Thirteen and Counting...

Rivalries define college football. Alabama/Auburn, Michigan/Ohio State, Oregon/Oregon State, Harvard/Yale, you name the team, there's probably at least two "rivals" on their schedule. As a Gamecock fan, there's the obvious Thanksgiving-weekend clash with in-state foe Clemson. For those of you who are less familiar with the nature of rivalries, the Clemson/Carolina game is what you would call a "natural rivalry" given the fact that both schools are located in the Palmetto State. Then there's the South Carolina/Georgia game which is circled on the Gamecocks' calendar every season, but is more of a conference and schedule creation than it is natural.

Now that I've drawn the distinction between natural and 'circumstantial' rivalries, let's apply this notion to conference realignment. More specifically, let's consider a few different scenarios for the SEC moving forward as a mega-conference. SEC elitists, like my wife, don't want to see any schools added to the juggernaut. This "no one else is good enough" stance is noble although unfeasible. Besides, you don't have to look beyond Vandy, Kentucky and Ole Miss to realize that not every school in the conference has a perennial Top 25 football program. I, on the other hand, am taking this expansion talk in stride. I'm aware of the power that comes with adding major TV markets, perennial powers and new traditions.

So, to cut to the chase, here are a few scenarios that play to the rumors and would pave the way for an entirely new matrix of rivalries. You can start drooling ESPN...



"Go West Young Man"    

Picking the bones of the Big-12 carcass would be an easy fit and huge shot in the arm for the conference. In this scenario, the SEC has added Texas, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State to join recently added Texas A&M in the west division. Here's the visual:


SEC EAST
Alabama
Auburn
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

Every season, fans will get Alabama/Florida, Alabama/Georgia, Alabama/South Carolina, Auburn/Florida... you get the point.

SEC WEST
Arkansas
LSU
Mississippi State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Ole Miss
Texas
Texas A&M

Arkansas gets to reignite old Southwest conference rivalries. LSU gets annual match-ups with the incoming Big-12 teams. College Gameday could pretty much fill its season with this side of the conference.

"Northern Exposure"

With reports that West Virginia is a done deal, this scenario gives them some company. The Mountaineers are joined by Virginia Tech, and, wait for it... the East Carolina Pirates. West Virginia taps into the Pittsburgh market and Virginia Tech delivers viewers from Washington D.C.. East Carolina is getting a big upgrade in notoriety with this move. With that increase comes big ratings in the Raleigh market.

SEC EAST
East Carolina
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia Tech
West Virginia

With West Virginia and Va. Tech going up against the meat and potatoes of the existing SEC East would create a handful of additional Top 25 match-ups each season. Appalachia rejoices.

SEC WEST
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
LSU
Mississippi State
Ole Miss
Texas A&M
Vanderbilt

Vandy's move to the West is certainly nothing to get excited about. LSU and 'Bama are breathing a sigh of relief having dodged the beef of the Big-12 bullet under this model.

"East-Coast Bias"

We're going to run with the apparent certainty of West Virginia's entry into the league again here. Vanderbilt heads to the ACC with UConn, Rutgers, Army, and Navy to round out their own mega-conference. Virginia Tech, Clemson and Florida State pack up their pigskins and head to greener pastures.




SEC EAST
Clemson
Florida
Florida State
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Virginia Tech
West Virginia

Clemson/Georgia, Virginia Tech/West Virginia, South Carolina/Florida State... and so on and so forth. Kentucky is the only team that has trouble breaking into the Top25.

SEC WEST
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
LSU
Mississippi State
Ole Miss
Tennessee
Texas A&M

As Tennessee returns to form, the SEC west will remain the most dominant corner in college football.

Best-Case

Texas A&M and West Virginia bring the conference to 14 teams. Vanderbilt flees the strengthening league for the softer ACC leaving three slots remaining. Into those three slots slide Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Florida State.




SEC EAST
Auburn
Florida
Florida State
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Tennessee
West Virginia

Auburn jumps to the eastern division to keep the balance. Fear not Iron Bowl-ers. Alabama will become their annual opposite-division opponent.

SEC WEST
Alabama
Arkansas
LSU
Mississippi State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Ole Miss
Texas A&M

Alabama/Oklahoma, Oklahoma State/LSU... every season... need I say more?