We don't know what the SEC alignment will look like beginning with the 2025 season. We just know change is coming once Oklahoma and Texas join the conference.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said earlier this year that debate is ongoing about how the conference will be aligned after those two schools join from the Big 12.

One option would be to align in two eight-team divisions and play seven division games, plus two interdivision opponents that would rotate each season.

Another format that was the subject of public debate last summer was the possibility of four scheduling pods with four teams apiece. Teams would play the other three teams from their pod annually, along with two opponents apiece from each of the other pods.

On this edition of "The Volunteer State," Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's Adam Sparks and John Adams debate whether a division alignment or a four-team pod structure would work better for the Vols.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

We don't know what the <a href="https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/college/2022/02/15/sec-football-schedule-texas-oklahoma-expansion-divisions-pods-alabama/6780119001/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/college/2022/02/15/sec-football-schedule-texas-oklahoma-expansion-divisions-pods-alabama/6780119001/">SEC alignment </a>will look like beginning with the 2025 season. We just know change is coming once <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2021/07/27/sec-football-expansion-16-teams-college-playoff-greg-sankey/8074805002/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2021/07/27/sec-football-expansion-16-teams-college-playoff-greg-sankey/8074805002/">Oklahoma and Texas join the conference</a>.
SEC Commissioner<a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/2022/02/23/college-football-playoff-12-team-sec-greg-sankey-acc-big-ten-pac-12/6892622001/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/2022/02/23/college-football-playoff-12-team-sec-greg-sankey-acc-big-ten-pac-12/6892622001/"> Greg Sankey </a>said earlier this year that debate is ongoing&nbsp;about how the conference will be aligned after those two schools join from the Big 12.
One option would be to align in two eight-team divisions and play seven division games, plus two interdivision opponents that would rotate each season.
Another format that was the subject of public debate last summer was the possibility of four scheduling pods with four teams apiece. Teams would play the other three teams from their pod annually, along with two opponents apiece from each of the other pods.
On this edition of "<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteer-state/id1275710426" data-cke-saved-href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteer-state/id1275710426">The Volunteer State,</a>" <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" data-cke-saved-href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSparks" data-cke-saved-href="https://twitter.com/AdamSparks">Adam Sparks </a>and John Adams debate whether a division alignment or a four-team pod structure would work better for the Vols.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 
Connect on Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/">https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/</a>
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

A Tennessee Vols podcast from the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

The Volunteer State

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer.

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