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Alabama is on the verge of a surprising endorsement for eight conference games after Nick Saban voiced frustration with the SEC's three proposed permanent rivals for the Tide (Auburn, LSU and Tennessee) should the league expand to nine games. Should the program follow Saban's battle cry, the Tide would join forces with at least four schools in opposition to the proposal for a nine-game schedule beginning in 2024, sources tell 247Sports. Administrators from 16 SEC schools, including future members Oklahoma and Texas, gather Tuesday through Friday to discuss two models:

An eight-game format with one permanent rival and seven rotating opponents
A nine-game format with three permanent rivals and six rotating opponents.

A lot of rivalries will be tossed to the scrap heap in the 8-game model.

https://247sports.com/Article/SEC-footb ... 210765203/

Another column summarizing the pros and cons of each:

https://footballscoop.com/news/8-game-m ... s-approach

I'd be happy to keep Ole Miss as a permanent rival.

I don't really like either solution and wish they could have left the conference as it was. But as a Vanderbilt fan, we need 4 OOC games more than we need permanent rivals.

I vote Kentucky as Vanderbilt’s permanent rival … and make Tennessee play South Carolina every year.

Versus75 wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 11:01 am I vote Kentucky as Vanderbilt’s permanent rival … and make Tennessee play South Carolina every year.

.....or join the ACC.

nm

Either way, we should know something by the end of the week. The SEC's spring meetings begin tomorrow in Destin.

I vote 8 game schedule and either KY or Ole Miss our permanent rival...

we would be nuts to support 9 conference games.

8 is plenty.

There are too many creampuffs on the sec calendar. I'd rather they go 3+6, require one power 5 non conference opponent, and then only two cream puff games each of which have to be played before middle of October.

For Vandy yes it hurts our chances of 6 wins. But realistically none of the bowl games we've been to have been that great. And honestly I'd rather play more interesting non conference games than play NC State in the Dec27th Leftover Bowl.

Go Vandy! wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 8:56 pm ...us or them... or all 4?

Sorry, not at all clear ! UT to the ACC ......or the Arena League......... or the state pen , I'm easy to please.

I never liked the 9-game format either. But I find it interesting that it seemed like it was almost a done deal until suddenly Alabama decides it doesn't like it.

Also amusing that Coach Saban doesn't want to play Auburn-LSU-Tennessee every year. Except for last year with LSU and Tennessee, he's done pretty well against all three. Maybe he could trade one of the three for Georgia.

UPDATED TUESDAY AFTERNOON: Mizzou's Eli Drinkwitz, of all people, emerges as a vocal proponent of the 9-game schedule, according to the Tennessean.

Why not 2 permanent 7 rotating? I know that messes with all the even math folks but here are some examples of two permanents

Vanderbilt- Tenn, Kentucky
Alabama Auburn, Tenn
Georgia Florida , Auburn
Auburn Alabama, Georgia
Florida Georgia, LSU,
Ole Miss Miss st, LSU,
Tenn Vanderbilt, Ala,
LSU ole ms, Florida

Watching Finebaum and ling array of coaches and AD's on his shiw there is one thing clear: there will be a decusion on schedule thus week because commissioner wants it.
Likely will be 9 games again because commissioner wants it.
Finally they all want Congress to legislate NIL to take it out of states hands.

From the athletic article

“Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea coaches a program that went 5-7 last year, and that was considered a good year, at least compared to expectations. The Commodores have only been to six bowls since 1982. But he also appeared OK with going to nine, if that’s what was decided.

“I think I’m still influenced by my time at Notre Dame (as an assistant) where you had your schedule of ACC matchups, and it was constant turnover,” Lea said. “In my mind, I’m less focused on what that decision will be, once they make it I’ll be excited to see how it plays out. No matter what, the models they’re presenting are going to increase the number of times you play different opponents, it will create some diversity in the scheduling.”

Sorry, I am late to the party and confused. IS the SEC doing away with divisions for sure? How could a Vandy fan be for 9? No way to make bowl.

dorelover82 wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 10:37 pm Sorry, I am late to the party and confused. IS the SEC doing away with divisions for sure? How could a Vandy fan be for 9? No way to make bowl.

Greg Sankey announced back in the fall that divisions would likely be eliminated with Texas and Oklahoma joining the conference.

fldore wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 12:53 pm But realistically none of the bowl games we've been to have been that great. And honestly I'd rather play more interesting non conference games than play NC State in the Dec27th Leftover Bowl.

Having suffered through the period 1982 to 2007 when we played plenty of interesting non-conference games and didn't go to a bowl, I'll take the leftovers, please.

No divisions but probably still a championship game between the top 2 teams