This would be constructed using a concept similar to high school "block" scheduling. Instead of two different days in school, you have a rotation of two years. It features a nine game SEC schedule with alternating years for home/away games, i.e., play five home games one year and the next season play only four at home. It would also feature playing three tradition rivals who you would play every year. You play every team every two years. I like having three non-conference games--we know one will be Louisville, and that would leave two opponents (MAC, in-state school, etc) you can play without returning the visit to their place. For us, here is what it would look like:
UK FB Schedule
Nine SEC Games per yr
Yr 1: 5 (H) and 4 (A) + 3 Non-conference opponents
Year 2: 4 (H) and 5 (A) + 3 Non-conference opponents
Games every year against Three Traditional Rivals (TTR) - Yr 1: Vandy (H), Tenn (A), UGa (H) Yr 2: Vandy (A), Tenn (H), UGa (A)
Plus the following SEC games:
Yr 1 - Texas, Tex A&M, Miss St (H) Alabama, Ole Miss, USC (A)
Yr 2 - Auburn, Mizzou, Fla (H) LSU, Ark, OU (A)
Hypothetical Yr 1 Non-Conf + SEC Schedule
Eastern Michigan - HOME
Western Kentucky - HOME
USC - Away
Texas A&M - HOME
Tennessee - Away
Ole Miss - Away
Texas - HOME
Miss St - HOME
Alabama - Away
Vanderbilt - HOME
Georgia - HOME
Louisville - Away
Yr 2 Non-Conf + SEC Schedule
Kent St - HOME
EKU - HOME
Missouri - HOME
Arkansas - Away
Oklahoma - Away
Tennessee - HOME
LSU - Away
Auburn - HOME
Florida - HOME
Vanderbilt - Away
Georgia - Away
Louisville - HOME
The only question mark is about our three traditional rivals. Some might substitute Florida for Georgia, but using distance as a criterion, Georgia would get the nod. I think a ten-game SEC schedule is too much, and this at least would permit every team to visit Lexington every four years instead of every 12. Initial overall schedules would take into account power rating for each program, and this design reflects that also, i.e., each group of three teams above would grade out about even. This schedule also ensures seven home games played every year, vice a eight-at-home, six-at-home schedule (because of Louisville)
Let's look at Vanderbilt's hypothetical schedule by comparison:
TTR: Yr 1: UK (A), Tenn (H), Florida (A) Yr 2: UK (H), Tenn (A), Florida (H)
Army - HOME
Alabama - HOME
Florida - Away
UT-Martin - HOME
Miss St - Away
Texas - Away
Ole Miss - HOME
Middle Tenn St - HOME
Texas A&M - Away
Kentucky - Away
USC - HOME
Tennessee - HOME
Interesting to contemplate...the obvious limitation by adding a SEC game is that it limits big-time out of conference matchups. Even teams like Alabama and LSU will choose to play programs who will not expect a return visit, otherwise they would be looking at a six-home game season instead of seven; however, some teams may find the eight home game/six home game cycle every two years to be attractive instead of a guarantee of seven home games every year. I think the SEC should adopt this (and send me a check!!). So, what do you think? There are bound to be detractors out there...what say you?
UK FB Schedule
Nine SEC Games per yr
Yr 1: 5 (H) and 4 (A) + 3 Non-conference opponents
Year 2: 4 (H) and 5 (A) + 3 Non-conference opponents
Games every year against Three Traditional Rivals (TTR) - Yr 1: Vandy (H), Tenn (A), UGa (H) Yr 2: Vandy (A), Tenn (H), UGa (A)
Plus the following SEC games:
Yr 1 - Texas, Tex A&M, Miss St (H) Alabama, Ole Miss, USC (A)
Yr 2 - Auburn, Mizzou, Fla (H) LSU, Ark, OU (A)
Hypothetical Yr 1 Non-Conf + SEC Schedule
Eastern Michigan - HOME
Western Kentucky - HOME
USC - Away
Texas A&M - HOME
Tennessee - Away
Ole Miss - Away
Texas - HOME
Miss St - HOME
Alabama - Away
Vanderbilt - HOME
Georgia - HOME
Louisville - Away
Yr 2 Non-Conf + SEC Schedule
Kent St - HOME
EKU - HOME
Missouri - HOME
Arkansas - Away
Oklahoma - Away
Tennessee - HOME
LSU - Away
Auburn - HOME
Florida - HOME
Vanderbilt - Away
Georgia - Away
Louisville - HOME
The only question mark is about our three traditional rivals. Some might substitute Florida for Georgia, but using distance as a criterion, Georgia would get the nod. I think a ten-game SEC schedule is too much, and this at least would permit every team to visit Lexington every four years instead of every 12. Initial overall schedules would take into account power rating for each program, and this design reflects that also, i.e., each group of three teams above would grade out about even. This schedule also ensures seven home games played every year, vice a eight-at-home, six-at-home schedule (because of Louisville)
Let's look at Vanderbilt's hypothetical schedule by comparison:
TTR: Yr 1: UK (A), Tenn (H), Florida (A) Yr 2: UK (H), Tenn (A), Florida (H)
Army - HOME
Alabama - HOME
Florida - Away
UT-Martin - HOME
Miss St - Away
Texas - Away
Ole Miss - HOME
Middle Tenn St - HOME
Texas A&M - Away
Kentucky - Away
USC - HOME
Tennessee - HOME
Interesting to contemplate...the obvious limitation by adding a SEC game is that it limits big-time out of conference matchups. Even teams like Alabama and LSU will choose to play programs who will not expect a return visit, otherwise they would be looking at a six-home game season instead of seven; however, some teams may find the eight home game/six home game cycle every two years to be attractive instead of a guarantee of seven home games every year. I think the SEC should adopt this (and send me a check!!). So, what do you think? There are bound to be detractors out there...what say you?