My 16 team SEC scheduling idea

Take it for what it's worth, just an idea if the a 16 team SEC conference is born. For purposes of this post, lets call it the SEC-16.

1.Stick with the even divisions (8 teams in each) for purposes of SEC-16 CG only.

2. Have a permanent partner opponent in your division. (Ex: LSU-TAMU, Arky-MO, OM-MissSt, Bama-Auby, Fla-FlaSt, Tenn-Vandy, KY-WV, GA-SC).

3. Play your partner opponent every year, ideally Thanksgiving. You'll read why this is important at the end of this post. (1 Game)

4. Of the other 6 in your division, alternate them 3 and 3. Essentially, play half two years (home and home) and the other half two years (home and home). (3 games per year)

5. Of the 8 in the other division, alternate them 4 and 4. Again, play half two years (home and home), and the other half two years (home and home), alternating. (4 games per year)

This totals 8 conference games, rotates teams through the conference evenly, and allows a player to see every SEC-16 venue in his four year career. It also keeps the conference games at 8, allowing four non-conference games per year.

An example SEC-16 schedule:

LSU years 1&2 (home and home):

Ole Miss
Auby
Arkansas
--------
GA
Tenn
KY
FLA
-------
TAMU

LSU years 3&4 (home and home):

Miss St
Bama
MO
-------
SC
Vandy
WV
FlaSt
-------
TAMU

In this format, you play a team two years, then play their partner opponent two years. Home games are split evenly with road games for everyone. This is a way to prevent a situation where inter-division schools see each other only once in eight years.

Concerning big rivalries, some of which are going to be lost regardless in a 16 team conference, this keeps them at least for two games every four years. Yes, LSU might not see Bama or Florida every year, but they will, at least, see them twice in four years.

Concerning a division leader to go the SEC-16 CG, you don't see everyone in your division every year, BUT your partner opponent will see the teams you don't see. This will set up potential big games Thanksgiving weekend where a clear division winner is crowned and sent to the SEC-16 CG.

Again, this is just a thought.