Mustang1 said:

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LSU can't have A&M, Ole piss, & Bama b/c that would leave them with no one to play last game of season. I think they will have to get OU.

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I have said the same as well. I think it's kind of the reason LSU and OU are playing the last game now. Bama also wants out of the LSU game every year. So LSU might get OU and A&M.

SEC should have left A&M/LSU the last week.

OU could have then played Mizzou.

And Texas the Hogs.

But since they moved it, they have a problem if they want LSU to be aligned with Ole Miss, Bama and A&M.

LB12Diamond said:

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Mustang1 said:

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LSU can't have A&M, Ole piss, & Bama b/c that would leave them with no one to play last game of season. I think they will have to get OU.

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I have said the same as well. I think it's kind of the reason LSU and OU are playing the last game now. Bama also wants out of the LSU game every year. So LSU might get OU and A&M.

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Yup and Bama isn't going to play 3 top tier teams in Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU as their permanent rivals if they don't have to.

Can LSU-Oklahoma really be some kind of permanent rivalry week solution when the possibility of the return of the Bedlam game will always be out there?

It might be easier just to give that spot back to Arkansas and LSU and let Missouri and Oklahoma play that weekend, because they both have teams outside the conference who are their traditional rivalry week games (Oklahoma State and Kansas)

Ugh, with the rivalry week having to be taken into consideration, I suppose I will have to endorse something like this:

Alabama: Auburn, Tennessee, Miss State
Arkansas: Texas, LSU, Missouri
Auburn: Alabama, Georgia, Florida
Florida: Georgia, Auburn, South Carolina
Georgia: Florida, Auburn, South Carolina
Kentucky: Tennessee, Vanderbilt, South Carolina
LSU: Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Arkansas
Ole Miss: Miss State, LSU, Oklahoma
Miss State: Ole Miss, Alabama, Texas A&M
Missouri: Oklahoma, Arkansas, Vanderbilt
Oklahoma: Texas, Missouri, Ole Miss
South Carolina: Georgia, Florida, Kentucky
Tennessee: Alabama, Vanderbilt, Kentucky
Texas: Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Arkansas
Texas A&M: Texas, LSU, Miss State
Vanderbilt: Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri

LB12Diamond said:

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Mustang1 said:

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LSU can't have A&M, Ole piss, & Bama b/c that would leave them with no one to play last game of season. I think they will have to get OU.

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I have said the same as well. I think it's kind of the reason LSU and OU are playing the last game now. Bama also wants out of the LSU game every year. So LSU might get OU and A&M.

SEC should have left A&M/LSU the last week.

OU could have then played Mizzou.

And Texas the Hogs.

But since they moved it, they have a problem if they want LSU to be aligned with Ole Miss, Bama and A&M.

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The SEC moved our LSU away from Thanksgiving. They can just as easily move it back. I actually think this is the answer. Lines up nicely for all of these programs

I just don't see any way that ESPN (and therefore the SEC) wouldn't prefer to have Texas vs A&M in rivalry week vs all other permutations.

JJxvi said:

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I just don't see any way that ESPN (and therefore the SEC) wouldn't prefer to have Texas vs A&M in rivalry week vs all other permutations.

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Frankly, from a television standpoint, there are too many good games that Saturday. But, if we are going to allow them to move the game to Friday (bad move for our students), then they will be fine with us keeping it that weekend.

No matter what time it is, Texas-Texas A&M is going be more likely in their eyes to compete with whatever Fox has on than LSU-A&M or Texas-Arkansas would, and thats a more important consideration that weekend than any other

Replied to wrong. Message.

Cinco Ranch Aggie said:

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LB12Diamond said:

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Mustang1 said:

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LSU can't have A&M, Ole piss, & Bama b/c that would leave them with no one to play last game of season. I think they will have to get OU.

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I have said the same as well. I think it's kind of the reason LSU and OU are playing the last game now. Bama also wants out of the LSU game every year. So LSU might get OU and A&M.

SEC should have left A&M/LSU the last week.

OU could have then played Mizzou.

And Texas the Hogs.

But since they moved it, they have a problem if they want LSU to be aligned with Ole Miss, Bama and A&M.

