23 hours ago, TheDeuce said:

From a fan perspective, fewer cupcake games is better. Everybody loves to win but I don't need EKU, JMU and Bowling Green on any home schedule. 

Hopefully the ACC quickly follows suit. 

I agree, but those games and subsequent paydays are great for the smaller schools and help keep their programs afloat in many cases. I do like capping it at two games though. 

5 minutes ago, Jumper_Dad said:

I agree, but those games and subsequent paydays are great for the smaller schools and help keep their programs afloat in many cases. I do like capping it at two games though. 

Sure, but as a season ticket holder, I don't want half of my home games being of that caliber. 

10 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

Sure, but as a season ticket holder, I don't want half of my home games being of that caliber. 

2 out of 6 or 7 home games isn't too bad. Especially if you're UK and now get Texas, Alabama, LSU and other marquee teams at home on a regular basis.

 

 

Just my opinion, but give me just one permanent rivalry game.  In state if possible (Auburn v Alabama, Tennessee v Vandy, Ole Miss v Mississippi State). LSU get Arkansas, Georgia gets Florida.  Texas v Texas A&M.  Mizzou gets Oklahoma, Kentucky and South Carolina.

I know they keep harping on "tradition" but college football sold out tradition for a fast buck years ago....just stop all pretences.

On 9/18/2025 at 8:26 PM, Tranquility Base said:

Just my opinion, but give me just one permanent rivalry game.  In state if possible (Auburn v Alabama, Tennessee v Vandy, Ole Miss v Mississippi State). LSU get Arkansas, Georgia gets Florida.  Texas v Texas A&M.  Mizzou gets Oklahoma, Kentucky and South Carolina.

I know they keep harping on "tradition" but college football sold out tradition for a fast buck years ago....just stop all pretences.

3 works well with scheduling. 3 permanent team then rotate the other 12, 6 at a time. That way you play every team over two years and play all 12 of the others home and home every 4 years. If you go to 1 or 2 permanent opponents it just screws up the scheduling for no good reason.

Permanent opponents for each team, some getting it much easier than others.

Alabama – Auburn, Tennessee, Mississippi State

Arkansas – Missouri, Texas, LSU

Auburn – Georgia, Alabama, Vanderbilt

Florida – Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky

Georgia – Auburn, Florida, South Carolina

Kentucky – South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida

LSU – Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas A&M

Mississippi State – Ole Miss, Alabama, Vanderbilt

Missouri – Arkansas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma

Oklahoma – Texas, Ole Miss, Missouri

Ole Miss – Mississippi State, LSU, Oklahoma

South Carolina – Georgia, Kentucky, Florida

Tennessee – Alabama, Vanderbilt, Kentucky

Texas – Texas A&M, Arkansas, Oklahoma

Texas A&M – Texas, LSU, Missouri

Vanderbilt – Tennessee, Mississippi State, Auburn

This may be easier to understand. 

 

Depending on which versions of Auburn show up, Georgia and Alabama seem to have the easiest of the "permanent" conference foes, Mississippi State and Texas A&M the toughest.   And then in 4 years we will roll the yahtzee dice again.

2026 (and 28) is loaded...holy cow.

 

Big Ten has whined for the last several years about the SEC only playing 8 conference games. 

The SEC started a few years ago instructing their teams to play at least one power 4 conference team as well. Now the SEC, ACC and Big 12 all require 9 conference games plus a 10th game against a power 4 opponent. 

When asked if they'd do the same the Big Ten said, no.

 

On 8/21/2025 at 10:02 PM, theguru said:

Two cupcakes are plenty and honestly one is enough if you are after a National Championship.  However, I don't blame any school for following the best path to get there but I am glad to see the decision being taken out of their hands. 

Unfortunately some of those cupcakes use those games and payouts to keep their programs afloat.

10 minutes ago, 9068 said:

Unfortunately some of those cupcakes use those games and payouts to keep their programs afloat.

That is a separate issue, too many football programs.