Our three natural rivals are Arkansas, LSU, and Texas, but to balance the home/away schedule our 3rd opponent will likely be Mississippi State. We are playing all three of our natural rivals on the road this year, and I don't want that to continue every other year. Of course, we can play one of two of our three natural rivals on the road for the 2nd straight year in 2026 to get a more balanced home-and-away schedule split among them.

Greg Sankey also confirmed he expects schools to learn their 2026 schedule mid-year this season, with plans to announce it in full in December. He called it another opportunity to draw "interest and celebration" for the league, which is why the SEC has traditionally announced opponents in the summer and revealed the full schedule at a later date.

https://www.on3.com/news/greg-sankey-details-how-sec-will-decide-permanent-opponents-timeline-new-schedule-release-nine-games/

halfastros81 said:

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Ole Miss- Vandy is a big deal

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Seems odd. Why and how did this come about?

magnolia tiger said:

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Because it doesn't make sense, Bama, Auburn, Ole Miss, or Florida are bigger rivals. It's forced

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It wouldn't be the first and won't be the last bitter pill A&M bestows upon you. If it wasn't for Texas your Thanksgiving weekend would still be spoken for too.

All I know is they have been playing since 1894 and it's considered to be a big deal. I'm gonna guess there are a fair number of alums from both schools in Memphis metro.

Vandy
Kentucky
MsSt

halfastros81 said:

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All I know is they have been playing since 1894 and it's considered to be a big deal. I'm gonna guess there are a fair number of alums from both schools in Memphis metro.

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I don't think that there are a fair number of Vandy alums anywhere,

halfastros81 said:

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Sure but there isn't agreement amongst all the parties on who those permarivalries should be .

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It's pretty clear who our rivals are. The only thing MSSt and A&M have in common is Jackie Sherrill. We were playing Arkansas in the SWC before Jackie was born.

That's just from our perspective tho. There are 15 other schools involved.

rootube said:

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halfastros81 said:

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Sure but there isn't agreement amongst all the parties on who those permarivalries should be .

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It's pretty clear who our rivals are. The only thing MSSt and A&M have in common is Jackie Sherrill. We were playing Arkansas in the SWC before Jackie was born.

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There are other factors at play. For some stupid reason, Sankey thinks we should try to balance the strength of the permanent opponents (somewhat), which is a fools' errand, and only complicates things. Then, there is the question of setting up your pairings in a way that ensures everyone has someone to play the final weekend (the western group of LSU, A&M, Texas, OU, Arkansas, and Missouri provides several ways this can be done, but it creates ripple effects through the pairings when you move one of the pieces).

The bottom line is that for most schools, you'll end up with two rivals that are really obvious, but many will have a 3rd that is dictated by other considerations.

I actually agree with what they are trying to do. Which is the traditional strong teams need at least 2 of the three permanent games being those kinds of teams.

Just a data point . Auburn LSU have historically played 58 times. Texas A & M LSU have played 59 times and they weren't even in the same conference for most of said history.

Florida is a completely different beast . Florida and LSU have played 68 times and the series is tied 34-34.

Wouldn't shock me to see Bama and Miss State tied together.

Bama's gonna scream bloody murder (and rightly so) if their 3 are Auburn, Tenn, and LSU, all tough opponents.

And many folks don't realize that Starkville and Tuscaloosa are only about 80 miles apart

so SEC can help with competitive balance while having an easy explanation/excuse

halfastros81 said:

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Just a data point . Auburn LSU have historically played 58 times. Texas A & M LSU have played 59 times and they weren't even in the same conference for most of said history.

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correct, also

distance from A&M to Baton Rouge 312 miles
distance from BR to Auburn 363 miles

in addition
I bet the number of LSU alumni in Houston is probably 1,000x the number in Auburn. Possibly even more than the entire state of Alabama.

LSU alumni chapters in Texas
Austin
Corpus
Dallas
East Texas
Houston
North Houston

LSU alumni chapters in the entire state of Alabama
Baldwin County
Birmingham

I can't find numbers but there are as many chapters in Houston as the entire state of Alabama.

I think your'e spot on with regard to what LSU is going to get whether it's what they want or not for that very reason. eyeballs in the Texas tv markets is the driver. LSU- Texas A & M is absolutely going to be an annual game imo as will A&M -tu.

The only real question is who will be the 3rd permarival. I agree in a perfect world it would be Arky but it's not a perfect world and I suspect we'll get someone else like Clanga or Mizzou.

halfastros81 said:

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I think your'e spot on with regard to what LSU is going to get whether it's what they want or not for that very reason. eyeballs in the Texas tv markets is the driver. LSU- Texas A & M is absolutely going to be an annual game imo as will A&M -tu.

The only real question is who will be the 3rd permarival. I agree in a perfect world it would be Arky but it's not a perfect world and I suspect we'll get someone else like Clanga or Mizzou.

