SEC Scheduling

[Legacy]

SEC East - distances to travel 2015 games

SEC East - distances to travel 2015 games

As an indicator of SEC scheduling regionally, here are the distances each SEC-E school will travel for away and neutral games this year with their home-away-neutral site scheduling.

• Florida - 2748 miles (7-4-1) - 4 SEC east away game, Neutral site game is annual Georgia matchup in Jacksonville
• South Carolina - 2429 miles (7-4-1) - 4 SEC away games, Neutral site game with North Carolina in Charlotte
• Missouri - 2346 miles (6-5-1) - 4 SEC away games, Neutral site game with BYU in Kansas City
• Vanderbilit - 2250 miles (6-6) - 4 SEC away games, 2 non-conference away games (Houston, Middle Tennessee State)
• Tennessee - 1796 miles (7-4-1) - 4 SEC away games, Neutral site game in Nashville with Bowling Green
• Kentucky - 1545 miles (8-4) - 4 SEC away games
• Georgia - 1133 miles (7-4-1) - 3 SEC away games, 1 away game at Georgia Tech, Neutral site annual matchup with Florida in Jacksonville

Vanderbilt is the only team who plays a non-conference away game with a non-annual rival (@Houston). No SEC East team will play a non-annual Power 5 team away game.

Notre Dame - 5547 miles (6-5-1) The Temple game is counted as an away game. The Shamrock series game with BC in Fenway is counted as the neutral site game.

 

[T Town Tommy]

As an indicator of SEC scheduling regionally, here are the distances each SEC-E school will travel for away and neutral games this year with their home-away-neutral site scheduling.

• Florida - 2748 miles (7-4-1) - 4 SEC east away game, Neutral site game is annual Georgia matchup in Jacksonville
• South Carolina - 2429 miles (7-4-1) - 4 SEC away games, Neutral site game with North Carolina in Charlotte
• Missouri - 2346 miles (6-5-1) - 4 SEC away games, Neutral site game with BYU in Kansas City
• Vanderbilit - 2250 miles (6-6) - 4 SEC away games, 2 non-conference away games (Houston, Middle Tennessee State)
• Tennessee - 1796 miles (7-4-1) - 4 SEC away games, Neutral site game in Nashville with Bowling Green
• Kentucky - 1545 miles (8-4) - 4 SEC away games
• Georgia - 1133 miles (7-4-1) - 3 SEC away games, 1 away game at Georgia Tech, Neutral site annual matchup with Florida in Jacksonville

Vanderbilt is the only team who plays a non-conference away game with a non-annual rival (@Houston). No SEC East team will play a non-annual Power 5 team away game.

Notre Dame - 5547 miles (6-5-1) The Temple game is counted as an away game. The Shamrock series game with BC in Fenway is counted as the neutral site game.

A lot of research for something that is pretty meaningless IMO. Comparing ND and their travel distance to any school is really a stretch. Who really cares? Most conferences play games within their geographical region for several reasons... recruiting, cost, tradition are the three primary reasons.

If ND or their fans are worried about travel distances and believe that creates an advantage or disadvantage, then join the B1G and eliminate the problem. Schedule a couple of regional games against other schools outside the B1G and that cuts down on travel. If ND wants to keep their traditional games with a USC and/or Stanford, then it is what it is.

Futhermore legacy, if you want to hump on OOC opponents, I find it wildly amazing that you haven't gotten around to looking at the Big 12 teams. Their schedules are an absolute embarrassment.

 

[Legacy]

A lot of research for something that is pretty meaningless IMO. Comparing ND and their travel distance to any school is really a stretch. Who really cares? Most conferences play games within their geographical region for several reasons... recruiting, cost, tradition are the three primary reasons.

If ND or their fans are worried about travel distances and believe that creates an advantage or disadvantage, then join the B1G and eliminate the problem. Schedule a couple of regional games against other schools outside the B1G and that cuts down on travel. If ND wants to keep their traditional games with a USC and/or Stanford, then it is what it is.

