SEC Expansion - Now what?

PowderedH2O

OK, so Texas A & M and Missouri have officially entered the SEC. This leaves 14 teams. Logic would dictate that 2 more teams join, but who? Clemson would seem a logical choice. Maybe Oklahoma or Oklahoma State? Maybe both? But, in the meantime the league has 14 teams and 2 divisions for football. How do you divide these divisions? Currently it is East-West. But, both Missouri and Texas A & M are the far west of the league. So, they have to be in the west. So, to even it up, one team from the West would have to go to the East. Geographically, that means Auburn and Alabama are in separate divisions. I just don't see that happening. So, that means I see the following scenarios:
1. The divisions stay the same and the two teams are added to the West for an 8 team side.
2. Alabama and Auburn get moved to the East for an 8 team East (thereby giving the SEC Championship the chances for an Alabama-LSU title next year).
3. Two more teams are added quickly to add to the East.
4. They do a Legends/Leaders thing like the Big Ten to split them up at 7 each (in which I would almost guarantee LSU and Alabama get split up).
5. They split Missouri and Texas A&M into each division, which would be geographically incorrect, until they add two teams.

I personally would like to see Oklahoma and Oklahoma State come over and see Alabama and Auburn move to the East. That would leave perennial powerhouses like Alabama, Auburn, and Florida on one side (with Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia there as well, plus Vandy) and the West containing Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and LSU (plus Missouri and Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Miss St). If Clemson joined, I don't know who would be the 16th team. There are a lot of nice programs in the area like Houston, Southern Miss, East Carolina, etc., but none of those are up to SEC standards. Maybe they will do something crazy like adding Kansas and Kansas State to help the basketball part of the SEC. Hmmmm...........

LodiBrewFan

After last night, I'm all for moving out of LSU's division.



Hats off to the Tigers, what a defensive game that was! Hate that we lost, but that's life.



I chuckle at the thought of Boise St facing LSU. Can you say 20 point spread. I'm taking the Tigers -21

PowderedH2O

I'm an LSU fan (grew up in New Orleans - wife is an LSU grad). We won last night, but I want NO part of an LSU-Alabama rematch. That would be a coin flip. I'd prefer Boise State or Stanford.

AkbarClone

the answer would seem to be:
5. They split Missouri and Texas A&M into each division, which would be geographically incorrect, until they add two teams.


In the CBS Sportsline story announcing Missouri's acceptance into the SEC:
Asked what division Missouri would be in, Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long posted on his Twitter account that Missouri will be in the "East initially."

jdip9

<<<the answer would seem to be:
5. They split Missouri and Texas A&M into each division, which would be geographically incorrect, until they add two teams.>>>

LOL, like geography matters. Something seems geographically incorrect about Boise St. joining the Big East, too, but that doesn't seem to be stopping that rumor.

NCAA = Not College Athletes Anymore. It's all about the almighty dollar.

estang

College football is a joke because of the BCS.

All of these traditional conferences are being torn to shreds because of there's no playoff system....

And because of this, college football's popularity has and will continue to decline... it's a fact!

LodiBrewFan

<< <i>college football's popularity has and will continue to decline... it's a fact! >>



Wow, quite possibly one of the most incorrect statements ending with 'it's a fact' ever!

Estil

How exactly will a 14 team conference work scheduling wise? It's really simple as far as basketball goes for 12 teams; we play both home and away games against the five in our division (10 total) then one game for each of the other division, rotating hosts each year (6). 10+6=16. But then how do we work in 14 teams without eating into the non-conference schedule too much? We do play THREE non-conference opponents each year after all.