one pod

You would think the Alabama and Miss schools would be a pod. But that leaves LSU out.

---

Maybe a north pod of Mizzou, Ark, Kentucky and Tenn, then a west pod of A&M, tu, LSU and OU?

A&M and t.u. would be in the same pod.

then the other 2 teams are among: OU, LSU, Arkansas, and Missouri

one of the above (not selected for A&M's pod) would be designated as A&M's "permanent cross-pod rival"

hopefully it's not Missouri.

otherwise the Ags would play 3 of 8 conference games each year vs. former Big 12 foes...and every other year half of the conference games at Kyle would be former Big 12 teams

TRADUCTOR said:

---

Call it the Southwest division, best to just break it off and call it the Southwest Conference, SWC for short.

Right there - is a big friken sign of the apocalypse.

---

I think the LSU-Ole Miss rivalry will be protected/preserved.

they would be permanent cross-pod opponents if not in the same pod.

LSU will be very happy to stop playing Florida every year

SECTAMU#1 said:

---

Maybe a north pod of Mizzou, Ark, Kentucky and Tenn, then a west pod of A&M, tu, LSU and OU?

---

from A&M's standpoint...I hope there is a "north" pod that pulls some combination of Missouri, OU, and Arkansas out of A&M's pod

For everyone crying, in that division Jimbo would have us SEC West Champs more times than not lol

ironmanag said:

---

It will be four team pods. The only question is what happens to LSU.

A&M t.u. OU and Arky would be one pod

You would think the Alabama and Miss schools would be a pod. But that leaves LSU out.

---

Ags, LSU, Miss St, Ole Miss
tu, OU, Arkansas, Mizzou
Bama, Auburn, Kentucky, Vandy
Florida, USCe, Tenn, Georgia

Would be my preference as it seems the most competitive distribution. Also, keeps us out of the old SWC/Big 12 pod which should be considered as a main reason we first joined the SEC.

Pray (and lobby) for a pod with Hotty Toddy, State, and LSU.

Texas can have Arkansas, Mizzou, and OU.

that would be the best case scenario for A&M to avoid the Big 12 reunion feel

Texas
Oklahoma
Missouri
Arkansas

Texas A&M
LSU
Ole Miss
Miss St.

Alabama
Auburn
Georgia
Florida.

Tennesee
South Carolina
Kentucky
Vanderbilt

That third pod would be death though. Maybe switch out Florida or UGA for south carolina

I think the other side would be

Tenn, Vandy, UK, and USCe
Bama, Aub, Georgia and Florida

Yes, that last is stacked but regionally it makes more sense and Tenn and Vandy will not want to be split up

The East teams hopefully see that Bama would likely slide over to their division. UF and UG have had it made on making the championship. Why would they want to mess that up?

I don't want tu or OU at all, but if it happens then why do we have to completely reshape our divisions?

I actually hate the idea of pulling Auburn and Alabama out of our conference. Yes it does make our conference easier, but I have enjoyed the games and they are always packed.

Mizzou and OU doesn't give me the same sense of excitement... The potential new East West divisions gives me the same reaction as our old Big 12 schedule, which was more of a lukewarm ho-hum feeling.

Is there any chance that they would rename the divisions and keep them largely the same like:

Division A:
TAMU, tu, LSU, Arky, Miss State, Ole Miss, Auburn, Alabama

Division B:
OU, Mizzou, Kentucky, SC, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Vandy

OU and tu would be cross divisional permanent rivals, and everything else stays the same. The current East/Division B benefits with added TV revenue but doesn't have to face Bama.

It also reduces OU's recruiting pitch to Texas recruits that they play enough games locally. They would have 1 game in Texas guaranteed and everything else would be in Oklahoma or in a different state.

tu and Bama in the same division could act as the counterweight the SEC needs to keep tu from backstabbing a 3rd conference.

