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The SEC football schedules for 2015 were announced. Without delay, let's jump into them.
FLORIDA GATORS
Sept. 5, 2015 | New Mexico State |
Sept. 12, 2015 | East Carolina |
Sept. 19, 2015 | at Kentucky |
Sept. 26, 2015 | Tennessee |
Oct. 3, 2015 | Ole Miss |
Oct. 10, 2015 | at Missouri |
Oct. 17, 2015 | at LSU |
Oct. 24, 2015 | BYE |
Oct. 31, 2015 | vs. Georgia |
Nov. 7, 2015 | Vanderbilt |
Nov. 14, 2015 | at South Carolina |
Nov. 21, 2015 | Florida Atlantic |
Nov. 28, 2015 | Florida State |
The East Carolina game is always a pretty tricky midmajor, so you could make this case that this is actually one of Florida's stronger non-conference schedules. I know, not exactly the boldest statement in the world. The at Missouri-at LSU stretch might be a bit difficult, but this isn't a terrible schedule as long as the Gators (a) hire a new coach and (b) watch that Kentucky game.
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Sept. 5, 2015 | Louisiana-Monroe |
Sept. 12, 2015 | at Vanderbilt |
Sept. 19, 2015 | South Carolina |
Sept. 26, 2015 | Southern |
Oct. 3, 2015 | Alabama |
Oct. 10, 2015 | at Tennessee |
Oct. 17, 2015 | Missouri |
Oct. 24, 2015 | BYE |
Oct. 31, 2015 | vs. Florida |
Nov. 7, 2015 | Kentucky |
Nov. 14, 2015 | at Auburn |
Nov. 21, 2015 | Georgia Southern |
Nov. 28, 2015 | at Georgia Tech |
Go ahead and prepare your "at least we beat Georgia Southern" jokes now, Dawg fans. The Alabama-at Tennessee-Missouri stretch and the Florida-Kentucky-at Auburn stretch could be worse, and the Georgia Tech game comes on the road.
KENTUCKY WILDCATS
Sept. 5, 2015 | Louisiana-Lafayette |
Sept. 12, 2015 | at South Carolina |
Sept. 19, 2015 | Florida |
Sept. 26, 2015 | Missouri |
Oct. 3, 2015 | Eastern Kentucky |
Oct. 10, 2015 | BYE |
Oct. 15, 2015 | Auburn |
Oct. 24, 2015 | at Mississippi State |
Oct. 31, 2015 | Tennessee |
Nov. 7, 2015 | at Georgia |
Nov. 14, 2015 | at Vanderbilt |
Nov. 21, 2015 | UNC-Charlotte |
Nov. 28, 2015 | Louisville |
If the Wildcats are really ready to make a run at the SEC East next year, this isn't the ideal schedule for doing it. They face Auburn and go to Mississippi State, then play Tennessee at home before traveling to Georgia -- back to back to back to back. Three of what could be their tougher games -- who knows with South Carolina anymore? -- are on the road. Oh, and Auburn also has a bye before the game in Lexington. Good luck!
MISSOURI TIGERS
Sept. 5, 2015 | Southeast Missouri St. |
Sept. 12, 2015 | at Arkansas State |
Sept. 19, 2015 | UConn |
Sept. 26, 2015 | at Kentucky |
Oct. 3, 2015 | South Carolina |
Oct. 10, 2015 | Florida |
Oct. 17, 2015 | at Georgia |
Oct. 24, 2015 | at Vanderbilt |
Oct. 31, 2015 | BYE |
Nov. 5, 2015 | Mississippi State |
Nov. 14, 2015 | N/A |
Nov. 21, 2015 | Tennessee |
Nov. 28, 2015 | at Arkansas |
Missouri, we've been over this before. Cut it out with the scheduling games at midmajors business. The realignment excuse is getting old. Who knows what the other other Tigers are going to do with that Nov. 14 slot? This really isn't all that terrible a schedule.
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
Sept. 3, 2015 | vs. North Carolina |
Sept. 12, 2015 | Kentucky |
Sept. 19, 2015 | at Georgia |
Sept. 26, 2015 | UCF |
Oct. 3, 2015 | at Missouri |
Oct. 10, 2015 | LSU |
Oct. 17, 2015 | Vanderbilt |
Oct. 24, 2015 | BYE |
Oct. 31, 2015 | at Texas A&M |
Nov. 7, 2015 | at Tennessee |
Nov. 14, 2015 | Florida |
Nov. 21, 2015 | The Citadel |
Nov. 28, 2015 | Clemson |
That's a pretty unforgiving schedule. One neutral-site game against a Power 5 opponent and a home game against a team that's likely to be a perennial contender for the Group of 5 slot in the playoff bowls. Oh, yeah, and let's not forget the end-of-the-year game at Clemson. Going to Texas A&M gives the Gamecocks an opportunity to get some payback, but it also makes that game that much harder. At least they get Kentucky at home. (Too soon?)