Futhermore legacy, if you want to hump on OOC opponents, I find it wildly amazing that you haven't gotten around to looking at the Big 12 teams. Their schedules are an absolute embarrassment.

You are becoming mildly annoying, Troll Town. Prove it if you think the Big 12's is more regional in their scheduling than SEC teams. This is a topic on SEC scheduling, but you like to deflect our observations after a cursory review of posts. No comment on regional G5 or FCS scheduling, on failure to schedule P5 teams, on neutral site games only in the region, on 7-4-1 scheduling with four SEC games and a neutral site game within a couple of hundred miles. You can only add that SEC teams may not be as bad as the B12?

Of course, you don't care about Notre Dame but keep returning to our board for your snide comments. Add something to the discussion from your point of view when you can contribute more than "who cares?" If you don't care, don't post.

 

[T Town Tommy]

You are becoming mildly annoying, Troll Town. Prove it if you think the Big 12's is more regional in their scheduling than SEC teams. This is a topic on SEC scheduling, but you like to deflect our observations after a cursory review of posts. No comment on regional G5 or FCS scheduling, on failure to schedule P5 teams, on neutral site games only in the region, on 7-4-1 scheduling with four SEC games and a neutral site game within a couple of hundred miles. You can only add that SEC teams may not be as bad as the B12?

Of course, you don't care about Notre Dame but keep returning to our board for your snide comments. Add something to the discussion from your point of view when you can contribute more than "who cares?" If you don't care, don't post.

I will put Bama's schedule up against any teams schedule. As far as snide comments... I think I am very reserved out here. If you don't like my posts, hit the ignore button. See how easy that is?

Just to clarify legacy....

Acamp and I can clown around and laugh to each other about what we post out here. Always have. I laugh at some of the crazy stuff he posts and he does the same with me. It appears that there may be others that take it more personal. And that's a little sad. It is a forum after all. If we can't laugh at each other sometimes then it is a sad world.

 

[Legacy]

I will put Bama's schedule up against any teams schedule. As far as snide comments... I think I am very reserved out here. If you don't like my posts, hit the ignore button. See how easy that is?

Just to clarify legacy....

Acamp and I can clown around and laugh to each other about what we post out here. Always have. I laugh at some of the crazy stuff he posts and he does the same with me. It appears that there may be others that take it more personal. And that's a little sad. It is a forum after all. If we can't laugh at each other sometimes then it is a sad world.

I have frequently laughed at some of your comments, Tommy, and taken them for what they are worth. You have your opinion, but you have a defensive side with many knee-jerk reactions. As long as those do not become personal, I'll allow it. Trying to slip another one in with the "It appears that there may be others that take it more personal. And that's a little sad." Just can't help yourself.

Any chance you will return to the topic instead of personalizing this?

 

[T Town Tommy]

I have frequently laughed at some of your comments, Tommy, and taken them for what they are worth. You have your opinion, but you have a defensive side with many knee-jerk reactions. As long as those do not become personal, I'll allow it. Trying to slip another one in with the "It appears that there may be others that take it more personal. And that's a little sad." Just can't help yourself.

Any chance you will return to the topic instead of personalizing this?

Not personalizing it. If you take it that way then that's on you. As far as the topic, I don't feel the need to defend anyone's schedule. I care about who Bama plays. Pretty simple. I gave my opinion of why I don't think miles traveled is really relevant and the reasons why comparing ND's miles to any other school's is really not an apples to apples comparison.

I could care less who Ga plays. I could care less who Auburn or anyone else in the SEC plays until the Tide comes calling. In the end, the schedule and the W/L records will determine the pecking order for the playoffs. If a team's schedule weighs them down, then so be it. Should have scheduled higher quality opponents.

 

[Irish YJ]

Speaking only for Tenn.....
In the last 10-12 years, UT has home and home games vs:
Oklahoma
Oregon
UCLA
CAL
ND

Not a lot of Power 5 teams can say that. There are some, not a lot.

