🏈 It's being reported that the SEC is split on the number of conference games (8 or 9)

[Justneedme81]

Pretty much my point. We are playing a top tier opponent out of conference, but look at Oklahoma, Auburn, Georgia, and tennessee. An extra conference game adds another tough game for us, but it also limits gimme wins for these other programs that aren't playing anyone out of conference worth a darn. it's forcing their hand to play nine conference teams, instead of eight and getting by with three or four patsies.

but who has won the last two championships?

 

[BamaFan334]

but who has won the last two championships?

The team playing more patsies. Even more to my point. Another conference game weeds out the pretenders and makes it that much tougher for a team like LSU to make the conference championship last year. Right now, you lose one game and you're all but out of the conference championship game. That will change with no divisions, but still kills you tiebreaker wise and if you lose twice you have no shot basically.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

LSU folks as in the fans? Your argument is somewhat misdirected.

Schedules for 2023 for Following teams;

Tenn-Virginia, Austin Peay, USTA, UConn. (4)
GA- UT Martin, Ball State, UAB, GT Tech (4)
OK- Arkansas State, SMU, Tulsa, UCF, (4)
Auburn- UMASS, Calfornia, Samford, New Mexico (4)


Alabama- Texas, Midd Tenn, USF, Chattanooga (3)

No may have been fans too. But it was admin if I remember right ( thats a ???)

Dont know if mis- directed is right term...

Its how their are different personal opinions....on who 3 are...if its 3. Other alternatives out there. But the 9 game is solidified by ur post of some teams nconference games...
Makes them at least play another conference opponent...which ...in fact...could be pasty ( vandy type) on annual basis....

I prefer lsu over msu/ ms/missouri type that reside around bottom...i like lsu because it is one of marquee games annually in sec...some think cfps and putting bama at disadvantage....i think college football and the sport...the cfps will sort themselves out..
But playing AU...who isnt a annual contender..and hasnt had back to back 10 win seasons since the 80s.....or Tennessee who has had 2 decent seasons in 20 years....
And lsu....whom bama has a 2:1 advantage over...i dont see a major scheduling disadvantage over...

Thats what discussion is about...( from my perspective)...
But as a competitor myself...i always want the highest level of competition...
Otherwise...join the C-USA

 

[50+yeartidefan]

but who has won the last two championships?

What does that matter....they beat bama for one...had to beat ohio state for other..( semis i know).... no difference than clemson...and acc

It wasnt long agothat SECe was the power division...with uga...Tennessee...Florida
And SECw with lsu n bama

 

[mando]

Bama is always at a disadvantage we do not have to play Bama . With that said Bama is not like everyone else. Play to the Bama standard and it should not matter who we play. Iron sharpens Iron!!! The Bama standard is diffefent than the Ole Miss Standard.

 

[Justneedme81]

What does that matter....they beat bama for one...had to beat ohio state for other..( semis i know).... no difference than clemson...and acc

It wasnt long agothat SECe was the power division...with uga...Tennessee...Florida
And SECw with lsu n bama

It matters... whole lot... Dating back to 2014... Georgia, Clemson had easy schedule and still won.
LSU call it what you want, they still had a easy schedule based on team they were beating... but still tough SEC Schedule.

So point is.. it doesn't matter.... We can do 8 games or 9 games.. it won't matter... just get in CFB and we'll take it from there.

2022	Georgia	CFP
2021	Georgia	CFP
2020	Alabama	CFP
2019	LSU	CFP
2018	Clemson	CFP
2017	Alabama	CFP
2016	Clemson	CFP
2015	Alabama	CFP
2014	Ohio State	CFP

 

[TerryP]

Pretty much my point

It's not a playoff, or a SEC expansion year. 2023 has nothing to do with this thread.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

It matters... whole lot... Dating back to 2014... Georgia, Clemson had easy schedule and still won.
LSU call it what you want, they still had a easy schedule based on team they were beating... but still tough SEC Schedule.

So point is.. it doesn't matter.... We can do 8 games or 9 games.. it won't matter... just get in CFB and we'll take it from there.

