SEC Football: 8 Teams is all the Southeastern Conference needs
When it comes to college football, SEC football is still king, but their reign could have been even stronger and go longer if the league had contracted rather than expanded.
The Southeastern Conference – 14 teams, 11 states, and a two-decade (plus) run of college football success that hasn’t been seen before by an entire conference. Things couldn’t be better, right?
Wrong.
The SEC, strong as it is, may have weakened itself as a football power conference by the over-expansion and watering down of the talent in the league. Conference paychecks have never been bigger, but long-term, the conference may have been better off without adding new teams.
Beyond the football and money reasons, college football purists believe that the conference models which were set up as regional groupings are still the best possible way to go, and in that spirit (and just for fun) I want to propose what the SEC should truly look like.
The Rules:
- Must have at least one championship banner in some (any) sport.
- Only one team from each state
- Must be an actual Southeastern state
Who’s Kicked Out?
Let’s start with the two most recent additions, Missouri and Texas A&M, who were invited to join the SEC back in 2012.
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These two aren’t even close. Missouri, you’re perched in the heart of the Midwest, and Texas A&M, you’re Southwest…always have been, always will be. So head on back to your respective Big Ten and Big 12 conferences, and patch up the differences.
That brings us down to 12 programs.
Next out is any school in the state of Florida. Sorry, but you’re not the Southeast…you’re just an annex of the Northeast. If West Virginia can be a part of the Big 12, and Rutgers can slide over to the Big Ten, then the Gators should have no problem being an ACC school.
Now we’re down to 11.
On the chopping block next will be Vanderbilt. Let’s face it, you’ve never really been SEC football material. You’ve got a fantastic academic record and you play pretty decent basketball, head on over to the ACC and you’ll get a nice warm welcome. We’re happy with the Volunteers.
That brings us down to 10, and now things start to get sticky.
Mississippi State, it’s been nice knowing you, but it’s time to say goodbye. You’re the only SEC program who has never won a national championship in ANY sport (not even ping-pong), and that just ain’t gonna fly in the SEC. Not to mention we’ve already set the precedent of only one team per state. We wish you well in your new conference. You can probably dominate in the American.
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Now we’re at 9.
Kentucky…thanks for playing. You’ll still rule in hoops no matter what conference you play in, so why not join one where you’ll play your true rivals often.
Down to 8, and we’re starting to take shape.
We need to weed out one more team, from a state with multiple teams – Alabama.
If you can’t really decide on a mascot name, if you have more “claimed” titles than actual titles, if you are more proud of your in-stadium video board than you are your stadium, and if you harbored Cam Newton, please stand up and raise your hands.
Yes…we’re looking at you Auburn. True, you’ve been a traditional, loved and hated member of the SEC for many years (right, Georgia?), but it’s time to go. Don’t worry, we’ll still let Alabama beat up on you annually.
This brings us down to seven teams. We need to add one more to finish.
And We Have a Trade
We can’t have a true SEC without a representative from South Carolina, but let’s face it, the Gamecocks just haven’t been what was expected when they joined in 1992. So we’re going to swap the Gamecocks for a South Carolina program which has actually accomplished something…
Who’s Added In?
Obviously having an odd number of teams won’t get it done, so who fills the final open spot in our new (and improved) SEC?
We have teams from Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina and Arkansas. The other traditional Southeastern state…North Carolina, where we have six possible FBS teams from which to choose.
North Carolina, North Carolina State, Duke, East Carolina, Appalachian State, and Wake Forest.
No chance Wake and App State, not gonna happen.
UNC, Duke and NC State – you’re fine where you are. Enjoy March.
That leaves us with East Carolina, a program which has made some big strides, and could really become a powerhouse program if they were featured in a league like the SEC. Welcome to the big time, Pirates.
The New SEC
Alabama Crimson Tide
Arkansas Razorbacks
Clemson Tigers
East Carolina Pirates
Georgia Bulldogs
LSU Tigers
Ole Miss Rebels
Tennessee Volunteers
Here you have eight teams with championship histories in multiple sports (with the exception of newly added ECU), all nestled in the heart of SEC country, each representing their state individually and keeping traditions alive with a more open schedule that will allow for continuing rival games.
You don’t lose your Iron Bowl, your Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, Egg Bowl or any of the other big rivalries.
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Finally, along with this newly reformed conference, we’ll need a new and fresh commissioner. No offense to Greg Sankey, who’s done a marvelous job since taking over for Mike Slive, but we need a commissioner who is the face and voice of the SEC, and will keep things from getting out of hand again –
Paul Finebaum.
You’re welcome (and dream on).