As an indicator of SEC scheduling regionally, here are the distances each SEC-E school will travel for away and neutral games this year with their home-away-neutral site scheduling.

• Florida - 2748 miles (7-4-1) - 4 SEC east away game, Neutral site game is annual Georgia matchup in Jacksonville
• South Carolina - 2429 miles (7-4-1) - 4 SEC away games, Neutral site game with North Carolina in Charlotte
• Missouri - 2346 miles (6-5-1) - 4 SEC away games, Neutral site game with BYU in Kansas City
• Vanderbilit - 2250 miles (6-6) - 4 SEC away games, 2 non-conference away games (Houston, Middle Tennessee State)
• Tennessee - 1796 miles (7-4-1) - 4 SEC away games, Neutral site game in Nashville with Bowling Green
• Kentucky - 1545 miles (8-4) - 4 SEC away games
• Georgia - 1133 miles (7-4-1) - 3 SEC away games, 1 away game at Georgia Tech, Neutral site annual matchup with Florida in Jacksonville

Vanderbilt is the only team who plays a non-conference away game with a non-annual rival (@Houston). No SEC East team will play a non-annual Power 5 team away game.

Notre Dame - 5547 miles (6-5-1) The Temple game is counted as an away game. The Shamrock series game with BC in Fenway is counted as the neutral site game.

 

[Legacy]

Not personalizing it. If you take it that way then that's on you. As far as the topic, I don't feel the need to defend anyone's schedule. I care about who Bama plays. Pretty simple. I gave my opinion of why I don't think miles traveled is really relevant and the reasons why comparing ND's miles to any other school's is really not an apples to apples comparison.

I could care less who Ga plays. I could care less who Auburn or anyone else in the SEC plays until the Tide comes calling. In the end, the schedule and the W/L records will determine the pecking order for the playoffs. If a team's schedule weighs them down, then so be it. Should have scheduled higher quality opponents.

That's a response more to the point than "If ND or their fans are worried about travel distances and believe that creates an advantage or disadvantage, then join the B1G and eliminate the problem." and "Futhermore legacy, if you want to hump on OOC opponents, I find it wildly amazing that you haven't gotten around to looking at the Big 12 teams." Do you see the difference if you just eliminate these types of comments?

An article in RollBamaRoll on how SEC teams were scheduling locally with away game mileage detailed - and comparing it to Alabama's distances - first interested me in the topic.

 

[T Town Tommy]

That's a response more to the point than "If ND or their fans are worried about travel distances and believe that creates an advantage or disadvantage, then join the B1G and eliminate the problem." and "Futhermore legacy, if you want to hump on OOC opponents, I find it wildly amazing that you haven't gotten around to looking at the Big 12 teams." Do you see the difference if you just eliminate these types of comments?

An article in RollBamaRoll on how SEC teams were scheduling locally with away game mileage detailed - and comparing it to Alabama's distances - first interested me in the topic.

So... it's ok for you to throw out comments about teams, conferences, etc., but it's not ok for me? I don't seem to follow that logic. Your anti-SEC stance is well known and you throw out much more than I ever comment on. It's your opinion and you are surely entitled to it. But my opinion is also mine. The difference simply is that I am an outsider on another team's board and sometimes my opinions aren't going to gel with some. And that's ok. I would expect nothing less from the fans of their team to defend them when they think they should.

I have posted my opinions several times about Alabama's scheduling and the fact that I want only P5 teams on their schedule. I want the SEC to go to nine games and eliminate their tradional yearly rival games. I also want the neutral site games to go away in favor of home and homes with top 10-15 teams from other conferences. With recruiting a national thing moreso now than ever, I think it would be great for Bama to go to Notre Dame, Oregon, or USC, or Ohio State, etc. I think money drives the neutral site games and we usually play in hot bed recruiting areas so I get why they are played. As a fan, however, I would love nothing more than to see home and home marquee matchup OOC games for every conference. It makes CFB better in the end. We don't really disagree as much as you may think.