2022	Georgia	CFP
2021	Georgia	CFP
2020	Alabama	CFP
2019	LSU	CFP
2018	Clemson	CFP
2017	Alabama	CFP
2016	Clemson	CFP
2015	Alabama	CFP
2014	Ohio State	CFP

See. My point. You are focused on cfps. I on quality football games to watch n enjoy

Not a knock....just different focus

 

[BamaFan334]

It's not a playoff, or a SEC expansion year. 2023 has nothing to do with this thread.

Terry, it's simple math. I have explained it. If we add another conference game, it's one less patsy a team like A&M, Oklahoma, or Auburn can play. Alabama and Georgia have strong future out of conference opponents. I have done my research and the aforementioned teams do not. You add an extra conference game in there it adds difficulty to us, but it also limits the amount of outs those teams have at getting an easy win. It's a gauntlet and only the strong survive, unless you allow them to have one more opportunity at an easy win. Auburn may be able to fenagle their way around an eighth conference game, but how many close calls have they had in Nix last season where they definitely would not have continued to get lucky as it eventually runs out like at a casino. Maybe they draw Vanderbilt as that ninth game and do get lucky, but there is no guarantee.

It would not hurt my feelings for us to have a more difficult schedule because those are games I want to see. I'm not only looking at National Championships, I'm looking at a quality game each and every week that I don't mind paying for. Gee, pay all this money for three shitty games guaranteed, or pay all of this money for two shitty games guaranteed. Yeah, the ninth SEC game gives me more bang for my buck. I want reasons to make the trip to Tuscaloosa, not find ways to talk myself out of the trip. Hard to pay >$500 trip costs + ticket costs + Tide Pride dues to go watch Tennessee Martin play.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

It's not a playoff, or a SEC expansion year. 2023 has nothing to do with this thread.

Its gonna feel like a precursor to sec expansion year and to cfp expension year

I am excited about how things are goimg to evolve
And ready for some football

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Terry, it's simple math. I have explained it. If we add another conference game, it's one less patsy a team like A&M, Oklahoma, or Auburn can play. Alabama and Georgia have strong future out of conference opponents. I have done my research and the aforementioned teams do not. You add an extra conference game in there it adds difficulty to us, but it also limits the amount of outs those teams have at getting an easy win. It's a gauntlet and only the strong survive, unless you allow them to have one more opportunity at an easy win. Auburn may be able to fenagle their way around an eighth conference game, but how many close calls have they had in Nix last season where they definitely would not have continued to get lucky as it eventually runs out like at a casino. Maybe they draw Vanderbilt as that ninth game and do get lucky, but there is no guarantee.

It would not hurt my feelings for us to have a more difficult schedule because those are games I want to see. I'm not only looking at National Championships, I'm looking at a quality game each and every week that I don't mind paying for. Gee, pay all this money for three shitty games guaranteed, or pay all of this money for two shitty games guaranteed. Yeah, the ninth SEC game gives me more bang for my buck. I want reasons to make the trip to Tuscaloosa, not find ways to talk myself out of the trip. Hard to pay >$500 trip costs + ticket costs + Tide Pride dues to go watch Tennessee Martin play.

And what i hope things boil down to are 9 conference games and a tenth quality nc game...florida...USCe....cant dodge it....with clemson and fsu.....
Again...somebody has to play the bottom feeders of conference though...but they will be on everyone's schedule through the 4 year window

 

[OldPlayer]

It matters... whole lot... Dating back to 2014... Georgia, Clemson had easy schedule and still won.
LSU call it what you want, they still had a easy schedule based on team they were beating... but still tough SEC Schedule.

So point is.. it doesn't matter.... We can do 8 games or 9 games.. it won't matter... just get in CFB and we'll take it from there.

