This is not really a practical idea, but I think it'd be entertaining to see pods with relegation, with reranking every two years based on either SEC wins over the two year period (if you wanted it to change up more) or CFP ranking (if you just wanted to maximize bowl eligible teams). You play all three teams in your pod, and then for the cross pod matchups, the best and worst pods have two matchups against each other and one from the 2nd and 3rd pod and then one luck of the draw between 2nd and third pod. The 2nd and third pod have two matchups against each other and one against a team from the best and worst pod and then luck of the draw against either best or worst pod.
So based on typical strength, you might see the following pods:
POD A
1. Bama
2. Georgia
3. LSU
4. Oklahoma
POD B
5. Florida
6. A&M
7. Auburn
8. UTex
POD C
9. MSU
10. USCe
11. Ole Miss
12. UTenn
POD D
11. Kentucky
12. Arky
13. Missouri
14. Vanderbilt
Bama's Schedule could be:
UGA, LSU, OU, UK, Vandy, Auburn, UTenn and then depdning on a coin flip, they'd get another team from either Pod B or Pod C.
Vandy's could be:
UK, Arky, Missou, Bama, OU, Florida, and Ole Miss and then depending on a coin flip, get another Pod B or Pod C team.
Instead of Bama beating up on the bottom of the conference, they'd get no more than two gimmes and we'd get to see them play the next three best teams (or at least the three teams that have been the best over the past two years).
Vandy gets three (hopefully for them) winnable games, in exchange for assuring two beat downs (which they'd likely get anyway) and then three games against teams that they at least have a fighting change against.
To ensure teams get to see each other within a reasonable time, when picking teams within cross pod matchups, the SEC could take into account the last time teams had played each other.
So based on typical strength, you might see the following pods:
POD A
1. Bama
2. Georgia
3. LSU
4. Oklahoma
POD B
5. Florida
6. A&M
7. Auburn
8. UTex
POD C
9. MSU
10. USCe
11. Ole Miss
12. UTenn
POD D
11. Kentucky
12. Arky
13. Missouri
14. Vanderbilt
Bama's Schedule could be:
UGA, LSU, OU, UK, Vandy, Auburn, UTenn and then depdning on a coin flip, they'd get another team from either Pod B or Pod C.
Vandy's could be:
UK, Arky, Missou, Bama, OU, Florida, and Ole Miss and then depending on a coin flip, get another Pod B or Pod C team.
Instead of Bama beating up on the bottom of the conference, they'd get no more than two gimmes and we'd get to see them play the next three best teams (or at least the three teams that have been the best over the past two years).
Vandy gets three (hopefully for them) winnable games, in exchange for assuring two beat downs (which they'd likely get anyway) and then three games against teams that they at least have a fighting change against.
To ensure teams get to see each other within a reasonable time, when picking teams within cross pod matchups, the SEC could take into account the last time teams had played each other.