 

[Legacy]

So... it's ok for you to throw out comments about teams, conferences, etc., but it's not ok for me? I don't seem to follow that logic. Your anti-SEC stance is well known and you throw out much more than I ever comment on. It's your opinion and you are surely entitled to it. But my opinion is also mine. The difference simply is that I am an outsider on another team's board and sometimes my opinions aren't going to gel with some. And that's ok. I would expect nothing less from the fans of their team to defend them when they think they should.

Anti-SEC? I undertook the Overrecruiting analyses to see how the SEC new regs were working and to illustrate the factors beyond signing numbers. I shall let the chips fall where they may, if appropriate. Bias is in the eye of the beholder. I don't disagree with you as much as you think.

The "you can express your opinion but I can't. I don't follow that logic" assumes the premise that leads to your conclusion.

 

[Irish YJ]

 

[BGIF]

So... it's ok for you to throw out comments about teams, conferences, etc., but it's not ok for me? I don't seem to follow that logic. Your anti-SEC stance is well known and you throw out much more than I ever comment on. It's your opinion and you are surely entitled to it. But my opinion is also mine. The difference simply is that I am an outsider on another team's board and sometimes my opinions aren't going to gel with some. And that's ok. I would expect nothing less from the fans of their team to defend them when they think they should.

I have posted my opinions several times about Alabama's scheduling and the fact that I want only P5 teams on their schedule. I want the SEC to go to nine games and eliminate their tradional yearly rival games. I also want the neutral site games to go away in favor of home and homes with top 10-15 teams from other conferences. With recruiting a national thing moreso now than ever, I think it would be great for Bama to go to Notre Dame, Oregon, or USC, or Ohio State, etc. I think money drives the neutral site games and we usually play in hot bed recruiting areas so I get why they are played. As a fan, however, I would love nothing more than to see home and home marquee matchup OOC games for every conference. It makes CFB better in the end. We don't really disagree as much as you may think.

Sounds like you were having a conversation with a wife.

 

[BGIF]

A lot of research for something that is pretty meaningless IMO. Comparing ND and their travel distance to any school is really a stretch. Who really cares? Most conferences play games within their geographical region for several reasons... recruiting, cost, tradition are the three primary reasons.

If ND or their fans are worried about travel distances and believe that creates an advantage or disadvantage, then join the B1G and eliminate the problem. Schedule a couple of regional games against other schools outside the B1G and that cuts down on travel. If ND wants to keep their traditional games with a USC and/or Stanford, then it is what it is.

Futhermore legacy, if you want to hump on OOC opponents, I find it wildly amazing that you haven't gotten around to looking at the Big 12 teams. Their schedules are an absolute embarrassment.

He'd be off topic posting about the Big 12 here. The title IS SEC Scheduling.

 

[BGIF]

Speaking only for Tenn.....
In the last 10-12 years, UT has home and home games vs:
Oklahoma
Oregon
UCLA
CAL
ND

Not a lot of Power 5 teams can say that. There are some, not a lot.

In the 3 decades I've lived in SEC land Tennessee seems to be the SEC standard bearer for playing OOC home and home series. Most of the others, particularly UF, have an aversion to travel. There are ranked HS football teams that aren't afraid to go cross country to play. The gators only seem to recognize the confederacy as travel territory.

 

[Irish YJ]

In the 3 decades I've lived in SEC land Tennessee seems to be the SEC standard bearer for playing OOC home and home series. Most of the others, particularly UF, have an aversion to travel. There are ranked HS football teams that aren't afraid to go cross country to play. The gators only seem to recognize the confederacy as travel territory.

