Expansion Candidates Scoring System

Over the last few posts we have looked at the possible candidates for SEC expansion, now let’s try to create a scoring system for rating them for consideration.

Geography:

In a SEC State: 2 points

Contiguous with the SEC map: 1 point

Within 300 miles of existing SEC schools: 1 point for each existing SEC school

Stadium Size

The average SEC stadium size is 77,716. That’s with a 39,790 of Vanderbilt pulling the average down. So let’s do this:

If the stadium is:

Within 5,000 seats of that average: +2

5,000 seats over that average: +5 points

22,634 + below the average: -5 points

(22,634 is the difference between Mississippi State, 2^nd smallest, and the average)

Season Tickets

Priority Program: +3

General Public: -1

TV market: If a team has a market that is in the top 10 nationally: +10

Top 25 nationally: +5

Top 50 nationally: +2

Top 100 nationally: +1

A team can receive points for each market considered in this exercise.

Rivalry Impact:

If the team would rekindle or maintain existing SEC rivalries: +5

Meaning if a school has an existing rivalry with an SEC team and it will now become a conference game OR a historical rivalry that can be renewed with expansion.

Traditions:

We will use the subjective ratings that I gave each school early in our discussion.

Commitment Level of Fans:

Are they SEC caliber (subjective): +5

Previous SEC ties: +3

Other subjective considerations: +1

Is the school prominently/nationally known as a Football school?

This is slightly subjective and the real consideration is for football. This national debate is not a conference expansion discussion for basketball or other non-football sports. Football is the $$ maker.

If yes: +5

If equal as basketball and football: +2

If really not known nationally: 0

Now with the scoring system set up, let's look at the scores:

East	Total Score
Florida State	55.25
Clemson	47.5
Miami	28
South Florida	27
UGA Tech	27
Louisville	23.5
Central Florida	21
West:
Texas	53
Texas A&M	48
Oklahoma	33
Oklahoma State	22.5
Texas Tech	22
TCU	13
Houston	11.5

So the score card tells us that Florida State and Clemson would by far be the best choices for the east, and that Texas and Texas A&M would by far be the best choices for the west. The two teams that I had thought would show or compete in this math would be Oklahoma and Georgia Tech. They would be the biggest losers in all of this. Georgia Tech would be potentially out of rivals with either UGA or Clemson. Both teams may consider maintaining out-of-conference games with GT, but probably not both. I would hope UGA would. Clemson would probably drop them. Oklahoma could maintain the Red River Rivalry as an out of conference game, but probably as a home and home series.