SEC must return to divisions and should have four based on geography

[Catfanlou]

There is a reason The NFL,NBA, NHL, and any league with more than 12 teams has divisions . It gives the have nots like us HOPE of winning our division . Without that why buy tickets to see your team that has no realistic chance each year of winning anything . It’s not by accident that the two most wealthy athletic programs in the nation played for the national championship last night . We will never compete with them for a championship. Maybe an upset here or there but never a sustained winning season to compete with their HUGE. advantage .

If at least we could play three regional rivalries and compete for a division championship our fans would have an incentive to buy tickets . Now it’s just to see football I guess and hope we come in fourth or fifth in the league rather than 13 th or 14th. Not a way most fans like me want to spend their time and money .

 

[sieken]

I pretty mundane on divisions. You still have to beat good teams to get anywhere. I would like to see the SEC spend some serious cheddar on Tech Geeks to write an algorithm that balances the schedule every year. It can be done if they truly have a desire to balance it out.

 

[Soupbean]

There is a reason The NFL,NBA, NHL, and any league with more than 12 teams has divisions . It gives the have nots like us HOPE of winning our division . Without that why buy tickets to see your team that has no realistic chance each year of winning anything . It’s not by accident that the two most wealthy athletic programs in the nation played for the national championship last night . We will never compete with them for a championship. Maybe an upset here or there but never a sustained winning season to compete with their HUGE. advantage .

If at least we could play three regional rivalries and compete for a division championship our fans would have an incentive to buy tickets . Now it’s just to see football I guess and hope we come in fourth or fifth in the league rather than 13 th or 14th. Not a way most fans like me want to spend their time and money .

Appreciate your thoughts and would be behind something like this if it wasnt for the fact that its all moot because as soon as you did its all going to just change again. Once the commissioners went all in on the money side theres only one thing you can count on at this point and thats more constant change. So no point in doing much planning like this Im afraid, we'll have the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawah Rough Riders in the conference soon!

 

[bthaunert]

There is a reason The NFL,NBA, NHL, and any league with more than 12 teams has divisions . It gives the have nots like us HOPE of winning our division . Without that why buy tickets to see your team that has no realistic chance each year of winning anything . It’s not by accident that the two most wealthy athletic programs in the nation played for the national championship last night . We will never compete with them for a championship. Maybe an upset here or there but never a sustained winning season to compete with their HUGE. advantage .

If at least we could play three regional rivalries and compete for a division championship our fans would have an incentive to buy tickets . Now it’s just to see football I guess and hope we come in fourth or fifth in the league rather than 13 th or 14th. Not a way most fans like me want to spend their time and money .

While divisions sound nice on paper, they really wouldn’t mean anything for postseason play because the SEC isn’t playing semifinal games to determine the SEC champion. I mean, I guess you could brag about winning the “SEC North Division” but it would come with zero benefits outside of a banner to hang (a weak one at that).

 

[backinky2018]

I do think that the era of superconferences has brought some problems. The issue with divisions is that it is very difficult to split teams up fairly. At one point, there was a possible UK / UT / VU / Mizzou division which would be great for UK but not great for others (South Carolina would have a beef as they would likely be matched up with Florida and Georgia).

But yes, rivalries make college football and it would be nice to bring some level of respect for regions back to the game.

 

[YaketySax]

I’ve liked the idea of conference pods ever since I first heard it

Every conference should replace divisions with pods

Replacing divisions with a pod system would carry a ton of benefits and no obvious drawbacks.

www.bannersociety.com

“This would mean playing every rival regularly, enjoying schedule parity, preserving top rivalries, and ensuring the best conference title game possible.”

 

[Edgarman]

I pretty mundane on divisions. You still have to beat good teams to get anywhere. I would like to see the SEC spend some serious cheddar on Tech Geeks to write an algorithm that balances the schedule every year. It can be done if they truly have a desire to balance it out.

How can Tech Geek or anyone make it balanced? Every year you will have different quality in each team. Next time we play a non rivalry team they will be completely different that previous game. What are you looking for, a schedule that is easy? It is great that we will play every team over a short timeframe. The SEC is not going to worry if KY wins or if Ole Miss wins, they want every team to do what they have to do to be competitive. It is not on the SEC to make KY look good, that is on our AD and Head Coach. If they don't or can't do that, fire their ass. Who on this board had the same performance as our AD & Coach has had for the past years would still be employed at your current job? Very few!