Where ya living BFIF? Didn't know you were in the South

 

[BGIF]

Where ya living BFIF? Didn't know you were in the South

Almost due south of South Bend. Take US 31 South for 12 or 13 hours, turn ;eft and go two miles and you're there. Shelby County. Alabama.

It's the house with the ND #1 light on top. Beer's in the fridge.

 

[Irish YJ]

Almost due south of South Bend. Take US 31 South for 12 or 13 hours, turn ;eft and go two miles and you're there. Shelby County. Alabama.

It's the house with the ND #1 light on top. Beer's in the fridge.

Not too far from 3T
Was thinking about heading over to Oak Mountain for a VH concert a few days before the GT/ND game. How's the venue?

 

[BGIF]

Not too far from 3T
Was thinking about heading over to Oak Mountain for a VH concert a few days before the GT/ND game. How's the venue?

About the same size as Chastain Park, 10K, without the exquisite dining. I-20 to I-459 to I-65 then exit 246 and you'll be backed up in traffic.

You can also come US 31 from I-459, one exit past I 65.

Pelham Police do a pretty good job of directing traffic but there's essentially two roads leading in and out and they both connect to HWY 119, a bottleneck.

I haven't been there for a concert in 10 years or so although I live about 5 miles from there.

 

[Legacy]

Seriously ACamp, that's your reply when busted for being ridiculously inaccurate? How old are you? That might fly if you were a half-witted 20-year-old living in your mom's basement ranting in the comments section of an ESPN article, but not here. This is supposed to be reasonably intelligent people having reasonably intelligent discussions. The need to troll anyone is a sign of insecurity and an inability to discuss subjects intelligently. The need to claim you were just trolling when busted for not knowing what you're talking about isn't much better.

By all means, hate who you will or feel free to believe anything you like. The SEC/Bama hatred doesn't bother me. I find it rather amusing most of the time. I'm just amazed at how a handful of people who proclaim to be so brilliant and superior and intellectually honest can have such a meltdown over every inaccurate thing said about their own program yet gleefully make up some of the most ridiculously and blatantly false stuff about another.

Cack? ACamp? Me? Anyone else I missed?

This conference chest-thumping is something I find hard to comprehend as a fan of a semi-independent football program. I still see each of these teams individually with its own set of dynamics.

Nor do I understand the "opinions" aimed at individuals. Stop it if you want to preserve some semblance of respect. I can't post anything once on any SEC team board without being declared a troll with requests to be banned. IE is different.

On to the topic at hand - distance for away & neutral games, scheduling models, playing Power 5 teams, how few of the away games are non-conference.

SEC West (note the differences and/or the similarities)

LSU - 3102 miles (7-5) - 4 SEC away games, 1 Away game against a P5 school (@Syracuse)
Auburn - 2455 miles (7-4-1) - 4 SEC away games, Neutral site game against a P5 school at Atlanta (vs Louisville)
Arkansas - 2086 miles (6-4-2) - 4 SEC away games, 1 SEC game (A&M) at annual site in Arlington, 1 Neutral site game at Little Rock (vs Toledo). Neutral sites?
Texas A&M - 1980 miles (7-3-2) - 3 SEC away games, 1 SEC game (Ark) at annual site in Arlington, and one Neutral site game against a P5 school at Houston (vs Arizona State)
Mississippi State - 1878 miles (7-5) - 4 SEC away games and one away game (@Southern Miss)
Alabama - 1780 miles (7-4-1) - 4 SEC away games, 1 Neutral site game against a P5 school at Arlington (vs Wisconsin)
Ole Miss - 1303 miles (7-5) - 4 SEC away games, 1 away game (@Memphis)

Observations:
-- LSU, Auburn, A&M and Alabama play P5 schools
-- Only LSU travels outside of the South to play a P5 school, accounting for their distance
-- Auburn, A&M, and Alabama play P5 schools at neutral sites
-- The seven SEC W. schools play three away games (@Syracuse, @Memphis, @Hattiesburg)
-- All play FCS schools

Objective responses are welcome. Let's not play the victims or make it personal.