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The SEC moved our LSU away from Thanksgiving. They can just as easily move it back. I actually think this is the answer. Lines up nicely for all of these programs

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Yes it seems the obvious thing to do and I think all the schools would like it.

So of course, they will not do it.


I'm going to the LSU game this year. I'm going to ask the LSU fans while I'm there if they would be cool with having OU as yearly game and playing them that week every year.

LB12Diamond said:

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Cinco Ranch Aggie said:

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LB12Diamond said:

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Mustang1 said:

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LSU can't have A&M, Ole piss, & Bama b/c that would leave them with no one to play last game of season. I think they will have to get OU.

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I have said the same as well. I think it's kind of the reason LSU and OU are playing the last game now. Bama also wants out of the LSU game every year. So LSU might get OU and A&M.

SEC should have left A&M/LSU the last week.

OU could have then played Mizzou.

And Texas the Hogs.

But since they moved it, they have a problem if they want LSU to be aligned with Ole Miss, Bama and A&M.

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The SEC moved our LSU away from Thanksgiving. They can just as easily move it back. I actually think this is the answer. Lines up nicely for all of these programs

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Yes it seems the obvious thing to do and I think all the schools would like it.

So of course, they will not do it.


I'm going to the LSU game this year. I'm going to ask the LSU fans while I'm there if they would be cool with having OU as yearly game and playing them that week every year.

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Would that be before or after they start regurgitating on themselves?

Mustang1 said:

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LSU can't have A&M, Ole piss, & Bama b/c that would leave them with no one to play last game of season. I think they will have to get OU.

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If LSU gets Arkansas as one of their permanent opponents, they can resume playing Arkansas for their last regular season game, and Oklahoma can get Missouri. LSU had played Arkansas in their last regular season game from 1992 to 2013, including on Black Friday in 1992 and from 1996 to 2013. Then, the SEC switched Arkansas vs LSU and Missouri vs Texas A&M to LSU vs Texas A&M and Arkansas vs Missouri on rivalry week in 2014. I don't think the SEC will move the Texas vs Texas A&M Lone Star Showdown from rivalry week to give us back LSU and Arkansas to Texas for rivalry week.

Iraq2xVeteran said:

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Mustang1 said:

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LSU can't have A&M, Ole piss, & Bama b/c that would leave them with no one to play last game of season. I think they will have to get OU.

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LSU can get back Arkansas for their last regular season game and Oklahoma can get Missouri. LSU had played Arkansas in their last regular season game from 1992 to 2013, including on Black Friday in 1992 and from 1996 to 2013. Then, the SEC switched Arkansas vs LSU and Missouri vs Texas A&M to LSU vs Texas A&M and Arkansas vs Missouri on rivalry week in 2014. I don't think the SEC will move the Texas vs Texas A&M Lone Star Showdown from rivalry week and the Oklahoma vs Texas Red River Rivalry from October to resume the LSU vs Texas A&M game on rivalry week.

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You are missing the point. You can't simply say that LSU will play Arkansas because, under this scenario, Arkansas will not be on their schedule every year.

If LSU's permanent opponents are A&M, Ole Miss, and Bama, then there is no one else who will be on their schedule every year. By SEC rule, they have to have a game that weekend. If they aren't playing one of their permanent opponents, or don't decide to do something like resume their series with Tulane (virtually no chance of that), the only other alternative would be for the SEC to set it up so that there were three other teams with no set opponent that final weekend (likely OU, Arkansas, and Missouri), and have the four of them rotate playing the final week.

twk said:

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Iraq2xVeteran said:

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Mustang1 said:

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LSU can't have A&M, Ole piss, & Bama b/c that would leave them with no one to play last game of season. I think they will have to get OU.

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LSU can get back Arkansas for their last regular season game and Oklahoma can get Missouri. LSU had played Arkansas in their last regular season game from 1992 to 2013, including on Black Friday in 1992 and from 1996 to 2013. Then, the SEC switched Arkansas vs LSU and Missouri vs Texas A&M to LSU vs Texas A&M and Arkansas vs Missouri on rivalry week in 2014. I don't think the SEC will move the Texas vs Texas A&M Lone Star Showdown from rivalry week and the Oklahoma vs Texas Red River Rivalry from October to resume the LSU vs Texas A&M game on rivalry week.