 

[Deeeefense]

I prefer the divisions or pods format. For one thing winning an SEC division championship should give you some credibility with the committee for getting selected for the playoffs. The downside is if you go with a 4 pod system you add two more semi final games to a schedule that already can go as high as 16 games

Short of having divisions or pods they should do away with the meaningless championship game, especially since you have to have a Phd in physics to understand the tie breaking formula that is used to select the teams.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

SEC is fine as is. Having 4 divisions is pointless as the current argument is do we need conference championship games anymore. Divisions would mean adding 2 semifinal games. Also, how do you balance the divisions? A North division would be a joke if the 4 teams are Missouri, uk, vandy and UT. And we would still never win it. Hate to break it to those of you advocating for it.

Maybe you go to 9 gamed but after the committee punishing teams this year with 3 losses idk if it's a positive thing to do.

 

[Rockford]

There is a reason

No.

Money is the reason for any changes.

You tell me how the SEC makes more money in Pods, then I will consider that they, may in fact, consider it.

Until then, it's just message board fantasy.

Money and 'Merica.

 

[sieken]

How can Tech Geek or anyone make it balanced? Every year you will have different quality in each team. Next time we play a non rivalry team they will be completely different that previous game. What are you looking for, a schedule that is easy? It is great that we will play every team over a short timeframe. The SEC is not going to worry if KY wins or if Ole Miss wins, they want every team to do what they have to do to be competitive. It is not on the SEC to make KY look good, that is on our AD and Head Coach. If they don't or can't do that, fire their ass. Who on this board had the same performance as our AD & Coach has had for the past years would still be employed at your current job? Very few!

Nah, I'm not worried about easy games. I'm referring to actual balance, UF and UT not playing here in late October or Nov., some teams dodging most of the tougher teams in a given year, lining up a murder's row of three game or four game stretch, just some examples I was thinking about. Make a best effort to make all team's schedule as similar as possible regarding strength of schedule within the league.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Nah, I'm not worried about easy games. I'm referring to actual balance, UF and UT not playing here in late October or Nov., some teams dodging most of the tougher teams in a given year, lining up a murder's row of three game or four game stretch, just some examples I was thinking about. Make a best effort to make all team's schedule as similar as possible regarding strength of schedule within the league.

Right now you play everyone twice every 4 years with one permanent rival. The pods would make it less balanced unless you don't do it by geography and even out the teams.

 

[sieken]

Right now you play everyone twice every 4 years with one permanent rival. The pods would make it less balanced unless you don't do it by geography and even out the teams.

I agree on the Pods, I don't think that would make it better.

 

[Deeeefense]

Right now you play everyone twice every 4 years with one permanent rival. The pods would make it less balanced unless you don't do it by geography and even out the teams.

I wasn't aware of a permeant appointment, I know they talked about it early on but I never heard any announcement. Couldn't find a link anywhere either. Any more info on that would be appreciated. Math wise the numbers would work out that way.

 

[Edgarman]

Right now you play everyone twice every 4 years with one permanent rival. The pods would make it less balanced unless you don't do it by geography and even out the teams.

I thought we would play South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee every year and the remaining 5 SEC games would rotate each year. If this is not correct someone please post correct schedule plan going forward.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I wasn't aware of a permeant appointment, I know they talked about it early on but I never heard any announcement. Couldn't find a link anywhere either. Any more info on that would be appreciated. Math wise the numbers would work out that way.

It's SC right now. I don't think the schedule is firm beyond 2025 as the expectation is it will go to 9 conference games. Idk if that's as likely after the playoff snubs (perceived by sec anyways).

 

[seccats04]

How about four divisions with four teams each and the winners of those divisions go to the playoffs. This eliminates the need for a meaningless conference championship game and gives incentive for teams to win their division.

 

[gojvc]

I prefer the divisions or pods format. For one thing winning an SEC division championship should give you some credibility with the committee for getting selected for the playoffs. The downside is if you go with a 4 pod system you add two more semi final games to a schedule that already can go as high as 16 games

Short of having divisions or pods they should do away with the meaningless championship game, especially since you have to have a Phd in physics to understand the tie breaking formula that is used to select the teams.

Actually it could go to 17 if you play in your conference championship and lose but still make the playoff. The national championship would have been the 17th for Texas. But they really do care about player safety. 😂

 

[truebluewildcat]

Divisions never did us any favors. Just like most things from eras past. Especially geographically oriented ones. We literally can't beat UT or UGA.