 

[Legacy]

Ranking the non-conference schedules of College Football Playoff contenders

Not much new, but a ranking system with some merit.

Six SEC teams are ranked in the thirty-four "CFB contenders". None of those six teams has a non-conference schedule ranked in the first half (1-17) of these teams except Georgia at fourteen.

The Mississippis, and LSU are ranked in the 29-34 area with three Big 12 teams - Baylor, Kansas State, and Oklahoma State.

Notre Dame
Four of the top five with toughest non-conference schedules play Notre Dame. ND is not ranked. What's our conference in their eyes? I would venture that you could call a "conference" for ND of their six ACC games with USC, Navy and Stanford. That would give ND a "non-conference" schedule of Texas, Temple and UMass. Next year we would go to a eight conference schedule with the five ACC games.

Also, a conference schedule, in those terms, would include Clemson, USC, Georgia Tech, and Stanford.

 

[Legacy]

More Bama blog's evaluation of SEC opponents

More Bama blog's evaluation of SEC opponents

I quoted their comments on the first four articles on opponents (Georgia, Tenn, Ole Miss and Miss St) in Post # 253.

The Bama blog has now covered another four opponents (Ark, Fla, LSU and A&M) in their "Predicting the 2015 SEC Football Season" series.

Their excerpts often emphasize opponents' scheduling.

Florida - "Strengths: Secondary, WR, D-Line, playing UK and Vandy every year." and
- "The three non-SEC/non-FSU games coupled with UK and Vandy meetings should add up to five victories. Don't be surprised if McElwain outcoaches someone looking ahead and gets that sixth win that makes them bowl eligible."
- non-FSU OOC opponents - Fla Atl, NM St, East Carolina. (no FCS game) All OOC opponents at home.

LSU - "Strengths: Fournette, the first two months of the schedule, defense, WRs, punting." and
- "Weak non-con and lower tier SEC East opponents should ensure a winning season."
- OOC opponents - McNeese St, Eastern Michigan, Western Kentucky (home games). Syracuse (away)

Texas A&M - Weakness includes "playing in the SEC West".
- OOC opponents - Ball St, Nevada, West Carolina (home games) Ariz St (in Houston). Cautious prediction of win over ASU.

Arkansas - "Strengths: Running game, non-conf schedule." and
- "With a soft out-of-conference schedule and home games against weaker SEC teams, Sooie Nation should see their way out of the SEC West basement for the first time under Bert."
- "Fun Fact: Due to politicians and the deep pockets of U of A alum in Little Rock, the Razorbacks are still stuck with playing games in the state capitol, a good three hour drive from Fayetteville. [And Bama fans used to complain about going to Birmingham - present company included!] At least now they are down to one game per year and they are paying War Memorial Stadium $400,000 so its football team won't have to make multiple trips to Little Rock each season."
- OOC opponents - UTEP, Texas Tech, UT-Martin (home games). Toledo (at Arlington)

Notes:
- Thirteen of sixteen OOC opponents are home games
- Two games at are neutral sites (Houston, Arlington)
- One game is away (@Syracuse)
- Three of four teams have scheduled FCS teams
- Only two OOC opponents are strong - Florida State and Arizona State
- Four P5 games - FSU, Ariz St, Syracuse, Texas Tech

 

[Legacy]

SEC Scheduling vs Power 5 teams over the years

SEC Scheduling vs Power 5 teams over the years

(2015) After this week's four ACC games, the SEC will have played eleven regular season games vs P5 conference teams.

(2010) The SEC played twelve regular season games vs P5 conference teams. (However, at that time, A&M was in the Big 12. So the A&M-Arkansas game is counted.)

(2005) The SEC played eight regular season games vs P5 conference teams.

