Eventually, Oklahoma and Texas are going to join the SEC. Whether that happens in 2025 or sooner remains to be seen, but the move is happening at some point.

So, once the league expands to 16 teams, how should the divisions be structured? Should the SEC keep its 2 divisions — West and East — or should it move to 4 pods with 4 teams each?

On Wednesday, Alabama coach Nick Saban spoke with Mark Schlabach of ESPN. He said whether the league goes to pods or keeps divisions should, in his opinion, depend on whether the SEC wants to play 9 or 10 conference games each year:

Oklahoma and Texas recently accepted invitations to join the SEC no later than the 2025 season. How would you like to see the league structured once the Longhorns and Sooners are members?

When you look at our league expanding, you’re going to play more good teams in our league. You’re going to have to lose more games. How does that affect people getting in the playoff? If we’re going to play 10 games in the SEC, which I would not be opposed to [because] I’ve always wanted to play more SEC games, you could play two divisions and you could play three teams from the other side. So every two and a half years, you’re going to play everybody. If they’re going to stay at eight or even nine, they should do the pods [of four teams], so you’re only going to have three fixed opponents and you would be playing five or six teams from the other regions or pods. You would play everybody in three years.

Saban makes a good point. And the fact that he’s on board for 10 SEC games a year could swing some other coaches to join him in that opinion.

A lot of changes could be coming to the SEC in the coming years!