Here is a different look. If tu gets in make their travel miserable put them in the East with Auburn, George, Florida. Alabama and Auburn can keep their Iron bowl game along with ou and tu with the red river classic.

Division A:
TAMU, ou, LSU, Arky, Miss State, Ole Miss, Missouri, Alabama

Division B:
tu, Auburn, Kentucky, SC, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Vandy

I hope we keep an annual game against LSU.

I hate the idea of pods. Two 8 team divisions would be the way to go. I also like the idea of a 9 game SEC schedule, but understand the economics that drive us to only 8.

Canyon99 said:

---

ironmanag said:

---

It will be four team pods. The only question is what happens to LSU.

A&M t.u. OU and Arky would be one pod

You would think the Alabama and Miss schools would be a pod. But that leaves LSU out.

---

Ags, LSU, Miss St, Ole Miss
tu, OU, Arkansas, Mizzou
Bama, Auburn, Kentucky, Vandy
Florida, USCe, Tenn, Georgia

Would be my preference as it seems the most competitive distribution. Also, keeps us out of the old SWC/Big 12 pod which should be considered as a main reason we first joined the SEC.

---

I like this setup the best of all I've seen so far. SEC media voted our game with Bama as the biggest SEC game of the year. I want our game with LSU to be the biggest in a newly realigned SEC. Sooners and lowly horns would have to read how A&M/LSU is the prime time slugfest of the year while OU/Tex game remains the 11am breakfast snoozer..

Us, Texas, OU, Mizzou

Y'all might as well just accept it now.

It makes the most sense given recent history and doesn't disrupt older rivalries.

If there is anything that might change it would be the addition of Arkansas.

rgag12 said:

---

Texas
Oklahoma
Missouri
Arkansas

Texas A&M
LSU
Ole Miss
Miss St.

Alabama
Auburn
Georgia
Florida.

Tennesee
South Carolina
Kentucky
Vanderbilt

That third pod would be death though. Maybe switch out Florida or UGA for south carolina

---

Switch UT and FL, that way pod 3 protects the Bama - UT, Bama - Auburn, and UGA - Auburn games.

I can tell you right now if those 3 games are not protect and on the schedule every year the expansion will not happen.

This is my best take on the pods. I still think the SEC is very much against going to a 9 game conference schedule (but realignment could change that). This below keeps it to 8 conference games and with one cross-pod permanent rival also keeps most of the traditional big SEC rivalries annually.

Texas (A&M)
Oklahoma
Missouri
Arkansas (Ole Miss)

Texas A&M (tu)
LSU (Auburn)
Ole Miss (Ark)
Miss St.

Alabama (TN)
Auburn (LSU)
Georgia (Florida)
South Carolina

Florida (Georgia)
Tennessee (AL)
Vanderbuilt
Kentucky

In-pod rivalries obviously remain.
Cross Pod permanent rivalries in parenthesis with must-have game bolded.
Minor rivalries that will be facing 2 out of 4 years instead of yearly include AL/LSU, TN/GA, FL/Auburn, A&M/Ark, LSU/Ark. Only one or two of these might be a sticking point for not being played every year.

The other permanent cross-pod rivalries don't have significant history and can be worked out the same way they forced those in the current SEC 14 (basically, just forcing them).

That division is exactly why Missouri is in favor.

Can we stop calling them pods? I know your generation has such a fascination with pods that you'll even eat them but cmon.
Dividing something 4 ways can still be called a "division". Who would've thunk?

wbt5845 said:

---

I hate the idea of pods. Two 8 team divisions would be the way to go. I also like the idea of a 9 game SEC schedule, but understand the economics that drive us to only 8.

---

9 game conference schedule is a deal killer. Every conference who has gone to a 9 game conference schedule has seen their prestige drop because it cannibalizes the conference. The B1G and the PAC didn't start to suck until they went 9 conference game. The Big XII was forced into it because they didn't have enough teams for divisional play.

