For some reason, they paired A&M up with USCe in the previous version of the SEC with the E/W divisional yearly game. We led the series like 10-3 or something so it wasn't much of a rivalry.
The previous rotation is the one I really didn't like because they held the rest of the league hostage to maintain those 3-4 games that threw everything else under the bus. As mentioned, UGa has never been to Kyle, and we've only played once at Samford. In 13 years of league play.
The entire SEC was held hostage and paired up with whoever the fuck due to Bama-Tenn and UGA-Auburn.
Because they had to play, cross-divisonally, everyone had to.
Florida-LSU was invented.
Ole Miss got to play Vandy every year and STILL never sniffed a division title.
It was a joke, and with the additions of A&M and USCe, they were simply thrown together 'just because.'
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As for three permanent rivals now, the programs that matter will get who they want and the rest of the conference will be thrown together, just like before.
The best way to do it is getting your two strong/decent rivals plus 1 have-not that you've played a ton.
But for actual rivalries? Each team has a different number.
Florida would want to play Georgia, Tennessee, and Auburn....but playing 3 of the "haves" (teams that have won the SEC in my lifetime) isn't a good plan for your HC or AD's job security.
Georgia would want to play Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, and maybe USCe.
No one wants to play Vandy...except for the relief they provide in your schedule.
Tennessee-Kentucky is a rivalry in the same vein of ND-Navy, lol.
Kentucky doesn't matter....but they've been artificially thrown together with Miss State for 30+ years, like Florida-LSU.
Mizzou-OU makes sense as old Big 8 teams.
Texas has OU, A&M, and maybe Arkansas, if you're old.
The point is, it'll be a big mess.
