SI lays out good info on the recent scheduling problems in the SEC

A well written article.

Good article and the first I've seen that provides a decent context. Fairness is not possible. But there should be an attempt at balance. UGA/UT/USC/Vandy/Mizzou/UK should not visit Tiger Stadium once every 12 years.

The biggest issue I have is the bridge schedules, made with clear knowledge of how how competitive each team would be.

In 2012 they sat down knowing full well that USC and UGA were in all likely hood the top teams in the East. Same with Bama and LSU.

USC/LSU and Bama/UGA were scheduled to play under the old system.

What do they do? Bama plays Mizzou, UGA plays Ole Miss again. LSU/USC game on!

Same story in 2013.

This issue is like everything else in sports, nothing changes until you get on the national media's agenda.

The cross division rivalries are unfair to LSU and florida (and SC lately), but thats all the more reason for the 12 other teams to favor it so nothing changes. This UT/Bama rivalry is a cop-out and Bama is using that to maintain their advantage.

What needs to happen is the non-sec teams need to take up the cause (now that they see Bama winning titles every year, even backing into a NC after losing to LSU). Other conferences need to get in the media's ear about the advantages the SEC offers Alabama. Without them we are outnumbered.

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And why did a human have to create these schedules? Couldn't they program a computer to randomly assign cross-divisional opponents? Maybe the random result is the same but at least there wouldn't be the appearance of favoritism.

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Because that could prevent the favortism.

the teams that play patsies will always vote to keep them.

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Bama's won two national championships in a row and always in defense mode. It's pretty funny. Congrats on the NCG, but A&M and LSU could have gone 2-0 vs. Mizzou and UT. Congrats, nice avoidence of the SECCG and a mulligan.

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this is what bothers. yea they were probably the better team in 11-12, but LSU beat them in their house why would they have to play the same team again. Then you switch up the schedule and put the best teams from the east on Bama's top competition?

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Through no fault of Alabama's, the Crimson Tide have had an easier path to the SEC title game of late than West rivals LSU and Auburn.

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It should read
Through the biased scheduling of an Alabama Alum,the Crimson Tide has had an easier path

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Through the biased scheduling of an Alabama Alum,the Crimson Tide has had an easier path

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this is also bs, get an unbiased person from someone outside the SEC network of schools.

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get an unbiased person from someone outside the SEC network of schools.

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Look, even though it's flawed to some extent and I’m not trying to there, compare this issue what currently going on in politics and the administration--big picture.

For years, those criticizing the established were kooks, afraid, biased, etc., and dismissed. This is LSU, Spurrier, whomever. Outliers yelling into the dark.

Well, for certain reasons, the "mainstream" sports media (ESPN, SI, etc.) have begun to pick up on this issue which had previously never been discussed outside of SEC circles and seemingly the dominos could start to fall like in politics.

The next shoe to drop should be this connection. The ESPN/SIs are now saying "hey look, the SEC scheduling is pretty unbalanced and favors Bama." But they stop at that point. It's not Bama's fault.

Well, here we go. Bama gets an easier path by design? WTF? Look at who makes the schedules? Bama is forced to defend it, and the SEC is forced to defend it. Hell, we're pissed when and Ohio State or Pac 12 team has a free pass while playing 1 or 2 games a year. How would you feel if you're a non-SEC contender and effectively you have a Bama team that has a Pac 12 schedule but gets SEC cred? They're basically a lock and it is unfair.