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After the SEC went to a division structure in 1992, it made efforts to preserve longtime rivalries like Alabama-Tennessee and Auburn-Georgia on an annual basis via interdivision pairings.

But this season is the final year for divisions, and eliminating divisions makes certain secondary and tertiary rivalries more of a challenge to preserve – especially if the SEC sticks with an eight-game conference schedule beyond 2024.

Would it be some travesty if the Third Saturday in October or the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry were played only twice in a four-year span, rather than every fall?

Depends who you ask.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams address the potential pluses and minuses from the elimination of divisions.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

After the <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/SEC/2022/05/29/steve-spurrier-gene-stallings-sec-football-schedule-divisions-florida-gators-alabama/9963042002/" aria-label="Link SEC went to a division structure in 1992">SEC went to a division structure in 1992</a>, it made efforts to preserve longtime rivalries like <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2022/10/19/tennessee-football-photo-for-the-ages-was-captured-vs-alabama/69565604007/" aria-label="Link Alabama-Tennessee">Alabama-Tennessee</a> and <a href="https://ugawire.usatoday.com/lists/rivalry-history-georgia-bulldogs-football-auburn-tigers-uga/" aria-label="Link Auburn-Georgia">Auburn-Georgia</a> on an annual basis via interdivision pairings.
But this season is the final year for divisions, and eliminating divisions makes certain secondary and tertiary rivalries more of a challenge to preserve – especially <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/2023/06/02/sec-football-schedule-eight-game-college-playoff-espn-cfp/70280916007/" aria-label="Link if the SEC sticks with an eight-game conference schedule beyond 2024">if the SEC sticks with an eight-game conference schedule beyond 2024</a>.
Would it be some travesty if the Third Saturday in October or the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry were played only twice in a four-year span, rather than every fall?
Depends who you ask.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer ">Blake Toppmeyer </a>and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> address the potential pluses and minuses from the elimination of divisions.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

SEC Football Unfiltered features hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams of the USA TODAY Network serving opinion, debate and analysis on trending college football topics within the Southeastern Conference. No subject is off limits, and no one is above rebuke. Take off the filter and revel in the banter.

SEC Football Unfiltered features hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams of the USA TODAY Network serving opinion, debate and analysis on trending college football topics within the Southeastern Conference. No subject is off limits, and no one is above rebuke. Take off the filter and revel in the banter.

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