Both of the following scenarios would feature four different “pods” each with four teams that all play those they are sharing a pod with. The idea of the pods is to give the SEC four guaranteed CFP spots when the postseason eventualy expands to 12 teams.
#3 best scenario for SEC realignment: West Division pod (Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Arkansas football), North Division pod (Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Mizzou, Kentucky football), Central Division pod (Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Alabama, LSU football), East Division pod (South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Auburn football)
The first pod would separate Alabama and Auburn football by conference pod, making it easier for the Tigers to get a guaranteed postseason birth. Then again, it won’t be so easy for AU since they will have to now compete with the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry’s Peach State counterpart as well as UGA’s main rival, the historically dominant Florida Gators.
This scenario gives Auburn an extra marquee game on the calendar with a trip to Gainesville every two years, and balances out the competition with (what should be) a gimme against the Gamecocks each season.
#2 best scenario for SEC realignment: Pod A (Texas, Oklahoma, Mizzou, Arkansas football), Pod B (Texas A&M, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss football) Pod C (Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida football), Pod D (Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn football)
This alignment came courtesy of Twitter personality Pablo Escobarner, and takes geography less into account than the #3 ranked arrangement. For Auburn, Alabama is once again a key division rival, making their games mean more with a CFP berth heavily effected by their head-to-head matchups.
This arrangement also makes Tennessee a significant rival–which is a fun thought for Tiger fans considering the wonderful host Knoxville is–and gives them a yearly tune-up game against Vanderbilt.