SEC loses few annual rivalries, but coaches 'get it'

The past clip LSU and Alabama went an full play without playing each other, Tigers manager Brian Kelly was a toddler and Crimson Tide manager Kalen DeBoer wouldn't beryllium calved for different 11 years.

During six-plus decades, that yearly matchup has had immoderate intense, melodramatic moments, specified arsenic Kelly's gamble connected a do-or-die, 2-point conversion to extremity overtime successful 2022. Jayden Daniels connected with Mason Taylor, and rapturous fans spilled onto the tract successful Tiger Stadium.

Under a caller scheduling format released by the Southeastern Conference this week, LSU and Alabama won't play successful 2027 -- the archetypal clip that's happened since 1963. And adjacent play volition beryllium the archetypal clip since 1970 that the Tigers won't play the Florida Gators.

"I get it," Kelly said Wednesday erstwhile asked astir however unsettling it could beryllium for immoderate to spot longstanding, yearly rivalries extremity nether the conference's four-year docket that was released Tuesday.

But the LSU manager added that helium besides appreciates the SEC's extremity of having each 16 teams play 1 different astatine slightest erstwhile each 2 years, and however that mightiness mean sacrificing immoderate fashionable yearly fixtures.

"You're going to propulsion immoderate of those earthy rivalries, but you're not losing them for a agelong period," Kelly said. "They managed this and enactment this successful a spot that allows you to play everybody location and distant [within a four-year span], and I deliberation that's beauteous exciting."

Ole Miss manager Lane Kiffin was little enthusiastic astir astatine slightest 1 facet of the caller schedule.

While helium agreed with keeping LSU and Mississippi State connected the Rebels' docket each year, helium said the inclusion of Oklahoma arsenic an yearly hostile was "disappointing" and "doesn't marque immoderate consciousness -- astatine all."

"We don't person thing successful communal with them oregon our fans," said Kiffin, whose programme volition suffer Vanderbilt arsenic an yearly fixture connected its schedule. "That's unfortunate with truthful galore large teams that we've played for a agelong clip here."

Each squad got 3 "annual opponents" during the adjacent 4 seasons, and those could perchance alteration aft 2029.

"Our league has made a concern decision," said Florida manager Billy Napier, who wasn't yet calved the past clip the Gators did not play LSU.

Going forward, tailgate parties serving alligator astir Death Valley volition hap erstwhile each 4 years alternatively of each different year. Then again, whether that's bully oregon atrocious is arguably a substance of taste.

"Obviously, there's pros and cons," Napier said. "Some of those things are portion of the improvement of the game, portion of the improvement of our league arsenic we adhd teams to the mix."

The SEC had the aforesaid 12 teams from 1991 until 2012, erstwhile Texas A&M and Missouri were added. In 2024, eastbound and westbound divisions were done distant with, and the league accrued to 16 teams with the additions of Oklahoma and Texas.

Next year, the league docket increases from 8 games to nine.

"I emotion the LSU rivalry crippled and surely that's been 1 amusive 1 to play in," Napier said. "We've got large past there, but there's going to beryllium alteration that comes with 9 games, and I deliberation our league has done a bully occupation formatting that successful a mode wherever ...