re: I wonder what higher ups decided this

Permanent and rotating rivals have been a part of the SEC schedule since at least the 70s.

Until 1987, LSU played Florida, Kentucky, Alabama, Ole Miss and State every year, rotating Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee and Vandy in an 8 year, home-and-home basis for a 6 game league schedule. When the Earthquake game happened, LSU and Auburn were the top teams in the league the previous 5 years and had not played each other. That's why is was so important and hyped.

In 1988, the league added a game, so that we would play another of those rotating teams each year. In 88 and 89, we played both Tennessee and Auburn. In 90 & 91, we played both Vandy and UGA.

Even back in those days, people cried about the schedule. Auburn fans noted that their permanent teams included Florida, Tennessee and Georgia, while Bama got State and Vandy every year. Ending the Auburn/Florida and Auburn/Tennessee game were a big deal, akin to us ending the GTHOM game.

In a league as big as the SEC, you will always have schedule imbalance. The only complaint that LSU has is that in the bridge years, Bama got Mizzou and Kentucky while we got South Carolina and Tennessee. Moving Kentucky back on LSU's schedule and Florida onto Bama's is just about the only thing the SEC can do to make up for those two years (especially considering that both LSU and aTm played Florida in 2012, keeping them from creating a 3-way tie with Bama.)

Want a balanced schedule? Cut 5 teams from the conference, and play a 8 game schedule with 4 home and 4 away games against every team in the league. I am not betting that the SEC will do this any time soon.

Bottom Line? Win the games you have and quit whining about the rest.

GEAUX TIGERS