I want to tackle this from a different perspective. In 1992? I believe we played the 1st conference championship game and it changed college football.
Assuming mega conferences are on the rise, and we go to 16 games one day, I have a proposal that would make the SEC stand out even more.
4 divisions: North, South, East and West. Stay at 8 games to keep us from killin each other.
Play a "Final 4" to determine the SEC championship (thus, even though we keep 8 games that may hurt our strength of schedule, the 2 games it would take to win the SEC would more than make up for that.
North South East West
1. KY 1. ALA 1. SC 1. Tex. AM
2. TN 2. MSU 2. WVirginia 2. MSU
3. MIZZ 3. AUB 3. UGA 3. ARK.
4. Vandy 4. FSU 4. Fla 4.Miss.
If they must go to 9 games, cut the ga Tech game.
Each year, have a final 4 in the Dome:
1st saturday night: double header. Just for giggles, based on who I think will be the best in 2014 in these 4 divisions
2:00 pm North vs South (Tn vs FSU)
8:00 pm East vs West (UGA vs Ole Miss)
The next weekend
FSU vs UGA
Once all the recruuting evens out, a final 4 in the SEC would be awesome and compelling and an all day event. Just winning the SEC would mean more than it does now, and I believe the other conferences would followng with those winners playing a final 4 type playoff in january