2022	Georgia	CFP
2021	Georgia	CFP
2020	Alabama	CFP
2019	LSU	CFP
2018	Clemson	CFP
2017	Alabama	CFP
2016	Clemson	CFP
2015	Alabama	CFP
2014	Ohio State	CFP

By expanding to 12 teams, it is "easier" to get into the CFP. It's still beneficial to be in the top four, but if 2022 was 2024, here's what the final rankings were going into the playoffs:

1. Georgia 13-0
2. Michigan 13-0
3. TCU 12-1
4. Ohio State 11-1
5. Alabama 10-2
6. Tennessee 10-2
7. Clemson 11-2
8. Utah 10-3
9. Kansas State 10-3
10. Southern Cal 11-2
11. Penn State 10-2
12. Washington 10-2

Slots 13-15 all had three losses (9-3 records).

 

[TerryP]

but look at Oklahoma, Auburn, Georgia, and tennessee.

...this still resonates on a mind set.

 

[BamaFan334]

...this still resonates on a mind set.

It should. It affects them as much as us.

 

[UAgrad93]

Again, if we go to a 9 game conference schedule, then why not go with a 1-8 or 2-7 model. Allow 1 or 2 traditional rivalries to remain in tack and rotate everyone else, no divisions.
BAMA is at a distinct disadvantage if our 3 permanents are Barn, LSU, and Viles, when schools like UGA get Barn, Vandy or a UK. Even if Vandy isn’t one of their permanents, it’s still a cupcake game and UK isn’t some college football blue blood.
Y’all arguing for the 3-6 model and wanting a big OOC opponent aren’t going to get it! BAMA will do what’s best for BAMA along with anyone else. Even though they don’t want to pay a buyout, add another conference game and you can bet that they will all pay it. Personally, I’d go 2-7 with Barn and Viles as the permanent games.

 

[OldPlayer]

Again, if we go to a 9 game conference schedule, then why not go with a 1-8 or 2-7 model. Allow 1 or 2 traditional rivalries to remain in tack and rotate everyone else, no divisions.
BAMA is at a distinct disadvantage if our 3 permanents are Barn, LSU, and Viles, when schools like UGA get Barn, Vandy or a UK. Even if Vandy isn’t one of their permanents, it’s still a cupcake game and UK isn’t some college football blue blood.
Y’all arguing for the 3-6 model and wanting a big OOC opponent aren’t going to get it! BAMA will do what’s best for BAMA along with anyone else. Even though they don’t want to pay a buyout, add another conference game and you can bet that they will all pay it. Personally, I’d go 2-7 with Barn and Viles as the permanent games.

Alabama has already scheduled an impressive OOC schedule with future games against Wisconsin, Florida State, West Virginia, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, Minnesota and more.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

9 game schedule with 2 permanents is ok.
Maybe better than 3.
( already said what i needed about lsu being 3 rd if its 3)

But still need p5 on other.
2 G5 types for others

That sounds reasonable

 

[TerryP]

That sounds reasonable

Bama plays Auburn every year. They play another seven SEC games that rotate every two years. They honor the contracts already in place.

It's the best option.

Again, if we go to a 9 game conference schedule, then why not go with a 1-8 or 2-7 model.

These two options aren't on the table. They are deciding between the 3-6 or 1-7.

 

[TerryP]

It should. It affects them as much as us.

The model you're pushing affects them less.

It's funny you mention OU when the nine game schedule leaves them playing schools you wouldn't want on Bama's schedule.

If you'll look at future schedules you'll see these schools are beefing up competition. By saying you want the ninth game to beef up schedules rings hollow.

I'm about convinced this is being looked at through the "Saban era eyes" versus others.

What I find strange is I can't get a straight answer to a very straightforward question.

Do you want your Alabama football team to be at a disadvantage, playing on an unlevel playing field in a schedule that's not competitively balanced with other SEC teams?

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Bama plays Auburn every year. They play another seven SEC games that rotate every two years. They honor the contracts already in place.

It's the best option.

These two options aren't on the table. They are deciding between the 3-6 or 1-7.

May be but i dont think it is IMO

Hell best option is 10 SEC games...2020 showed that.... but we know that wont happen
But 2-7 may be great compromise to get to 9....
That way get everyonesfear of lsu every year outta their dreams. ( but i cant see SEC giving up one of top games of the year.......top regionally...top nationally...etc)

Fun discussing though. See what the great brains of the SEC will d