Not sure they do the NFL any good really. 1 decent coach and QB combo can own a division for a decade.

No thanks, piss on that. I'd rather absorb Oregon State and Washington State among other programs start playing them.

The more things change the better shot we have. Gobbling up more teams and getting further away from traditional scheduling to where everyone essentially has to play everyone every few years gives us the best shot.

See IU.

Bigger the conference, fewer "set/rivalry" games that repeat every year, means you're going to have a year in which the schedule just sets up like it did for IU.

I don't want UT, UGA, hell even SC in the regular rotation. I want to essentially water down the conference and get rid of strict scheduling traditions because that leads to more shots on goal at lesser more beatable programs

 

[Catfanlou]

Divisions never did us any favors. Just like most things from eras past. Especially geographically oriented ones. We literally can't beat UT or UGA.

Not sure they do the NFL any good really. 1 decent coach and QB combo can own a division for a decade.

No thanks, piss on that. I'd rather absorb Oregon State and Washington State among other programs start playing them.

The more things change the better shot we have. Gobbling up more teams and getting further away from traditional scheduling to where everyone essentially has to play everyone every few years gives us the best shot.

See IU.

Bigger the conference, fewer "set/rivalry" games that repeat every year, means you're going to have a year in which the schedule just sets up like it did for IU.

I don't want UT, UGA, hell even SC in the regular rotation. I want to essentially water down the conference and get rid of strict scheduling traditions because that leads to more shots on goal at lesser more beatable programs

Good,points . But every team who comes into the SEC must raise the total revenue enough that existing schools will make more money and not less . I’m not sure that watering down the conference will do that . Clemson and Florida state probably but I doubt Wash State and Oregon State would . but I’m not a TV guy .

It would be fun to watch Oregon State play South Carolina . The announcers would have to be careful.

 

[truebluewildcat]

Good,points . But every team who comes into the SEC must raise the total revenue enough that existing schools will make more money and not less . I’m not sure that watering down the conference will do that . Clemson and Florida state probably but I doubt Wash State and Oregon State would . but I’m not a TV guy .

It would be fun to watch Oregon State play South Carolina . The announcers would have to be careful.

Hahaha

Cocks v beavers…nice

I think the revenue will come regardless. Sports, specifically football and even more specifically cfb, is great content that everyone wants. Traditional media, apple, amazon, YouTube, Facebook/Meta…they’re all willing to pay top dollar for it.

The more teams a conference has, the more leverage it has.

The buyers are down a conference. Nobody can haggle and say “well we can go get the PAC LA/west coast market for xyz dollars” they have to deal with BIG for that. Which is why that move was absolutely genius. Get USC/UCLA gain that market and bargaining chip while simultaneously eliminating an option for media in the PAC.

It’s why SEC needs some coastal exposure. I would argue for BC, UVA over FSU Clemson. SEC pretty much owns the south and Florida markets.

UVA has pretty big, powerful rich fan base largely concentrated up around DC and north east big cities. BC adds to that.

Right now BIG can pitch middle America and both coasts. SEC has the South and Texas. Need some diversification. Arizona schools would’ve been nice. Couple PNW programs, couple northeast mega population centers would be great.

 

[Catfanlou]

Hahaha

Cocks v beavers…nice

I think the revenue will come regardless. Sports, specifically football and even more specifically cfb, is great content that everyone wants. Traditional media, apple, amazon, YouTube, Facebook/Meta…they’re all willing to pay top dollar for it.

The more teams a conference has, the more leverage it has.

The buyers are down a conference. Nobody can haggle and say “well we can go get the PAC LA/west coast market for xyz dollars” they have to deal with BIG for that. Which is why that move was absolutely genius. Get USC/UCLA gain that market and bargaining chip while simultaneously eliminating an option for media in the PAC.

It’s why SEC needs some coastal exposure. I would argue for BC, UVA over FSU Clemson. SEC pretty much owns the south and Florida markets.

UVA has pretty big, powerful rich fan base largely concentrated up around DC and north east big cities. BC adds to that.

Right now BIG can pitch middle America and both coasts. SEC has the South and Texas. Need some diversification. Arizona schools would’ve been nice. Couple PNW programs, couple northeast mega population centers would be great.

I always wondered why SEC did not go for Arizona and Arizona State . Phoenix is now fifth largest metro area I think . Yes Big outsmarted SEC in stealing the huge west coast tv markets .