So east-west divisions with 8 teams would be 7 divisional games, 2 out of division games and 3 OOC? Or does OOC go down to one (likely) preseason game?

ironmanag said:

---

It will be four team pods. The only question is what happens to LSU.

A&M t.u. OU and Arky would be one pod

You would think the Alabama and Miss schools would be a pod. But that leaves LSU out.

---

With four pods, just curious how the SEC champion is determined. One weekend with two semi-finals and the championship game the next weekend? With talk of expanding the playoffs which would add at least an additional week to the schedule, this is getting hairy. Unless we toss all cupcake games from the schedule which would be fine by me.

AzAg80 said:

---

ironmanag said:

---

It will be four team pods. The only question is what happens to LSU.

A&M t.u. OU and Arky would be one pod

You would think the Alabama and Miss schools would be a pod. But that leaves LSU out.

---

With four pods, just curious how the SEC champion is determined. One weekend with two semi-finals and the championship game the next weekend? With talk of expanding the playoffs which would add at least an additional week to the schedule, this is getting hairy. Unless we toss all cupcake games from the schedule which would be fine by me.

---

But those cupcake games fund many athletic programs at many, many schools. The trickle down effect on them would be disastrous.

ETA: And not just in football.

AzAg80 said:

---

ironmanag said:

---

It will be four team pods. The only question is what happens to LSU.

A&M t.u. OU and Arky would be one pod

You would think the Alabama and Miss schools would be a pod. But that leaves LSU out.

---

With four pods, just curious how the SEC champion is determined. One weekend with two semi-finals and the championship game the next weekend? With talk of expanding the playoffs which would add at least an additional week to the schedule, this is getting hairy. Unless we toss all cupcake games from the schedule which would be fine by me.

---

Two pods sort to a best of record for all conference games to pick a 1/2 conference champion that play in the conference championship game. If you played each other then head to head separates ties. If not, there are other ways. It was all reviewed before during the last conference realignment.

aggiehawg said:

---

wbt5845 said:

---

I hate the idea of pods. Two 8 team divisions would be the way to go. I also like the idea of a 9 game SEC schedule, but understand the economics that drive us to only 8.

---

9 game conference schedule is a deal killer. Every conference who has gone to a 9 game conference schedule has seen their prestige drop because it cannibalizes the conference. The B1G and the PAC didn't start to suck until they went 9 conference game. The Big XII was forced into it because they didn't have enough teams for divisional play.

So east-west divisions with 8 teams would be 7 divisional games, 2 out of division games and 3 OOC? Or does OOC go down to one (likely) preseason game?

---

No. 4 pods. Google the 16 team 4-pod schemes that was discussed last conference realignment. Or check the other threads on here that are discussing it.

Win At Life said:

---

aggiehawg said:

---

wbt5845 said:

---

I hate the idea of pods. Two 8 team divisions would be the way to go. I also like the idea of a 9 game SEC schedule, but understand the economics that drive us to only 8.

---

9 game conference schedule is a deal killer. Every conference who has gone to a 9 game conference schedule has seen their prestige drop because it cannibalizes the conference. The B1G and the PAC didn't start to suck until they went 9 conference game. The Big XII was forced into it because they didn't have enough teams for divisional play.

So east-west divisions with 8 teams would be 7 divisional games, 2 out of division games and 3 OOC? Or does OOC go down to one (likely) preseason game?

---

No. 4 pods. Google the 16 team 4-pod schemes that was discussed last conference realignment. Or check the other threads on here that are discussing it.

---

I know that but the poster I was responding to did not know that so I explained why east west divisions would have to go away.

Now here comes the biggest question: Does the conference championship game also go away? That's a big moneymaker for the conference. Either the OOC games are reduced to allow for a semi-final to determine who goes the CCG, or the CCG goes away with an expanded playoff to 12 teams? Really?

How many of those games will the star and well paid players sit out? Bowl games will become a thing of the past as well.