Since joining the SEC, Texas A&M has played Florida (one of which was during 2020) and Missouri 4 times (did Missouri start in the west?), Vanderbilt and Tennessee three times if you count this year. The scheduling is stupid.
There were a bunch of other games in 2012 since that was the traditional opening week so it was kind of a lead into that day's games. Since this year is the week before, that's not an issue and can play at a more traditional time.
Isn't that kind of similar to what Notre Dame did with UA? They expected UA to keep growing so most of the deal was stock and UA has fallen off. Not exactly sure I want them to go down that path again.