Will the Bama game on the Third Saturday in October be preserved

[ptcarter]

Saban let the cat out of the bag. As suspected, this game is important on both sides.



It's a game of streaks which is uncanny on how long they streaks go on both sides. Also, before we went into divisions, we played Auburn every September. That was a rivalry I liked and it got canned, so history tells us these things can die on the vine.

Honestly, I haven't followed SEC scheduling, press conferences etc, so if there is information on the future of this rivalry, please share, and also your thoughts.

 

[Hulavol]

No direct knowledge of the latest plans, but I’ve been around long enough to know a few things …there are a few institutions that will be held on to - The Egg Bowl at Thanksgiving. The Red River Shootout at the State Fair. The Third Saturday in October!

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Not at the expense of the Iron Bowl, no. If they can preserve both, they will. If one has to be sacrificed, then the 3rd Saturday In October will be the one to get the axe, unfortunately.

 

[Nico ee-ah-MAH-LAY-ah-va]

SEC will most likely go to 9 games in the near future, allowing for rivalries like this to be preserved.

I think we will see the super league in 2026, with the SEC and B1G splitting away from the rest of the conferences. That seems to be the next big TV contract discussion, and ESPN will sign on.

I imagine it will be a 12 game schedule: 9 SEC, 2 cupcakes, 1 cross conference game. 2 bye weeks as well.

 

[SteensVol]

Now that we are capable of winning this game - it will be dropped so they can play Mississippi State each year!

The SEC Bama office in Bham will make sure of that.

 

[Nico ee-ah-MAH-LAY-ah-va]

Not at the expense of the Iron Bowl, no. If they can preserve both, they will. If one has to be sacrificed, then the 3rd Saturday In October will be the one to get the axe, unfortunately.

TSIO has been one of the most watched games the past 3 years. ESPN will not axe it. Too much money.

 

[McDad]

If I am SEC commissioner, I would evaluate all rivalry games using data on which get the best ratings in the various time slots / networks. The ones with the best numbers remain.

 

[IndianaVol]

SEC will most likely go to 9 games in the near future, allowing for rivalries like this to be preserved.

I think we will see the super league in 2026, with the SEC and B1G splitting away from the rest of the conferences. That seems to be the next big TV contract discussion, and ESPN will sign on.

I imagine it will be a 12 game schedule: 9 SEC, 2 cupcakes, 1 cross conference game. 2 bye weeks as well.

AGREE - I can see all of college football going to an NFL style setup where there are 4 Major Conferences (can keep historic names if you like) and 4 Non-major conferences.
This will mean that teams like ND, Navy, Army, BYU must align into a conference.

Each conference will have divisions, likely 4 each, and have a two week playoff.
There will be a champion from each Major and Non-major in an 8 team playoff.

Like the NFL, broadcast revenues will be split across all the conferences / teams.

 

[Nationdom]

I chuckle when people say the Iron Bowl is bigger than TSIO.

 

[bigorangecrush89]

If two games are going to go it’ll be TSIO and the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry” (Auburn/UGA). Would be a shame in both cases. The Iron Bowl is in-state and would have to be preserved at all costs. Like UT/Vandy must be. I think UT/UK would be preserved as well since we are their only real rival in football and because it’s the most-played matchup in UT’s history (top 3 most played in SEC history as well). It’s an important game for both fanbases. The record doesnt really matter.

It would be neat to get to play teams like Auburn more. That used to open SEC play for UT before divisions started and was the first big test of the year.

 

[General Jack]

The fact that Tennessee is relevant again has to increase the odds that the TSIO stays.

 

[aRmo]

If two games are going to go it’ll be TSIO and the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry” (Auburn/UGA). Would be a shame in both cases. The Iron Bowl is in-state and would have to be preserved at all costs. Like UT/Vandy must be. I think UT/UK would be preserved as well since we are their only real rival in football and because it’s the most-played matchup in UT’s history (top 3 most played in SEC history as well). It’s an important game for both fanbases. The record doesnt really matter.

It would be neat to get to play teams like Auburn more. That used to open SEC play for UT before divisions started and was the first big test of the year.

I dont consider Kentucky a rival. Until we bring back the beer keg. They are not. I said what i said.

 

[volbound1700]

Tennessee has 3 clear games that stand out as rivals we don't want to lose: Alabama, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt

After those 3, I think Florida is important but it really wasn't a thing until the 1990s. Georgia is another "rival" right now due to the SEC East setup and them being on top but I think the history behind it is mostly recent and would be fine seeing them go away from an annual matchup.

