So Mizzou, you guys sure about this?
The University of Alabama is apparently in support of the Tigers joining the conference, according to Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News, if - and it's a weird, petty if - Missouri joins the SEC's Eastern Division. Why? Because, according sources, Alabama doesn't want the addition of geographically western teams Mizzou and A&M to force a shift in the division alignments.
Sure, we get it: the Tide doesn't want to lose blood rival Auburn or its annual third-Saturday-in-October battle with Tennessee. Right? Not exactly, according to Solomon:
According to the sources, Alabama has two objectives: Keep its annual cross-division rivalry game against Tennessee, and not watch Auburn move to the East and possibly grow its recruiting presence in talent-rich Florida and Georgia.
Memo to Missouri: Get used to this type of pettiness in the SEC, where even the tiniest of potential football recruiting advantages becomes dissected.
We know what you're thinking, Tigers: Why defy logic and create a bizarre division alignment just to appease the latest tinfoil hat conspiracy between the fans of Auburn and Alabama? Well, if you join the SEC, you'll just get used to it.