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You are missing the point. You can't simply say that LSU will play Arkansas because, under this scenario, Arkansas will not be on their schedule every year.

If LSU's permanent opponents are A&M, Ole Miss, and Bama, then there is no one else who will be on their schedule every year. By SEC rule, they have to have a game that weekend. If they aren't playing one of their permanent opponents, or don't decide to do something like resume their series with Tulane (virtually no chance of that), the only other alternative would be for the SEC to set it up so that there were three other teams with no set opponent that final weekend (likely OU, Arkansas, and Missouri), and have the four of them rotate playing the final week.

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I corrected my post to say if Arkansas will be one of LSU's permanent opponents before explaining this scenario. Yes, if LSU's permanent opponents are A&M, Ole Miss, and Alabama, their only option would be to play A&M on Thanksgiving weekend because the Egg and Iron Bowls would continue.

LSU will be paired with Arkansas if rivalry week absolutely must be squared away. There are only four teams that arent spoken for on that week and they are Oklahoma, Missouri, LSU, Arkansas.

Oklahoma and Missouri both have out of conference games they are supposed to traditionally play that week, so Im pretty sure Oklahoma-Missouri will end up paired together for that weekend anticipating the return of either Bedlam or Border war games (which I think is actually being played this year already). That leaves LSU paired with Arkansas. That would also virtually guarantee we will not be with Arkansas

JJxvi said:

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LSU will be paired with Arkansas if rivalry week absolutely must be squared away. There are only four teams that arent spoken for on that week and they are Oklahoma, Missouri, LSU, Arkansas.

Oklahoma and Missouri both have out of conference games they are supposed to traditionally play that week, so Im pretty sure Oklahoma-Missouri will end up paired together for that weekend anticipating the return of either Bedlam or Border war games (which I think is actually being played this year already). That leaves LSU paired with Arkansas. That would also virtually guarantee we will not be with Arkansas

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I agree with you because I think the Arkansas vs LSU and Oklahoma vs Missouri pairings for rivalry week would make the most sense. Yes, Kansas will play at Missouri on 9/6 and will host Missouri on 9/12/26. The ice has thawed between two of the nation's fiercest football rivals, as the University of Missouri and the University of Kansas have agreed to a four-game series to be played over an eight-year period, beginning in 2025. The series will resume with games in 2025 (Sept. 6, 2025) and 2026 (Sept. 12, 2026), with the final two games set for 2031 (Sept. 6, 2031) and 2032 (Sept. 11, 2032). Mizzou will serve as the home team in the odd-number years, with Kansas serving as home team for the even-numbered years.

https://mutigers.com/news/2020/5/2/mizzou-kansas-to-resume-longstanding-football-rivalry.aspx

I honestly haven't seen anything yet that looks like a realistic projections of what matchups will be. IMO, the following are the priorities that will actually drive the decision (all of these are really just "money", but with more detail):

• Nationally recognized rivalries are top priorities.
• Strength of schedule (i.e. Alabama whining about getting Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU)
• Every team getting their top choice (as possible given the above) and preference on their second choice.
• Any other minor rivalries available
• Regionality

Given that, I think there are four phases that feed into the decision:

Phase I: Must Haves
Alabama - Auburn Tennessee
Arkansas -
Auburn - Alabama Georgia
Florida - Georgia
Georgia - Florida Auburn
Kentucky -
LSU -
Oklahoma - tu
Ole Miss - Miss State
Miss State - Ole Miss
Mizzou -
South Carolina -
Tennessee - Alabama
tu - Texas A&M Oklahoma
Texas A&M - tu
Vanderbilt -

All of these games are nationally recognized and there is no way that ESPN is letting us make a schedule where they don't get to air these games annually. Honestly, this is pretty commonly accepted, so I would be surprised if there is much argument here.


