SEC Could Move to 9 Conference Games

That's my preference too...IF they set the pods properly. IMO they should look something like this:
UF, UGA, USC, UK
UT, Vandy, Bama, Aub
Ole Miss, Miss St, LSU, Ark/Missou
Texas, TAMU, Okla, Ark/Missou
You might put Ark and Missou w Tex and TAMU and slide Okla in with LSU and the Miss schools. You are going to lose some rivalries in the pod system....in my scenario Aub-UGA is the glaring issue.

 

If you are playing 2 out of each of the other pods, one of those could be permanent so you could maintain UGA/Auburn and tex / okie. Ours could be Tennessee if we want.

 

Good point, but you do then lose that clean rotation. You also increase the odds of uneven schedule difficulty. For example UF gets UT, UGA gets AU....USC gets Vandy, big edge USC.

 

We already get uneven schedules. No matter what format or formula they use, we are going to take it up the tail pipe on schedule difficulty.

 

My pods were somewhat evened out, at least IMO. Of course things vary by teams being up or down....but I tried to take a big picture view.
I consider UF and UGA to be top tier, USC next tier, and UK/Vandy lower tier.
UT, Bama, Aub top tier with UK/Vandy lower
LSU top tier, Ole Miss and Ark/Missou next, Miss St lower
Tex, Tamu, Okla top tier, Ark/ Miss next tier.....this pod would be the toughest for sure. LSU pod probably the easiest....might have to slide TAMU there and put Arky and Missou with Texas and Okla

 

Im more concerned with watching a competitive game than the ticket price.

 

That might be because I believe you said you go to one or two games per year Wanne. I think you even said once here that the overall price of attending games has driven you to that. It's all about individual preferences. For myself, I want to see wins at this point. And, lots of 'em. That will keep the Lagway types flowing to UF.

 

I want to see wins too but i dont think anyone is fooled by beating teams that should never be on the same field. Season tix wont go up astronomically. Travel is what is so expensive, good tix are just an added expense.

 

Screw the pods and just forget about the 9 game schedule UNLESS... the SEC negotiates a better financial deal with ESPN. Bring back the 2 divisions and simply rotate 2 teams from each side annually... solves everything.

 

We don't need to fool anyone though. If we do well in 9 SEC games plus another conference championship game and beat fsu, we will be in the playoffs. Win and we're in. That's it.

And yes, travel is definitely a big part of the cost, but, tickets are expensive, too. And, SEC games are significantly more expensive than the other non-conference games. Lots of families go to the non-conference games because of that.

 

The ninth sec is what we are discussing right? Im all for it. Our s edule is already good but you cant say that about most teams.

 

Exactly this, if you look at some of the SEC schedules with 4 absolute jokes for OOC, 9 game requirement seems a lot more favorable to UF. Mizzou 2025 Football Schedule: Missouri - Southeastern Conference

Central Arkansas, Kansas, UL-Lafayette, UMass. <- Joke

 

I'm all for it too as long as the 4 letter network pays 1/9 more than for the original TV package. There is absolutely no reason to give away content for free.

 

Sadly, that is the way every SEC team should be scheduling, in particular the SEC teams that have an annual non-conference arch-rival. The SEC is just too good on its own to be able to justify playing other Power 5 (or Power 2 + Minor 3) teams home and away. They aren't necessary for strength of schedule and the one and done deals with the directional schools make more money for the University.

Is it awful for the fans? Absolutely, but this is the way the colleges have set up the playoffs. You have to be nimble enough to react to the landscape. UF has not been terribly nimble for some time unfortunately.

 

Well stated Crusher.
I realize I’ve stated my feelings on this before, but there is a positive side to one or, IMO, two lesser opponents per 12 game season: One at beginning of season affords the team an opportunity to “tune up” before the wars starts. One towards the tail end of the season affords an opportunity to rest a few players or extra time to heal. It also gives a chance for reserves, many of whom are walk ons who have served as tackling dummies and such the entire season a chance to play on Florida Field in front of a crowd of Gator fans. That’s a just reward and fulfills a lifelong dream for many of these young players.
It also gives many season ticket holders a good reason to reward their children and grandchildren a chance to attend a Gator football game.

 

The espn deal is already signed. Why would they renegotiate mid contract because WE changed the way we do things? They didn't add any teams to our conference or games to our schedule, and they're not getting an extra game, they're just getting a better game. I think they already gave us more money for adding TX and OK. I wouldn't have, lol. I'm not a fan of trying to renegotiate after a deal is in place with signed contracts though. I'm all for UF getting more money, just don't know what leverage they'd have or why ESPN would even be willing to talk about it.

 

Agreed, why would they? Also, why would the SEC add an in-conference game that gives ESPN better content for free? SEC teams mostly don't need the extra strength of schedule bump and each team makes more by paying 3-4 Joe's Night School level opponents than a home and home with a legit conference or in-conference opponent. It doesn't benefit the 3 SEC schools that have an annual non-conference rival since they will lose a sure W home game every other year. Somehow $$ has to be driving this push for 9 games, but for the life of me, I can't come up with a scenario where this makes everybody (or even a majority) more money.

 

I think I see where you're coming from now. You think ESPN is the driver behind the 9th conference game? In that case, then the SEC does have some leverage. If they want that, they can and should pay for it. I'm all for dropping any OOC P2+2 games and having all cupcakes for the OOC games. Not a popular opinion here, but that's ok. Tired of other teams skating by without playing any extra real games. I also like the opportunity it provides for us to work on new wrinkles and get new guys some work.

 

I'm not sure who the driver is...that's the thing. Is it the BIG who wants the SEC to cannibalize itself more in order to agree to a plethora of automatic playoff spots? Is it ESPN who would benefit if there were no additional financial commitments if the SEC adds a 9th game? If it is certain conference members, what is their motivation if its not money? And if it is money, I'd like to see the math on how they think they'll make more if ESPN isn't footing a larger bill.

 

Maybe sec teams 9th game can be against big 10 teams. That would be interesting.