Don't be ignorant

[JohnDeere 0]

Listening to a local radio show this morning, the talking head on the show was stumped when asked if last night's game (UK/USC) was a permanent SEC match up or a rotating game.

After some thought, I couldn't name all the inter-divisional opponents. AU/UGA, UAT/UT, LSU/UF are easy ones, can you name Vandy's permanent western division opponent?

Prior to expansion, each SEC school played 6 conference games. Five of these games were against permanent opponents, developing some traditional rivalries between schools, and the 6th game rotated around the other 4 members of the conference.

From 1992 through 2001, each team had two permanent inter-divisional opponents, allowing many traditional rivalries from the pre-expansion era (such as Florida vs. Auburn, Kentucky vs. LSU and Vanderbilt vs. Alabama) to continue. However, complaints from some league athletic directors about imbalance in the schedule (for instance, Auburn's two permanent opponents from the East were Florida and Georgia – two of the SEC's stronger football programs – while Mississippi State played relatively weak South Carolina and Kentucky every year) led to the SEC reducing the permanent opponents to only one per team.

Under the current format, each school plays a total of eight conference games, consisting of the other five teams in its division, two schools from the other division on a rotating basis, plus one permanent rival from the other division which it plays each year.[12] The lineup may not reflect traditional rivalries, but with the exception of Arkansas vs. South Carolina, which was created out of necessity, all permanent inter-divisional games were played annually prior to SEC expansion in 1992.[13]

West Division East Division

Alabama Tennessee

Arkansas South Carolina

Auburn Georgia

Mississippi State Kentucky

LSU Florida

Ole Miss Vanderbilt

wiki

[AU! 0]

West Division East Division

Alabama Tennessee

Arkansas South Carolina

Auburn Georgia

Mississippi State Kentucky

LSU Florida

Ole Miss Vanderbilt

wiki

I was always very impressed with how well these teams match up and almost mirror one another. Obviously things vary from year to year but if you look at it, you can describe both teams in each match up with one phrase.

Alabama/UT - Both teams are very strong with recruiting and have large fanbases. They also both tend to play under the radar in recent memory.

Arakansas/SC - Both teams would be considered "mid-major" SEC teams, neither one really shows up strong year to year but both have been on the rise in the past couple of years.

Auburn/UGA - Both teams tend to drop some games they shouldn't from time to time but we're both very respected as opponents and we are both always pretty close to the SEC championship every year.

Miss St/UK - Both teams have trouble on a regular basis but are commonly overlooked and take advantage of it when they are.

LSU/UF - Both teams are very respected as opponents and have recently proven themselves on a national scale. They are strong year to year but its not uncommon to see them overrated.

Vandy/Ole Miss - Both teams are commonly overlooked but take advantage of that more often than UK/Miss St. When good players come along, these teams are deal breakers for many SEC teams.

[AURainman 6]

Listening to a local radio show this morning, the talking head on the show was stumped when asked if last night's game (UK/USC) was a permanent SEC match up or a rotating game.

After some thought, I couldn't name all the inter-divisional opponents. AU/UGA, UAT/UT, LSU/UF are easy ones, can you name Vandy's permanent western division opponent?

I simply cannot let this go without a comment.

Some talking head on a radio program couldn't figure out if South Carolina and UK play every year? WTFrick? Then you went off on a tangent about West v. East matchups?

USC and UK are both in the EAST!!

OF COURSE THEY PLAY EVERY YEAR!!! Who was this "sportscaster." I hope he doesn't cover the SEC on a regular basis.

[JohnDeere 0]

Some talking head on a radio program couldn't figure out if South Carolina and UK play every year? WTFrick? Then you went off on a tangent about West v. East matchups?

You've never been to Huntsville? You might as well be living in Oregon if you want to hear relivant talk about football, especially Auburn football, then reside in Huntsville, Alabama.