Phase II: High Priorities
Alabama - Auburn Tennessee
Arkansas - tu
Auburn - Alabama Georgia
Florida - Georgia LSU
Georgia - Florida Auburn South Carolina
Kentucky - Tennessee
LSU - Ole Miss Texas A&M Florida
Oklahoma - tu Mizzou
Ole Miss - Miss State LSU
Miss State - Ole Miss
Mizzou - Oklahoma
South Carolina - Georgia
Tennessee - Alabama Vanderbilt Kentucky
tu - Texas A&M Oklahoma Arkansas
Texas A&M - tu LSU
Vanderbilt - Tennessee

In this phase, everyone without at least one matchup in Phase I gets to pick their top choice, with the exception of LSU because of the hissy fit Alabama would throw. They do get what are probably their next three choices all at once, though. This is probably reasonable considering that Ole Miss and Texas A&M both likely consider them secondary rivals, and Florida doesn't get Tennesse because of Vandy and Kentucky, so LSU is probably their third choice.

At this stage, every team has at least one of their top three choices, and many have several. Four teams are already done: Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, and tu. Other than LSU, and maybe Florida, I doubt there are any teams complaining so far, and their complaints probably aren't too loud at this point.

Phase III: Best rivalries and matchups left
Alabama - Auburn Tennessee Miss State
Arkansas - tu Texas A&M Mizzou
Auburn - Alabama Georgia
Florida - Georgia LSU South Carolina
Georgia - Florida Auburn South Carolina
Kentucky - Tennessee Vanderbilt
LSU - Ole Miss Texas A&M Florida
Oklahoma - tu Mizzou
Ole Miss - Miss State LSU
Miss State - Ole Miss Alabama
Mizzou - Oklahoma Arkansas
South Carolina - Georgia Florida
Tennessee - Alabama Vanderbilt Kentucky
tu - Texas A&M Oklahoma Arkansas
Texas A&M - tu LSU Arkansas
Vanderbilt - Tennessee Kentucky

After this phase, all teams have at least two assigned rivals and some smaller rivalries have been preserved (e.g. Alabama/Miss State, the Tennessee/Kentucky/Vanderbilt love triangle, the Arkansas/Mizzou contrivalry that is becoming something more). South Carolina/Florida is somewhat of a match of convenience, but there is history, geography, and some schedule balance that probably makes everybody happy here.

There are probably more complaints about this that the previous steps, but I'd still be surprised if there are many fans of any of these schools that are too upset with what is listed so far.

Phase IV: Finishing touches
Alabama - Auburn Tennessee Miss State
Arkansas - tu Texas A&M Mizzou
Auburn - Alabama Georgia Vanderbilt
Florida - Georgia LSU South Carolina
Georgia - Florida Auburn South Carolina
Kentucky - Tennessee Vanderbilt Mizzou
LSU - Ole Miss Texas A&M Florida
Oklahoma - tu Mizzou Ole Miss
Ole Miss - Miss State LSU Oklahoma
Miss State - Ole Miss Alabama South Carolina
Mizzou - Oklahoma Arkansas Kentucky
South Carolina - Georgia Florida Miss State
Tennessee - Alabama Vanderbilt Kentucky
tu - Texas A&M Oklahoma Arkansas
Texas A&M - tu LSU Arkansas
Vanderbilt - Tennessee Kentucky Auburn

Auburn/Vandy has a little bit of history here, but the other three matchups (Oklahoma/Ole Miss, South Carolina/Miss State, and Mizzou/Kentucky) are pretty contrived. That being said, there is at least competitive balance in the matchups selected and the geography is as good as I could make it. However, I wouldn't argue about switching up any of these groups.

The first thing that jumps out to me is State. They are going to have to give State easier match ups. Bama might not like it but they are probably keeping that LSU game. And Vols Gators will play each other. Vols don't get two easy teams.

LB12Diamond said:

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The first thing that jumps out to me is State. They are going to have to give Stare easier match ups. Bama might not like it but they are probably keeping that LSU game. And Vols Gators will play each other. Vols don't get two easy teams.

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Are they not doing the model where a top 8 team plays two top 8 programs and one bottom 8?

VP at Pierce and Pierce said:

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LB12Diamond said:

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The first thing that jumps out to me is State. They are going to have to give Stare easier match ups. Bama might not like it but they are probably keeping that LSU game. And Vols Gators will play each other. Vols don't get two easy teams.

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Are they not doing the model where a top 8 team plays two top 8 programs and one bottom 8?

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I think they are not going to slavishly follow that. It's an arbitrary dividing line, and ignores the fact that there is a whole middle grouping of teams that should be differentiated from, say, Bama and Georgia.