So, in the last five years (2015 vs 2010), the SEC has played one less regular season game against P5 conference teams - despite adding two teams in Missouri and Texas A&M. Also, two of the SEC's ACC opponents in 2015 (Louisville, Syracuse) were not part of the ACC in 2010. One of the SEC teams (Texas A&M) who played a P5 team in 2015 was not part of the SEC in 2010. Arguably, those expansion teams' games should not be included in comparisons between 2015 and 2010, which would mean that the SEC has played four less regular season games against P5 conference teams in 2015 than in 2010.

In ten years (2015 vs 2005), the SEC has played only three more regular season games vs P5 conference teams.

For conference comparisons for 2015, after this week's games,
- the Big Ten has played seventeen P5 conference teams
- the ACC will have played fifteen P5 conference teams (seven with the SEC)
- the Pac 12 will have played eight P5 conference teams
- the Big 12 will have played seven P5 conference teams

 

[Legacy]

Always fun to look back on these.

Power Ranking the SEC’s 2015 Non-Conference Schedules (preseason article)

Using the final AP rankings after the bowl games, the SEC as a conference played four ranked teams. The article notes when teams last played a P5 team with other notes.

Alabama (Wisc), Tennessee (Okla), Florida (FSU) and South Carolina (NC) played one ranked team each.

The other ten SEC teams did not play any ranked teams. (56 total non-conferencs games)

Two Big 12 teams played ranked teams. Texas (ND), Iowa State (Iowa). The other eight did not. (30 total non-conference game)

The ACC - subtracting the six ND games - played six nonconference ranked teams - VT (Ohio St), Pitts (Iowa), Louisville (Houston), Syr (LSU), FSU (Fla). Counting ND as a nonconference team, the ACC played eleven ranked nonconference teams (56 games).

 

[Legacy]

USC, Oklahoma lead the way with toughest 2016 nonconference schedules

See the common thread in half of the top ten's schedules?
1. USC
4. Va Tech
6. Duke
8. Stanford
9. Michigan State

Help me find the SEC teams, please.

We are playing Michigan State because Alabama asked out of their home-and-home with the Spartans. (They are playing USC in 2016 and Florida State in 2017 both at neutral sites - Arlington, Atlanta.)

 

[T Town Tommy]

USC, Oklahoma lead the way with toughest 2016 nonconference schedules

See the common thread in half of the top ten's schedules?
1. USC
4. Va Tech
6. Duke
8. Stanford
9. Michigan State

Help me find the SEC teams, please.

We are playing Michigan State because Alabama asked out of their home-and-home with the Spartans. (They are playing USC in 2016 and Florida State in 2017 both at neutral sites - Arlington, Atlanta.)

LOL... I guess you want to see another Spartan beat down? By most every indication, they are not going to be anywhere near as good next year as they were this year. As much as I loathe neutral site games, Bama comes out ahead here as I would much rather play USC and FSU than Mich St.

On the non conference slate... the marquee matchups the first weekend of the season next year has at least one SEC team playing... Notre Dame and Texas excluded - if that's even considered a marquee matchup given the current state of the Longhorn program. But once again, the conference schedules are where it is at and the SEC West, in particular, will be brutal once again.

 

[MNIrishman]

LOL... I guess you want to see another Spartan beat down? By most every indication, they are not going to be anywhere near as good next year as they were this year. As much as I loathe neutral site games, Bama comes out ahead here as I would much rather play USC and FSU than Mich St.

On the non conference slate... the marquee matchups the first weekend of the season next year has at least one SEC team playing... Notre Dame and Texas excluded - if that's even considered a marquee matchup given the current state of the Longhorn program. But once again, the conference schedules are where it is at and the SEC West, in particular, will be brutal once again.

Still, they're doing much better under Dantonio than they ever did under Saban. It's kind of interesting how much better Saban is when he's coaching SEC West teams than when he's coached anywhere else where they watch you a little more closely. That's kind of why I was hoping Michigan would get Les Miles.

