The Revamped Southeastern Conference
Let me start with this. This article is not a criticism of the SEC. I love the SEC, it is the best brand of college football around. However the SEC championship has become slightly repetitive. The games itself are always a blast but we see the same teams every year. Since its inception in 1992, only six teams have won the contest along. In fact only 10 of the 14 SEC teams have ever made the championship game. Now I don’t want to mix things up to “be fair” or to “be equal” because this is football and not paddy cake. I want some freshness, some spiciness. Especially with the additions of both Oklahoma and Texas, I think conference realignment is in order.
This is how I would do it. Two divisions. Four games played in your division. Two games played between divisions, thus facing the same opponent every four years and two protected rivalry game. (Would have a couple exceptions for long standing traditions). I would have both the first weekend and last weekend of the season be rivalry week.
Here’s how I’d spilt the divisions.
In the SEC (A) side we have (I lack a name so we’ll call it A and B)
Auburn
Mississippi State
Texas A&M
Florida
Tennessee
LSU
Georgia
Arkansas
In the SEC (B), we have
Texas
Oklahoma
Kentucky
Missouri
Alabama
Ole Miss
Vanderbilt
South Carolina
In the first week of the season or more eloquently titled Week 0, we’d kick off the season with
Lone Star Showdown (Texas v. Texas A&M) @ Cowboy Stadium
Tennessee v. Kentucky
Arkansas v. Ole Miss
Oklahoma v. Auburn
In Week 1, we would have
Alabama v Florida @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
South Carolina v. Georgia
Exceptions (Game between conferences is grandfathered in)
Alabama v. Tennessee
Georgia v. Vanderbilt
Final day in the regular season.
Iron Bowl (Alabama v. Auburn)
Egg Bowl (Ole Miss v. Miss State)
Battle Line Rivalry (Missouri v. Arkansas)
Tennessee v. Vanderbilt
LSU v. Oklahoma
This would be a new world of football down south that put a smile on my face from ear to ear. This about the possibilities.
An Alabama v. LSU SEC championship or an Iron Bowl part 2. How about Oklahoma and Florida or Tennessee and Texas. These great football traditions, showcased in Atlanta.
How about the start of the season. For so long we’ve waited for college football and to kick it off is Texas and Texas A&M. This about the passion, the pageantry and phenomenal stories waiting to be written. Last but not least is the new rivalries waiting to form. The National Championships decided on the last day of the season. Senior night heartbreaks. Glorious victories. I’m foaming at the mouth thinking about it. This schedule is what SEC football is all about. Expecting the unexpected.
