re: SEC likely to adopt 9 game conference schedule...

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They aren’t going to make any of the big 6 have 3 permanent big 6 rivals.

Bama will 100% have AU and Tennessee. So they will not get LSU, Florida or Georgia as #3. And they won’t get aTm, Texas or OU either.

So who else will the get as their #3 , lpermanent game?

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Last Summer, I was on board with the 3-6 model. The 3 Permanents (not POD) allows for example the following schedules

Alabama: Auburn/TENN/ and somebody
UGA: Auburn/Florida/ and somebody
Texas: Texas A&M/OU and somebody
Auburn: UGA/Alabama and somebody
Ole Miss: Miss. State/LSU and somebody
Arkansas: Texas/Mizzou and somebody


Who does LSU get? Well to be honest, LSU does not have a non-negotiable rival game like those above. The closest rival games we have now are Texas A&M and Ole Miss.

So lets say Texas A&M, Ole Miss and maybe Arkansas or Florida. I don't think it will be Miss. State as they are likely going to be Alabama's third team since those schools are only like 75-80 miles apart.

If I were to guess, Miss. State will get Ole Miss, Texas A&M (according to Jimbo at SEC media days) and Bama.

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I thought this was pretty well set.

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I don’t think anything is set, aka why we have this thread and there’s no consensus.

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Each "football" school plays two other "football" schools to keep a level playing field.

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I doubt ESPN would be onboard with this, since it essentially turns half the SEC games into less relevant contests, which waters down their inventory value.

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Finally, if you think ESPN & the SEC is going to give up LSU vs. Alabama annually

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No doubt. Part of why I personally think if the 3-6 happens, Bama is one of our permanents. Rivalries and ratings matter.

I hope it stays at 8 just to piss off the other leagues and the sports media who bitch and complain about the SEC.

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Horse shite. It gives half the league an extra loss. And I hate the disadvantage teams have every other year when they play 5 road games. They may be talking about his, but I don’t see any way it happens without expanding the playoffs to at least 12 (according to Sankey).

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Playoffs will expand, which is why 9 game schedule will be put in place. ESPN/ABC is going to want more inventory (games) to put in prime time on the 6:30 ESPN game and the 7:15 CST ABC game.

This is heading to an NFL type model

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Worst part is 5 conference road games every other year.

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Yeah that’s a big issue with the 9 game conference schedule.. the imbalance between home/away games each year.

But I’ll still take a 3-6 format over what we have now.

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ESPN is not going to pay top $$$$ to televise LSU for example vs. ULM or ULL, etc. or Alabama vs. Troy or Middle TENN. State, etc.

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I don’t think you’re understanding what’s being said…..

There’s no suggestion SEC teams play non-SEC teams. It’s saying ESPN isn’t going to bifurcate the SEC into “football” and “non football” teams, thereby making half of the conference games less relevant…

Capisce, paisan?

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horseshite. It gives half the league an extra loss.

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Who gives a shite? Win your games. That extra loss you’re referencing is actually more about the fringe teams who need the extra cupcake to make the Birmingham bowl.

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I don’t think you’re understanding what’s being said…..

There’s no suggestion SEC teams play non-SEC teams. It’s saying ESPN isn’t going to bifurcate the SEC into “football” and “non football” teams, thereby making half of the conference games less relevant…

Capisce, paisan?

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I understand Italian quite well. Capito is understand and Do you understand is actually Capisci with an i not an e as in Italian i actually sounds like eeeeee. e is more an an ehhhh sound. So yes. However, I don't agree with your analyses.

9 games is a win for the SEC. These LSU games vs. group of 5 are not going to 1) Get ESPN to up what they pay relative to what the BIG10 just got and 2) Those games do not bring fans in the Seats, which then hurts game day revenues from concessions and merchandise

Right now LSU plays 8 league games, this year Florida State and 3 OOC games with UAB, New Mexico and Southern (LSU has been playing 1 in-state Group of 5 or D2 program annually for years).

What value does LSU vs. New Mexico or UAB bring to ESPN/ABC/SEC Network. It is a rhetorical question.

On the other hand, a 9th game in Baton Rouge with Texas, OU, high value. LSU seeing UGA, TENN in Tiger Stadium more often than what is going on now, more value.

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So many of you have LSU married to Florida. I don't get it. Drop Florida and replace with Bama.

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I like the LSU/Bama annual matchup. But balanced scheduling matters.

Bama loves their games with Auburn/Tennesse, more than LSU.

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16 team playoff is just so ridiculous and totally finishes off the destruction of college football

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16 team playoff is too many, but 4 is definitely too few.

I say expand to 8. Makes perfect sense. At the absolute max it could expand to 10, with a couple play-in games.

But 16 dilutes the regular season far too much.