ND and Texas would be a marquee matchup even if neither were bowl eligible the year before. There's something about that much power, money, and prestige that transcends a single season. Do you remember all the private jets at South Bend airport last year? I mean, Texas has nearly 10x as much money in its endowment as the entire University of Alabama is worth altogether (endowment, buildings, brand). People pay attention to them regardless of when they're good---and they should be a whole lot better this year.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Still, they're doing much better under Dantonio than they ever did under Saban. It's kind of interesting how much better Saban is when he's coaching SEC West teams than when he's coached anywhere else where they watch you a little more closely. That's kind of why I was hoping Michigan would get Les Miles.

ND and Texas would be a marquee matchup even if neither were bowl eligible the year before. There's something about that much power, money, and prestige that transcends a single season. Do you remember all the private jets at South Bend airport last year? I mean, Texas has nearly 10x as much money in its endowment as the entire University of Alabama is worth altogether (endowment, buildings, brand). People pay attention to them regardless of when they're good---and they should be a whole lot better this year.

You do realize that Saban left MSU is much better shape for Dantonio than what Saban inherited there. John L drove what Saban did in the ground. Same for Les at LSU. And Bama was horrible prior to Saban arriving. Don't really get your point with all that.

If a marquee matchup means private jets, a lot of people with money, a large endowment, and one mediocre football team, then my definition has been wrong all these years. Enjoy.

 

[Legacy]

On the non conference slate... the marquee matchups the first weekend of the season next year has at least one SEC team playing... Notre Dame and Texas excluded - if that's even considered a marquee matchup given the current state of the Longhorn program. But once again, the conference schedules are where it is at and the SEC West, in particular, will be brutal once again.

You're sliding the thread away from the ten toughest non-conference schedules, but that's okay. Bama was on one of those team's list. The entire SEC plays only three games against those top ten, which tells me that the SEC teams aren't the ones making the top ten teams' non-conference schedules tough.

Not very surprised at your SEC West conference comment - "brutal"? Bama played only two SEC West teams made the top twenty-five (Ole Miss and LSU) last year. Three in the top twenty-five?? Not exactly Clemson, Stanford, Ohio State, Navy, is it? (Temple and USC just missed it.) Is the West going to suddenly get much tougher?

You could assert yourselves against some non-conference P5 teams. Who do you think wins these?
Alabama vs. USC (Arlington, Texas)
Clemson at Auburn
LSU vs. Wisconsin (Lambeau Field, Green Bay)
Missouri at West Virginia
Georgia vs. North Carolina (Georgia Dome, Atlanta)
Ole Miss vs. Florida State (Citrus Bowl in Orlando)
Arkansas at TCU
Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee (Bristol Motor Speedway)
Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt
Mississippi State at BYU
Florida at Florida State
Kentucky at Louisville
South Carolina at Clemson
UCLA at A&M

Congrats to Missouri and Mississippi State for leaving the South.

At least each SEC team plays one P5 team, but only one SEC team (Georgia) plays two P5 teams?? Try and respond without bringing ND into your responses.

 

[T Town Tommy]

You're sliding the thread away from the ten toughest non-conference schedules, but that's okay. Bama was on one of those team's list. The entire SEC plays only three games against those top ten, which tells me that the SEC teams aren't the ones making the top ten teams' non-conference schedules tough.

Not very surprised at your SEC West comment - "brutal"? Bama played only two SEC West teams made the top twenty-five (Ole Miss and LSU). Not exactly Clemson, Stanford, Ohio State, Navy, is it? Is the West going to suddenly get much tougher?

You could assert yourselves against some non-conference P5 teams. Who do you think wins these?
Alabama vs. USC (Arlington, Texas)
Clemson at Auburn
LSU vs. Wisconsin (Lambeau Field, Green Bay)
Missouri at West Virginia
Georgia vs. North Carolina (Georgia Dome, Atlanta)
Ole Miss vs. Florida State (Citrus Bowl in Orlando)
Arkansas at TCU
Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee (Bristol Motor Speedway)
Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt
