re: Here's the solution to the "permanent opponent" BS....

I agree with this, though I would swap Vandy and Kentucky since Vandy is actually more westward than Kentucky. I think it actually makes sense to look at a Map and put the western most teams in the western division and the eastern most in the eastern division. You can draw a straight line from just East of Kentucky to just East of LSU and make a logical division. A true north/south division would put Alabama in the West and Auburn in the East but that doesn't solve the current problem that the "permanent opponents" seeks to remedy.

Moving Auburn and Alabama east allows them to keep their games against Georgia and Tennessee each year. Then I'd propose going to 9 SEC games with three rotations (no perms) to allow the maximum number of cross divisional games so that the conference feels like one conference rather than two. Sure there may be a year when LSU gets Florida, Alabama and Georgia and Alabama gets Vandy, State and Arkansas but rotating three teams yearly is more equitable that one permanent opponent and one "random" team under the bridge schedule.

My hope is the abortion that is the current "bridge" schedule is to tide us over until we add two more teams to get to 16. Depending on where the SEC moves the east/west divisions could vary. Hopefully that happens soon.

This is separate from the "bridge" schedule being developed by an Alabama alum and benefitting Alabama. Hopefully that will be addressed long term but it sure stinks short term. I too find the "roommate swap" schedule interesting...