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Yea looking at the numbers you could argue the horns are a more suitable rival than Auburn for LSU.

A&M's top rivals: BMA's, change, themselves
LSU: sobriety, the English language, living in the 3rd world
Texas: entitlement, hat : cattle ratio, horns down
OU: living in the 3rd world, Texas, the past
Alabama: Finebaum, dating apps without cousin filter, Auburn
Auburn: Alabama, their version of BMA's (BMWDEs?), Alabama

Its not good or funny but it's Friday and I felt like it.....

LB12Diamond said:

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I actually agree with what they are trying to do. Which is the traditional strong teams need at least 2 of the three permanent games being those kinds of teams.

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I think you can consider strength, but doing it mechanically the way they did in 2023, and just cutting the league into top 8 and bottom 8 based on conference win percentage over the preceding 10 years, is not the way to do it. For one thing, it almost mandates that you change permanent opponents every four years in order to account for changes in those historical win percentage. For another, rather than having it stacked so that half the league has two "top 8" opponents, and half has only one, we should realize there is going to be a gradient where some teams might have 3 sort of middle of the pack opponents rather than be top heavy or bottom heavy. I also wouldn't hesitate to ignore strength if it makes sense historically (particularly if the schools in question were willing to prioritize ignoring it in order to get desired rivals).

If we end up playing MSU every year, they need to just call these "Permanent Opponents " and not rivals. Hardly anyone at either school would consider it a rivalry.

So just say it for what it is.

I'm for whatever gets us to host a game against UGA.

BS that tu got them at home in Year 1, and we've never played them at home in the now 14 years we've been in the conference.

And I'm still waiting for Sankey to choke on a satchel of richards.

northeastag said:

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If we end up playing MSU every year, they need to just call these "Permanent Opponents " and not rivals. Hardly anyone at either school would consider it a rivalry.

So just say it for what it is.

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Go look at the press release, that's exactly what they are calling it. When they originally did this in '92 when they went to divisions, they used the term 'rival', so everyone on here is still calling it 'permanent rivals'

2 of the 3 for the majority will fit the rivalry description which is fine. Most teams have two teams that they have to play every year. A few teams, just one. No teams have 3 teams they have to play. We don't have to play the hogs. But we sure as hell better play Texas first and LSU second.

People are splitting hairs about one team in most cases being played every year Vs twice(home/away) every 4 years. Thats a big nothing burger.

In my perfect world, our permanent rivals would be

LSU
Vandy
SC or MS St

Give me corn dog and two of the easiest we can get in the SEC. I'd love to only play tu half the time (or whatever the cycle rate will be). Eff 'em.

TX AG 88 said:

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In my perfect world, our permanent rivals would be

LSU
Vandy
SC or MS St

Give me corn dog and two of the easiest we can get in the SEC. I'd love to only play tu half the time (or whatever the cycle rate will be). Eff 'em.

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If we wanted an easier schedule we could join the B12 or B10 or ACC. That shouldn't
really be the goal.

https://247sports.com/college/texas-am/article/texas-am-football-to-play-nine-sec-games-beginning-in-2026-as-part-of-leagues-scheduling-format-change-252851440/

"In 2022, former A&M football coach Jimbo Fisher revealed Texas, LSU and Mississippi State were being discussed as the three SEC teams the Aggies could face annually if a nine-game conference schedule came to fruition."

Everyone's talking about Mississippi State because Jimbo floated the idea back in 2022. As if that has any weight to it. Jackie Sherrill and Emory Bellard are the only connections we have with that school. We have played that school only 18 times since 1912. So you really think the current AD, Administration, or even the SEC commissioner would want to create a "rivalry" with a program to which we have only a tangential connection?

It's t.u. Corndog, and Arky.

Davidtheag said:

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https://247sports.com/college/texas-am/article/texas-am-football-to-play-nine-sec-games-beginning-in-2026-as-part-of-leagues-scheduling-format-change-252851440/

"In 2022, former A&M football coach Jimbo Fisher revealed Texas, LSU and Mississippi State were being discussed as the three SEC teams the Aggies could face annually if a nine-game conference schedule came to fruition."

Everyone's talking about Mississippi State because Jimbo floated the idea back in 2022. As if that has any weight to it. Jackie Sherrill and Emory Bellard are the only connections we have with that school. We have played that school only 18 times since 1912. So you really think the current AD, Administration, or even the SEC commissioner would want to create a "rivalry" with a program to which we have only a tangential connection?

It's t.u. Corndog, and Arky.

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Jimbo didn't "float" the idea.
Jimbo leaked the official SEC office plan.
That's what the SEC office came up after doing their top 8/bottom 8 mess.

Nah, Bama would just go to Red Stick and beat their a$$. Bama's win % in Baton Rouge is impressive.
Auburn and UT are a given, don't see lsu being Bamas 3rd, more likley to be UK or USC I think.

