How to make a 9-game SEC football schedule? I assign three rivals to each team | Toppmeyer

The SEC is one step closer to a nine-game conference schedule after Oklahoma and Texas recently finalized their divorce with the Big 12. The Longhorns and Sooners will begin SEC competition as part of a 16-team conference in 2024, at which point the SEC plans to ditch divisions.

The conversation now pivots to the SEC’s future schedule. Last year, conference leaders discussed an eight- and nine-game scheduling model for the expanded league but did not approve a plan.

The model with the most momentum seems to be a nine-game format in which each team would play three assigned conference rivals annually, while rotating among the other teams so that it plays six of the remaining teams in one year and the other six the next.

I made a few attempts to assign rivals last spring when this model garnered buzz, but I’ve cleared the slate and approached it with fresh eyes in this attempt to play matchmaker.

Preserving marquee rivalries became my main goal while also keeping competitive balance in mind.

Here’s my latest plan:

Alabama

Rivals: Auburn, Tennessee, LSU

My take: When Alabama fans sing “Dixieland Delight,” they insert lyrics to loudly proclaim they want to, er, “beat” three rivals: Auburn, LSU and Tennessee, too. Alabama’s rival assignments should be among the most obvious. Just look to the song.

Arkansas

Rivals: Missouri, Texas, Ole Miss

My take: Missouri would maintain a matchup that began after the Tigers joined the SEC and gained steam in recent years. Texas revives an old Southwest Conference rivalry, and, at the expense of LSU or Texas A&M, Ole Miss is a better fit to snap the puzzle into place.

Auburn

Rivals: Alabama, Georgia, Vanderbilt

My take: The Tigers’ top rivals are Alabama and Georgia, putting Auburn on the path toward having the most challenging docket. So, as a balancing act, how about an annual date with Vanderbilt?

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LSU

Rivals: Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Alabama

My take: LSU probably has more rivals or sort-of rivals than any other SEC team. Along with my assigned trio, Florida, Arkansas and Auburn consider games against LSU to be a big deal. But the three I selected are among LSU's top rivals, and this combination keeps the competitive scales balanced.

Ole Miss

Rivals: Mississippi State, LSU, Arkansas

My take: Maintaining the Egg Bowl is obvious, and fans old enough to remember Billy Cannon's Halloween run appreciate the Magnolia Bowl. Arkansas-Ole Miss is a competitive series to complete the list.

Mississippi State

Rivals: Ole Miss, Kentucky, Texas A&M

My take: The Bulldogs have no must-have pairings other than the Egg Bowl. Alabama-MSU is a longstanding but lopsided series, and the Crimson Tide has better pairings. Retaining Kentucky would preserve what's now a competitive interdivision series. The Texas A&M assignment balances the scales.

Texas A&M

Rivals: Texas, LSU, Mississippi State

My take: Restoring the Aggies-Longhorns rivalry – preferably to Thanksgiving week – would mark the greatest schedule boon emanating from this expansion. A&M-LSU packs enough of a bite to retain. The MSU pairing is simply a puzzle-fitting maneuver.

Oklahoma

Rivals: Texas, Missouri, Florida

My take: The Red River Shootout is untouchable. Rekindling an old Big Eight series with Missouri creates a second match. From there, it’s tricky. An OU-Florida pairing is my most bizarre assignment, pairing schools that are nearly 1,200 miles apart, but as you play matchmaker, you realize a wonky matchup or two is necessary.

Texas

Rivals: Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Arkansas

My take: Determining the Longhorns’ assignments shouldn’t take long. OU-Texas and Texas-Texas A&M are preeminent rivalries. If you don’t think Arkansas-Texas sizzles, just ask any Razorbacks fan who is at least 40 years old, and they’ll set you straight.

Florida

Rivals: Georgia, Kentucky, Oklahoma

My take: Losing Florida-Tennessee, a rivalry that came to prominence in the 1990s, became one of my top concessions. Auburn-Florida is also tempting, except AU requires a soft foe to offset Alabama and Georgia. As long as UF plays Georgia and Florida State annually, it maintains top rivalries. Florida-Kentucky has become a spicier matchup recently. As previously acknowledged, Oklahoma is an awkward choice that allows other pieces to align.

Georgia

Rivals: Florida, Auburn, South Carolina

My take: Don’t overthink this one. Florida and Auburn are Georgia’s top SEC rivals, and Georgia is South Carolina’s most natural rival in the conference.

Kentucky

Rivals: Vanderbilt, Florida, Mississippi State

My take: Tennessee is the obvious omission here, but the Vols could be pulled in one of a few directions. And, anyway, it is lopsided series, particularly since 1985. Bring back the Beer Barrel, and maybe I’d be more inclined to preserve Kentucky-Tennessee.

Missouri

Rivals: Arkansas, Oklahoma, South Carolina

My take: A border matchup, a Big Eight renewal and … the battle of the Columbias. If you’re not a Missouri or South Carolina fan (or even if you are) you may not know the Tigers-Gamecocks series is a trophy game. Missouri lacks heated rivals since joining the SEC, but Arkansas and South Carolina at least gained more steam than others.

South Carolina

Rivals: Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee

My take: Georgia is the most logical matchup, with two wild cards after that. South Carolina-Tennessee has been competitive for the past two decades. And the Mayor’s Cup against Missouri is a better fit than most for USC.

Tennessee

Rivals: Vanderbilt, Alabama, South Carolina

My take: The Third Saturday in October and the instate affair with Vanderbilt are natural choices. And then … Kentucky, Florida or South Carolina? The Florida series has the most potential, but it lacks the Kentucky series’ longevity. Still, rarely is UK-UT appointment viewing. Vols-Gamecocks is a better matchup of schools separated by 260 miles.

Vanderbilt

Rivals: Tennessee, Kentucky, Auburn

My take: Tennessee and Kentucky are Vanderbilt’s top rivals. From there, it’s a matter of determining which team needs a favorable Vanderbilt assignment to balance its rivals. Awarding Auburn the Commodores as an offset for Alabama and Georgia would work nicely.

Blake Toppmeyer is an SEC Columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: SEC football with Texas, Oklahoma in 2024: Making 9-game schedule work