Actually, the current system gives us inequities in scheduling AND the negative of some teams not facing each other for a decade or more. This is unfair to teams and fans.
Yep. It will get worse, too.
With the 9-game SEC scheduling, there would be 3 permanent opponents, rivalry games played every year. I want to play our rivals every year, whether they are good or having a down cycle.
Just who is a "rival" changes over time if you play teams on a regular basis. If you only play them every 3 years or so, the potential "rivalry" is diluted. The way it is now, jusy who your rival was 10 years ago, may not be your rival 5 years from now, nor today.
Doesn't matter what I want, but I want to play the best teams in our conference but with balance in the SOS. IF I trusted the SEC to do that, (provide balance), I'd be more excited about the changes, but the scheduling is done before anyone knows where that balance needs to be.
If we had
- 4 divisions and rotated through the other divisions, we would at least have common opponents by which to judge the final order in the standings.
- no divisions and do 3-4 pods, tournament like scheduling, where the pods are redrawn and seeded each year, (like champions league or world cup soccer), I'd be in favor of that.
- 2 divisions and rotate 2 of 9 opponents from the other division is next in terms of preference for me.
The other 6 games could be home & away in years 1 and 2, then switch to the other 6 teams (home & away) in years 3 and 4. OR, play the first 6 (non-permanent) teams in years 1 and 3, then the other 6 in years 2 and 4. Either way, you play everybody twice within 4 years, including a home and away game.
And if your 6 non-permanent opponents seem to tilt towards the stronger teams in a given year, then by necessity, the schedule will bless you with "weaker" teams in the next year or two.
There's a reason why conferences weren't this big for a century. I think it sets college football back 70 years in terms of parity and sportsmanship. Combine that with "NIL" (which is just "pay-to-play" in disguise) and I'm less and less inclined to watch as much as I have in years past.
Doesn't matter long term, of course. It's just a game/business.