It would be neat to play teams like Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss, and Auburn more. I think Texas could be an interesting rival for us with both being UT, having similar colors, and the historical connections between the state of Tennessee and founding of Texas.

Missouri and South Carolina were decent (and frustrating) matchups as well and I want to play them again.

Overall, though, I really just want to keep the top 3 annually.

You can have 3 rivals under a 9-game conference schedule and still play everyone else in the SEC on an every other year basis. So you would only miss a team for 1 year in that format.

 

[volbound1700]

The fact that Tennessee is relevant again has to increase the odds that the TSIO stays.

Plus the TSIO is getting a lot of attention nationally at the moment.

It can be a bad rivalry (for both sides really) in that it is streaky and one program seems to always be down and the other up. The period in the middle when it is transition is when the rivalry is interesting.

 

[bigorangecrush89]

I dont consider Kentucky a rival. Until we bring back the beer keg. They are not. I said what i said.

Id like the barrell to come back as well. A really cool trophy. It’s the height of stupidity that they are selling alcohol in stadiums but the beer barrell is still off limits.

 

[adam.vol]

The SEC needs to reconsider divisions. We can’t get the two best teams into the conference championship if some teams are playing all the top opponents (Oklahoma & Florida) while others are playing only one or no top programs (Ole Miss, Texas, & Missouri). With divisions, at least both halves of the SEC are competing against like conference schedules in order to qualify for the top two spots.

East: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt

West: Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas, & Texas A&M.

No names rivalries need special preservation with division realignment.

Another division solution would be to follow the NFL’s model and break the conference into 4 divisions.

East: Auburn, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
South: Alabama, LSU, Mississippi, and Mississippi State
North: Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt
West: Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M

8 conference games. 4 team playoff.

 

[volbound1700]

The SEC needs to reconsider divisions. We can’t get the two best teams into the conference championship if some teams are playing all the top opponents (Oklahoma & Florida) while others are playing only one or no top programs (Ole Miss, Texas, & Missouri). With divisions, at least both halves of the SEC are competing against like conference schedules in order to qualify for the top two spots.

East: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt

West: Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas, & Texas A&M.

No names rivalries need special preservation with division realignment.

The issue with divisions is that you could only do 2 games against the other division each year with how things are setup now (that is assuming 9 conference game).

I like the 3-6-6 model. 3 permanent opponents, the other 12 rotate every other year.

 

[adam.vol]

The issue with divisions is that you could only do 2 games against the other division each year with how things are setup now (that is assuming 9 conference game).

I like the 3-6-6 model. 3 permanent opponents, the other 12 rotate every other year.

I added to that with another division solution, following the NFC and AFC 16 team models.

 

[pimo1]

Not at the expense of the Iron Bowl, no. If they can preserve both, they will. If one has to be sacrificed, then the 3rd Saturday In October will be the one to get the axe, unfortunately.

there is no conflict between iron bowl and TSIO...

 

[Nico ee-ah-MAH-LAY-ah-va]

I chuckle when people say the Iron Bowl is bigger than TSIO.

even the devil himself said he had a hard time getting the team up for Auburn

 

[igotworms]

I chuckle when people say the Iron Bowl is bigger than TSIO.

It's the people who turn to the TV to tell them what to think, say and how to begave

 

[Brave Volunteer]

there is no conflict between iron bowl and TSIO...

Good! Then there should be no reason for us to think they will kill TTSIO.

 

[Nico ee-ah-MAH-LAY-ah-va]

AGREE - I can see all of college football going to an NFL style setup where there are 4 Major Conferences (can keep historic names if you like) and 4 Non-major conferences.
This will mean that teams like ND, Navy, Army, BYU must align into a conference.

Each conference will have divisions, likely 4 each, and have a two week playoff.
There will be a champion from each Major and Non-major in an 8 team playoff.

Like the NFL, broadcast revenues will be split across all the conferences / teams.

4 team playoff for the SEC alone would be great. No question on who is the best then. However, I am also a fan of dropping the G5 conferences or having them play in their own playoff so the G5 champion is paired up against the rest of the P4 slots. G5 is just not competitive enough. Boise and Tulane upsets aside, their record against P4 is not great.

 

[igotworms]

I dont consider Kentucky a rival. Until we bring back the beer keg. They are not. I said what i said.

I do especially when you consider all sports. Watch the tn kensucky baseball and basketball games. That's a rivalry.

The media tries to force the flaroida Georgia cocktail party as a major rivalry but then watch them play any other sport and is blah at best

 

[Vol_guy]

I like the 1-7 model that we are currently doing