Vols getting Vandy and Kentucky is silly though. There is middle ground but those two teams easily in the bottom 3.

And State is going to have to get a team from the bottom. I just don't see them matching the Gators and LSU when there are many strong teams in the west to match up LSU.

Who does LSU play Thanksgiving weekend?

tu may have screwed us out of playing LSU.

Florida, Ole Miss, and A&M is another grouping that potentially leaves LSU without a game to play on rivalry weekend.

LSU will have to get Missouri, Oklahoma, or Arkansas and only one of those makes sense when considering the fact that Missouri could easily play Kansas, and Oklahoma could easily play Oklahoma State on rivalry week. LSU-Arkansas game I think is going to be in the final list.

JJxvi said:

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LSU will have to get Missouri, Oklahoma, or Arkansas and only one of those makes sense when considering the fact that Missouri could easily play Kansas, and Oklahoma could easily play Oklahoma State on rivalry week. LSU-Arkansas game I think is going to be in the final list.

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Missouri vs Kansas has moved to September. So it looks like Missouri bs Arkansas is the matchup for thanksgiving weekend for those two programs. I'm guessing OU vs LSU does thanksgiving weekend too.

Got a new sip coworker that started Monday. Within seconds of meeting him, he already started in with the "little brother" comments. Most of new army doesn't hate these ****heads enough.

This is a Wendy's FIFY: **** Texas and I still hate that we have to play these clowns again.

LarryLayman said:

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Who does LSU play Thanksgiving weekend?

tu may have screwed us out of playing LSU.

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Don't blame this one on the sips. I'm sure we agreed to it. Unfortunately

JJxvi said:

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Florida, Ole Miss, and A&M is another grouping that potentially leaves LSU without a game to play on rivalry weekend.

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That is a good point and one I didn't consider in these matchups. However, there are a few solutions (some more serious than others):

• move our game with tu, and LSU plays Texas A&M
• move Florida/FSU, and LSU plays Florida
• LSU pulls a Georgia and schedules their "true rival" Tulane, which gives them a breather most years before the SEC Championship weekend (which may be for more than the top two teams going forward).

If you have to adjust schedule for this, maybe something like the following:

Alabama - Auburn Tennessee Miss State
Arkansas - tu Texas A&M Mizzou
Auburn - Alabama Georgia Vanderbilt
Florida - Georgia South Carolina Ole Miss
Georgia - Florida Auburn South Carolina
Kentucky - Tennessee Vanderbilt Mizzou
LSU - Ole Miss Texas A&M Oklahoma
Oklahoma - tu Mizzou LSU
Ole Miss - Miss State LSU Florida
Miss State - Ole Miss Alabama South Carolina
Mizzou - Oklahoma Arkansas Kentucky
South Carolina - Georgia Florida Miss State
Tennessee - Alabama Vanderbilt Kentucky
tu - Texas A&M Oklahoma Arkansas
Texas A&M - tu LSU Arkansas
Vanderbilt - Tennessee Kentucky Auburn

I don't think Florida or LSU like this schedule as much as the previous one, but competitive balance still seems to be mostly maintained, and Florida/Ole Miss isn't any worse than South Carolina/Miss State from a geography standpoint, and seems interesting as a matchup (original members, 13-12-1 all time record, decently similar strengths as programs in recent years). LSU fans seem to not be totally adverse to an Oklahoma matchup, and there could be some fun definitely-not-PC themes from an injun vs. cajun matchup. Overall, this schedule still seems like something that could reasonably happen and mostly satisfy major stakeholders.

Quote:

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• move our game with tu, and LSU plays Texas A&M

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This is what needs to happen. But with the bozos in the SEC making these decisions, it won't.

Let's do it!!!

Ugly said:

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JJxvi said:

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Florida, Ole Miss, and A&M is another grouping that potentially leaves LSU without a game to play on rivalry weekend.

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That is a good point and one I didn't consider in these matchups. However, there are a few solutions (some more serious than others):

• move our game with tu, and LSU plays Texas A&M
• move Florida/FSU, and LSU plays Florida
• LSU pulls a Georgia and schedules their "true rival" Tulane, which gives them a breather most years before the SEC Championship weekend (which may be for more than the top two teams going forward).

