There’s one reason why LSU Tigers didn’t get its most obvious rival protected in new SEC annual matchup list
The SEC announced its new annual rivalries on Monday, and the LSU Tigers were at the forefront of the discussion amongst the fallout. While LSU has been an SEC power, its rivalry with Alabama has been as big a must-watch game every year as any in college football. With the conference focusing on expanding to […]
The SEC announced its new annual rivalries on Monday, and the LSU Tigers were at the forefront of the discussion amongst the fallout. While LSU has been an SEC power, its rivalry with Alabama has been as big a must-watch game every year as any in college football. With the conference focusing on expanding to nine games in the future, though, the Tigers and Crimson Tide sacrificed a guaranteed matchup each year.
Instead of seeing Alabama every season, LSU will play Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M. This left fans and skeptics slack-jawed alike. LSU is also missing Florida on its calendar, while Tennessee and Georgia were another huge omission.
Maybe it won’t matter since the SEC said traditional rivalries will be protected as well, but it’s easier to pinpoint these omissions to a conference wanting to avoid cannibalism.
SEC Chooses Balance for LSU Annual Protected Rivalries
The Nick Saban Bowl wasn’t protected, which has been a defining game for the SEC for two decades. The reason is clear, though, as Saban had complained long ago when the idea was floated, that LSU and Alabama would be scheduled with too many tough matchups. Instead, Alabama got Mississippi State and LSU got Arkansas.
The need for balance and competitiveness is understandable, but a disappointing play by a conference that has talked big but often not backed it. The SEC has seen a dip in recent years, and promoting more premier heavyweight games, as the Big Ten has started doing, is good business.
With the possibility of an increase to the College Football Playoff field from 12 to 16 nearing, being afraid of producing a very good three-loss team is a cop out. Voters will reward a three-loss power in this new setup, not overly punish them. The only losers now are LSU and Alabama fans.
