Missouri football fans can put their minds at ease. At least while Greg Sankey is the SEC commissioner, there will not be any realigning of the divisions.
Division realignment, an annual pilgrimage – or whine fest, depending on which side you stand – for Auburn, has been put to rest, at least until next year, when Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs will probably broach the subject, again.
According to John Taylor of NBC Sports, Commissioner Sankey stated, “(Division realignment) has not been an agenda item in the meeting. It is a conversation in most large press conferences in which I appear, and that’s the extent of the conversation.”
For anyone who’s new to this, Auburn has verbally petitioned the SEC for several years (since Missouri joined the conference) to realign the divisions so that Missouri is moved to the West, and Auburn is placed in the East.
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Geographically, the move makes sense – it would mean closer road games for both institutions. In the name of important rivalry games, the move could damage Auburn’s annual series against Alabama.
Missouri, as we’re all learning “has no business in the SEC” (I respectfully disagree), is without a true rival, at least to this point, and other than being a perennial loser to Alabama, would have very little to lose in realignment, in terms of rivalry games.
Missouri Athletic Director Jim Sterk has voiced his opinion on the matter, and stated that he is quite content with Missouri’s current situation in the SEC East.
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So for now, barring a change in developments, this should be the last follow-up on conference realignment, at least until Auburn brings it up again next year. Then, the speculation can resume, once again.