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
Sept. 5, 2015 | UAB |
Sept. 12, 2015 | Oklahoma |
Sept. 19, 2015 | Western Carolina |
Sept. 26, 2015 | at Florida |
Oct. 3, 2015 | Arkansas |
Oct. 10, 2015 | Georgia |
Oct. 17, 2015 | BYE |
Oct. 24, 2015 | at Alabama |
Oct. 31, 2015 | at Kentucky |
Nov. 7, 2015 | South Carolina |
Nov. 14, 2015 | North Texas |
Nov. 21, 2015 | at Missouri |
Nov. 28, 2015 | Vanderbilt |
If you're going to play a couple of cupcakes, it's perfectly defensible to put them on either side of the Oklahoma game. The Florida and Alabama games are both on the road this season, and Arkansas is coming to Knoxville. But Georgia and South Carolina are both at home.
VANDERBILT COMMODORES
Sept. 5, 2015 | Western Kentucky |
Sept. 12, 2015 | Georgia |
Sept. 19, 2015 | Austin Peay |
Sept. 26, 2015 | at Ole Miss |
Oct. 3, 2015 | at Middle Tennessee State |
Oct. 10, 2015 | BYE |
Oct. 17, 2015 | at South Carolina |
Oct. 24, 2015 | Missouri |
Oct. 31, 2015 | at Houston |
Nov. 7, 2015 | at Florida |
Nov. 14, 2015 | Kentucky |
Nov. 21, 2015 | Texas A&M |
Nov. 28, 2015 | at Tennessee |
Sigh. Vanderbilt, you don't even have the conference realignment argument. The Commodores will play at least half their games at home and half of them on the road this year. But at least they have one guaranteed win against Austin Peay. Good effort.
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Sept. 5, 2015 | vs. Wisconsin |
Sept. 12, 2015 | Middle Tennessee State |
Sept. 19, 2015 | Ole Miss |
Sept. 26, 2015 | Louisiana-Monroe |
Oct. 3, 2015 | at Georgia |
Oct. 10, 2015 | Arkansas |
Oct. 17, 2015 | at Texas A&M |
Oct. 24, 2015 | Tennessee |
Oct. 31, 2015 | BYE |
Nov. 7, 2015 | LSU |
Nov. 14, 2015 | at Mississippi State |
Nov. 21, 2015 | Charleston Southern |
Nov. 28, 2015 | at Auburn |
As usual, the Tide open up with a neutral-site game against a Power 5 opponent. The trip to Georgia should generate some buzz, particularly coming before the midpoint of the season. And don't sleep on November -- aside from Charleston Southern, that's a tough stretch. (Yes, Vanderbilt, real SEC teams are supposed to be able to assume an easy win against Charleston Southern.) Oh, and Alabama faces three SEC teams coming off byes. I'm sure the Tide faithful will take this news in stride.
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
Sept. 5, 2015 | UTEP |
Sept. 12, 2015 | Toledo |
Sept. 19, 2015 | Texas Tech |
Sept. 26, 2015 | vs. Texas A&M |
Oct. 3, 2015 | at Tennessee |
Oct. 10, 2015 | at Alabama |
Oct. 17, 2015 | BYE |
Oct. 24, 2015 | Auburn |
Oct. 31, 2015 | Tennessee-Martin |
Nov. 7, 2015 | at Ole Miss |
Nov. 14, 2015 | at LSU |
Nov. 21, 2015 | Mississippi State |
Nov. 28, 2015 | Missouri |
They're still trying to get the ol' Southwest Conference back together in late September. The trip to Tennessee might be an interesting game next year; both teams are going to get some preseason attention, and that game could decide which one of them can back it. Look out for those back-to-back trips to Oxford and Baton Rouge.
