The East having Alabama, Florida and Georgia seems like it would have a case to be the best division in America, though that’s probably going to be the case for whatever division Alabama is in. If we’re doing the geographical solution wherein we don’t have Oklahoma in the East (or Mizzou), this is what that would like:ĭare I say, that actually doesn’t look that imbalanced? It’s more balanced than the current structure of the league, which typically has about 4 contenders in the West and 2 in the East. Meanwhile, Texas would go to a division where it would have an even steeper climb to try and get “back.” But it would also stand to benefit off the SEC’s TV revenue stream, and if the thinking is that Playoff expansion is going to force teams to load up their nonconference schedules anyways, why not just build that in with conference play?Īnyways, back to realignment! The geographical solution Florida and Georgia would have someone that could break up the pseudo-division title game in Jacksonville. You could keep those cross-division rivals and not worry about the potential blowback you’d receive for taking an annual game like LSU-Florida or Alabama-Tennessee off the schedule.Īs far as the balance of power, it would probably give the East a bit more of a respectability, too. Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork on news that Texas and OU could be coming to the SEC: “We want to be the only SEC team from the state of Texas.” I just thought of the reaction of A&M fans if they found out that Texas was not only joining the SEC, but it was joining the division. While Dan Mullen isn’t crazy about the permanent crossover matchups, you could drop Texas in the West and Oklahoma in the East and give them the annual crossover matchup against each other. Would you dare split up Oklahoma and Texas? You could. And by “dig into that,” I suppose we can look beyond the idea of getting rid of divisions for a potential 16-team SEC because I can see that too many people would complain about conspiracy theories if the scheduling gods didn’t go their way. If that wild message board fantasy became a reality at some point, what would that even look like? Like the others, this scenario preserves all current cross-divisional rivalries.Yeah, my brain already went there. UNC would likely be incentivized by the monetary gains from the SEC Network as well as the increased exposure, which could outweigh the negatives. While the academic scandal and the ACC’s buyout fees may prevent this from ever happening, it would be a strong addition for the SEC. North Carolina has an elite basketball program and has had a strong football team under Larry Fedora. Why not get the best of both worlds? In this scenario, the SEC gains expansion territory in North Carolina and Oklahoma while adding powerhouse schools. This scenario also preserves all cross-division rivalries and adds a new “Battle of the Virginias.” Scenario 3: The Compromise This would likely only come about if the ACC suffered serious losses or just went kaput.Īs for West Virginia, the Mountaineers offer a new geographic footprint and a strong athletic department. Virginia Tech has been rumored to be a potential candidate for SEC expansion for years. While UVA’s academic prowess and strong basketball program would be solid additions to the SEC, Virginia Tech offers a competitive football team paired with a strong academic record. In order to do this, the conference looks to the Virginias. In this scenario, the SEC has decided that it has expanded far enough westward and focuses on expanding the Southeastern region northwards. And frankly, who wouldn’t want to see Alabama play Texas every year? Scenario 2: Meet Virginia(s) In addition, the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry is rekindled, even if it is to Texas A&M’s dismay. With this move, the Tennessee-Alabama rivalry is preserved. In order to preserve rivalries, this would lead to Alabama moving to the East division. Geographically, Texas and Oklahoma belong in the West. In this scenario, the Big 12 has dissolved and Texas has swallowed its pride to make a move to the toughest conference in the nation. If that were the case, what other teams may follow? How many would the SEC take? What about division realignment? As I see it, there are three realistic scenarios: Recently, as Fox Sports Knoxville’s own Nick Davis points out, Oklahoma has been rumored to be looking for a way out of the Big 12 and may very well land in the SEC. There is talk that a Power 5 conference itself could dissolve: the Big 12. Conference realignment has been a hot topic for several years, and now it’s bubbling up again.
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