Imagining SEC name change possibilities from Waffle House to Tito's to Nick Saban
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The Big 12, as you once knew it, is long gone. Half of the membership from the original dozen teams vamoosed. The conferenceās name itself might be the next to go.
Whatās in a name? Money, in this case.
The Big 12 preserved its name even while it operated with 10 and later 14 teams. Now, that it's back to a 12-team league, it is reportedly considering selling off the conferenceās name to a corporate sponsor in a move that could generate millions in new annual revenue.
The Action Network reported that insurance giant Allstate is an interested potential sponsor, which could turn the Big 12 into the Allstate 12 Conference.
Expect the tradition-rich SEC to be more hesitant to go down this path. Even as the SEC expanded from 10 to 12 to 14 and now 16 teams, the conference carefully selected new schools that meshed with the conferenceās fabric and fit into the leagueās geography and culture. The SEC is a powerful, lucrative brand with a carefully crafted identity.
Mention the SEC to a passerby on the street, and more people would think Southeastern Conference than they would Securities and Exchange Commission.
The SEC enjoys a position of financial strength. It doesn't need to sell its name.
But, the Big 12ās news got my creative wheel turning, and I mused: If the SEC considered selling its name to a sponsor, what are possibilities?
TOPPMEYER:How the SEC gutted Big 12, Oklahoma to Texas
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Letās have some fun, shall we, with these far-fetched ideas.
Waffle House Conference
This one is too easy. If you created a Venn Diagram of SEC football fans and Waffle House enthusiasts, it would just look like two circles placed on top of one another. So, I give you the Waffle House Conference, where opponents go to get smothered, covered and diced.
Buc-eeās Conference
Gas station doesnāt accurately describe what Buc-eeās is to the South. Itās a transformative experience. You could easily spend an hour (and a couple-hundred bucks) inside the gas stationās accompanying country store. If the SEC partnered with Buc-eeās, Iām envisioning cleaner stadium restrooms and vendors selling hot brisket. Not bad, huh? Plus, who doesnāt love that cute beaver logo?
Dream Motor Group Conference
Never heard of the Dream Motor Group? Itās Nick Sabanās Mercedes-Benz car dealership. Many SEC fans claim Alabama runs the conference behind the scenes. Time to step out from behind the curtain, Mr. Oz. Golf canāt fill all of Saban's time. He can appoint himself czar of the Dream Motor Group Conference.
ExxonMobil Conference
Big Oil meets college football. Doesn't get more American than that. Initially, I considered just having Jimbo Fisher sponsor the SEC ā heās got money to burn ā but a Jimbo Conference would fail to meet expectations, so I pivoted to ExxonMobil. Surely Fisher didnāt dry up all of the oil reserves. Forget coachesā buyouts. Sponsor a conference instead. Be on the winning side, not the loserās.
Titoās Conference
Titoās, a vodka distilled in Austin, Texas, captured Americaās heart thanks to its effective marketing, corn mash and clean taste. Titoās bottles are ubiquitous at pregame tailgates, while fans work up a morning buzz on Bloody Marys, screwdrivers and the like. Anyway, āIt Just Means Moreā is starting to age. Freshen the conference motto. How about, Titoās Conference: Itās lit.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's SEC Columnist. Follow him on X: @btoppmeyer.