AUBURN TIGERS
Sept. 5, 2015 | vs. Louisville |
Sept. 12, 2015 | Jacksonville State |
Sept. 19, 2015 | at LSU |
Sept. 26, 2015 | Mississippi State |
Oct. 3, 2015 | San Jose State |
Oct. 10, 2015 | BYE |
Oct. 15, 2015 | at Kentucky |
Oct. 24, 2015 | at Arkansas |
Oct. 31, 2015 | Ole Miss |
Nov. 7, 2015 | at Texas A&M |
Nov. 14, 2015 | Georgia |
Nov. 21, 2015 | Idaho |
Nov. 28, 2015 | Alabama |
Nothing too unusual here. Both Mississippi teams are at home (never expected to write that as a positive in a scheduling post), as is the Iron Bowl. This is also the season Georgia travels to Auburn. That's a pretty good round of home games. The other interdivision game is at Kentucky, which might not be the good news it would have been a few years ago, but there are harder road games against East teams you could draw. Maybe. Who knows with the East?
LSU TIGERS
Sept. 5, 2015 | McNeese State |
Sept. 12, 2015 | at Mississippi State |
Sept. 19, 2015 | Auburn |
Sept. 26, 2015 | at Syracuse |
Oct. 3, 2015 | Eastern Michigan |
Oct. 10, 2015 | at South Carolina |
Oct. 17, 2015 | Florida |
Oct. 24, 2015 | Western Kentucky |
Oct. 31, 2015 | BYE |
Nov. 7, 2015 | at Alabama |
Nov. 14, 2015 | Arkansas |
Nov. 21, 2015 | at Ole Miss |
Nov. 28, 2015 | Texas A&M |
The trip to Syracuse is an interesting game. The draw out of the East is a road game against South Carolina, and the bye comes (as usual) before the Alabama game in Tuscaloosa. Both Mississippi teams are on the road, which could be a problem next year. There are no good road schedules in the SEC West, but this is potentially one of the harder ones.
OLE MISS REBELS
Sept. 5, 2015 | Tennessee-Martin |
Sept. 12, 2015 | Fresno State |
Sept. 19, 2015 | at Alabama |
Sept. 26, 2015 | Vanderbilt |
Oct. 3, 2015 | at Florida |
Oct. 10, 2015 | New Mexico State |
Oct. 17, 2015 | at Memphis |
Oct. 24, 2015 | Texas A&M |
Oct. 31, 2015 | at Auburn |
Nov. 7, 2015 | Arkansas |
Nov. 14, 2015 | BYE |
Nov. 21, 2015 | LSU |
Nov. 28, 2015 | at Mississippi State |
If you were to ask me who lost this schedule, it would e Ole Miss. Fresno State could be a tough out in the non-conference schedule. They are the only team to visit Alabama and Auburn. The bye doesn't come until Nov. 14 -- after the Rebels are ten games into the season and six games into the conference slate. Their only back-to-back home games after conference play begins are Arkansas and LSU, place around their bye. An absolutely brutal itinerary.
MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
Sept. 5, 2015 | at Southern Miss |
Sept. 12, 2015 | LSU |
Sept. 19, 2015 | Northwestern State |
Sept. 26, 2015 | at Auburn |
Oct. 3, 2015 | at Texas A&M |
Oct. 10, 2015 | Troy |
Oct. 17, 2015 | Louisiana Tech |
Oct. 24, 2015 | Kentucky |
Oct. 31, 2015 | BYE |
Nov. 7, 2015 | Missouri |
Nov. 14, 2015 | Alabama |
Nov. 21, 2015 | at Arkansas |
Nov. 28, 2015 | Ole Miss |
The first two months could be worse for the current No. 1 team in the nation (yeah, I'm going to say that a lot, because it's weird and wonderful at the same time), but November could be a tough reality check. Oh, that's right, Mississippi State doesn't really do those anymore.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Sept. 5, 2015 | vs. Arizona State |
Sept. 12, 2015 | Ball State |
Sept. 19, 2015 | Nevada |
Sept. 26, 2015 | vs. Arkansas |
Oct. 3, 2015 | Mississippi State |
Oct. 10, 2015 | BYE |
Oct. 17, 2015 | Alabama |
Oct. 24, 2015 | at Ole Miss |
Oct. 31, 2015 | South Carolina |
Nov. 7, 2015 | Auburn |
Nov. 14, 2015 | Western Carolina |
Nov. 21, 2015 | at Vanderbilt |
Nov. 28, 2015 | at LSU |
The Aggies leave the state of Texas once before late November. Florida fans can give you pointers on how to handle criticism of that fact. (Also: Texas is a big state.) But then, their comeuppance is -- a game at Vanderbilt? Both Alabama teams go to College Station, which is nice.