re: Reports: Texas A & M to the SEC

if they do allow the aTm in I can't wait to see their reaction when they look at their first SEC schedule and see for example LSU, Bama, Arkansas, Auburn, Miss State, Florida, South Carolina in consecutive weeks...

in some ways this the idea of the SEC expanding to 16 teams feels like the Big East expanding their basketball conference - there is a point of negative returns

For this to make sense there has to be a lot more money generated - because it is going to be split into smaller and smaller pieces of pie

Plus, there is the competition aspect on top of scheduling. With a 16 team mega-conference you have SEVEN games within your own division - leaving only one more game for the opposite division. Some will propose going to 9 or 10 conference games - but this idea also results in diminished returns because you have fewer home gates for revenue and can no longer play interesting teams ooc for a nice payday in Dallas or elsewhere.

The prestige thing is also diluted... it is nice to finish at the top of your division - but how will 4th through 8th feel? That is going to happen - and when it happens you are more likely to see more turnover among coaching staffs (this will probably significantly affect programs as lots of schools pull a Cutcliffe and end up with a worse replacement).

The SEC has a tremendous thing going - unless another conference forces the issue in a way that makes the SEC less competitive without expansion - there is no way I think this looks like a good idea

and now Doug Gotlieb confirms according to aTm source. announcement Monday.

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So is anyone here willing to travel to College Station?

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Only a 3 hour drive for me

No question we will stay with the division format.


And I've said all along to NOT expect teams to switch divisions. I fully expect current SEC teams to stay in the same division. The only exception would be if it ends up being TexasA&M plus Mizzou then you would have Auburn moving to the East.

All the talk of possibly Bama and Auburn moving East and/or Vandy/Tenn moving West is merely speculation, and will never happen.

The SEC would like to keep the current SEC setup as "undisturbed" as possible, and for good reason. That said, they realize they've got to expand to renegotiate the TV deals to compete with the new Pac12 TV deal.

My prediction: Texas A&M + FSUorClemson and the SEC will stand pat at 14. Go from 8 conf games to 9... 6 games against your division, 3 against the other side, 1 permanent opponent (basically the same thing we have now just with one additional conference game)

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For this to make sense there has to be a lot more money generated

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so adding the markets of the 4 schools mentioned.....you don't think the SEC will go to ESPN and say:

" Lots more money for us with these 4 new teams"

????


New deal will make the Pac12 Fox deal look like peanuts dude, get real and wake up to reality

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The SEC has a tremendous thing going - unless another conference forces the issue in a way that makes the SEC less competitive without expansion - there is no way I think this looks like a good idea

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I see you point, but the SEC has been the leader in College Football for years. People thought Roy Kramer was nuts when the SEC added USCe and Arkansas and created a Conference Championship game. Now his vision is the rule, so the SEC needs to take the lead again because the way I see it a 4 Super Conference league is going to happen and the SEC needs to lead the way. IMHO

Texas A&M could be a power house in the next decade. One of the big reasons they lose out on top notch talent is because those guys want to play in the SEC. With the allure of the SEC swaying recruits and them in the talent state of Texas and so close to Houston, it's a good possibility that they won't miss out on as many big recruits. Just thinking out loud.

Im hearing rumors that if A&M joins the SEC championship game goes to New Orleans on an alternating basis and might move to permanent if Mizzou becomes the 14th.....

ETA: Comes from a legit source

Other conferences didn't immediately follow the SEC 12 model. They took a wait and see approach. Hell, Pac 12 and Big 10 are just NOW going to 12 teams.

I think this is a mistake. I think the SEC is overplaying its hand here.

I don't think the SEC will be better off with 14 teams.