If you have to adjust schedule for this, maybe something like the following:

Alabama - Auburn Tennessee Miss State
Arkansas - tu Texas A&M Mizzou
Auburn - Alabama Georgia Vanderbilt
Florida - Georgia South Carolina Ole Miss
Georgia - Florida Auburn South Carolina
Kentucky - Tennessee Vanderbilt Mizzou
LSU - Ole Miss Texas A&M Oklahoma
Oklahoma - tu Mizzou LSU
Ole Miss - Miss State LSU Florida
Miss State - Ole Miss Alabama South Carolina
Mizzou - Oklahoma Arkansas Kentucky
South Carolina - Georgia Florida Miss State
Tennessee - Alabama Vanderbilt Kentucky
tu - Texas A&M Oklahoma Arkansas
Texas A&M - tu LSU Arkansas
Vanderbilt - Tennessee Kentucky Auburn

I don't think Florida or LSU like this schedule as much as the previous one, but competitive balance still seems to be mostly maintained, and Florida/Ole Miss isn't any worse than South Carolina/Miss State from a geography standpoint, and seems interesting as a matchup (original members, 13-12-1 all time record, decently similar strengths as programs in recent years). LSU fans seem to not be totally adverse to an Oklahoma matchup, and there could be some fun definitely-not-PC themes from an injun vs. cajun matchup. Overall, this schedule still seems like something that could reasonably happen and mostly satisfy major stakeholders.

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While a lot of your pairings are good & reasonable, I doubt OU will get LSU as a rival.

We will find out if the SEC wants the 3 permanents to be regional match-ups and satisfy old rivalries

OR

Maybe give everyone 2 historic rivals and then fill in the blank for the 3rd one.....maybe the 3rd rival is changed every 4 or 8 years for so-called "competitive" balance???

LB12Diamond said:

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The first thing that jumps out to me is State. They are going to have to give State easier match ups. Bama might not like it but they are probably keeping that LSU game. And Vols Gators will play each other. Vols don't get two easy teams.

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What do you mean easier matchups for State? Ole Miss and South Carolina are both bottom half teams traditionally (this year's AP preseason poll notwithstanding) I would argue that State's lineup is one of the easier slates overall.

I could definitely see Tennessee/Florida sticking around. The main problem there is that Kentucky no longer gets a top choice (which if we are being honest is probably not the end of the world from a feasibility standpoint). On the plus side, if you do something like swap opponents in my last update to Tennessee/Florida and Ole Miss/Kentucky, Kentucky actually has the easiest schedule, which probably makes up for it.

Ugly said:

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LB12Diamond said:

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The first thing that jumps out to me is State. They are going to have to give State easier match ups. Bama might not like it but they are probably keeping that LSU game. And Vols Gators will play each other. Vols don't get two easy teams.

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What do you mean easier matchups for State? Ole Miss and South Carolina are both bottom half teams traditionally (this year's AP preseason poll notwithstanding) I would argue that State's lineup is one of the easier slates overall.

I could definitely see Tennessee/Florida sticking around. The main problem there is that Kentucky no longer gets a top choice (which if we are being honest is probably not the end of the world from a feasibility standpoint). On the plus side, if you do something like swap opponents in my last update to Tennessee/Florida and Ole Miss/Kentucky, Kentucky actually has the easiest schedule, which probably makes up for it.

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In honor of Lee Corso, "Not so fast my friend."

Kentucky would play 6 other teams that very well may include the so-called tough ones. It just won't be on a year-end, year-out basis. Besides, competitive balance is so hard to project from year to year.

They need to use these matchups to pump rivalry narratives which means the SEC and ESPN needs the tend to the business of creating rivalries.

We have three healthy "histories" with Texas, Arkansas, and LSU in that order. LSU is a traditional SEC school so that at least covers that bingo square. Texas is a money maker rival potentially with a perennial if not annual national audience.

Arkansas is more about Arkansas having access to Texas recruits so the single rivalry with Texas (which is a notionally longer history than ours with Arkansas) meets that need.

I REALLY prefer NOT highlighting the two maroon and white teams annually. But I'll do anything to escape the South Carolina annual game.

Texas, Arkansas, and LSU. Any other answer is wrong.