re: Does everyone now understand why Bonnette and Miles are against permanents?

Agreed. It is bullshite. The only way to solve this in a "fair" way is to put the teams that need to play those permanent rivalry games in their own division.

It has always bothered me that in no other part of sports does the schedule differ SO MUCH for, not only teams in the conference, but teams in the same division.

Let's use common sense about this. Why is Georgia in the SEC Championship game last year and this year? Why would you favor Alabama over LSU next year to win the west? The answer MAY be that they are the better team, but common sense tells you that the reason is the fricking schedule! Where else do you do this in sports? And that schedule is dictated by the conference!