2015 SEC Football Schedules Released: Schedules, Analysis and More

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.