Jarrin Jay said:

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Nah, Bama would just go to Red Stick and beat their a$$. Bama's win % in Baton Rouge is impressive.
Auburn and UT are a given, don't see lsu being Bamas 3rd, more likley to be UK or USC I think.

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You may not want to look up our recent win % in BR.

Texas
LSU
SC

rootube said:

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TX AG 88 said:

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In my perfect world, our permanent rivals would be

LSU
Vandy
SC or MS St

Give me corn dog and two of the easiest we can get in the SEC. I'd love to only play tu half the time (or whatever the cycle rate will be). Eff 'em.

---

If we wanted an easier schedule we could join the B12 or B10 or ACC. That shouldn't
really be the goal.

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There are no "easy" schedules in the SEC. Even my preference would have LSU plus 6 rotating SEC teams that aren't Vandy. That's a serious schedule in anyone's book.

I hate tu and wish they weren't in our conference. I'd rather not play tu at all, much less every year.

How about LSU, Ark and Vandy? (Plus, in my scenario, we play every other year in Nashville, which doesn't suck.)

TX AG 88 said:

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rootube said:

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TX AG 88 said:

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In my perfect world, our permanent rivals would be

LSU
Vandy
SC or MS St

Give me corn dog and two of the easiest we can get in the SEC. I'd love to only play tu half the time (or whatever the cycle rate will be). Eff 'em.

---

If we wanted an easier schedule we could join the B12 or B10 or ACC. That shouldn't
really be the goal.

---

There are no "easy" schedules in the SEC. Even my preference would have LSU plus 6 rotating SEC teams that aren't Vandy. That's a serious schedule in anyone's book.

I hate tu and wish they weren't in our conference. I'd rather not play tu at all, much less every year.

How about LSU, Ark and Vandy? (Plus, in my scenario, we play every other year in Nashville, which doesn't suck.)

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Try looking at sip's schedule if you want to see the easiest SEC schedule there's ever been.

Bill Superman said:

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TX AG 88 said:

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rootube said:

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TX AG 88 said:

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In my perfect world, our permanent rivals would be

LSU
Vandy
SC or MS St

Give me corn dog and two of the easiest we can get in the SEC. I'd love to only play tu half the time (or whatever the cycle rate will be). Eff 'em.

---

If we wanted an easier schedule we could join the B12 or B10 or ACC. That shouldn't
really be the goal.

---

There are no "easy" schedules in the SEC. Even my preference would have LSU plus 6 rotating SEC teams that aren't Vandy. That's a serious schedule in anyone's book.

I hate tu and wish they weren't in our conference. I'd rather not play tu at all, much less every year.

How about LSU, Ark and Vandy? (Plus, in my scenario, we play every other year in Nashville, which doesn't suck.)

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Try looking at sip's schedule if you want to see the easiest SEC schedule there's ever been.

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Texas has been playing easy schedules for years now. They were handed the season on a silver platter last year, and it's the same this year.

Ag Tag said:

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halfastros81 said:

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Ole Miss- Vandy is a big deal

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Seems odd. Why and how did this come about?

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I am convinced that Ole Miss pretends to have an emotional tie to the rivalry with Vandy because they want to keep playing the SEC doormat each year.

There are 8 schools in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas (the west group), and 8 in the other states (the east group). For permanent rivals, every school could have 2 rivals from their geographic (east or west) group and 1 from the other group. This would help maintain conference unity.

What messes up the ENTIRE league on historical rivals is Vandy, Mizzou, and [Miss. State]. Either they have one each of these bad schools claim 'rivals' or other schools want them for saving their coaches jobs with an upset win. Kentucky could theoretically be added to the list.

Ours needs to be TU, LSU, and likely Arkansas/OU. Otherwise, why would we want a boring home slate every other year? This year already sucks for conference home games.

Sankey should have just kept the East/West divisions by dumping OU and State to the East and TU and Florida to the West and keep Florida's annual (and good rivalry) games between LSU and Georgia. Even dumping State to the East would take away the Egg Bowl- but nobody watches that unless they went there or it's the only SEC game on at the time. Why are at it, UGA would be another great team to have in an imaginable SEC West.

But then, it would be the "SEC West" show, and the rest of the league would be dumpster fire like the Atlantic/East Coast version of the ACC.

The POD model is only beneficial to traveling Ags wanting to cross each stadium off their list.

I don't think I've seen anyone say this, but I think I would land towards Auburn more than anyone. They seem to have enough down years that I don't feel threatened by them on a regular basis, but feel like a real SEC school.

More than the permanent rivals, I honestly care much more about who our draw every other year is going to be. Whether they like it or not, someone is going to have to draw Georgia and Bama every year which would suck. Not to mention, as brought up previously, having to draw road games at L$U and tu (staying in this format) every other year along with the periodic draw of on the road at Bama or Georgia. Hopefully, we get a good draw on that front.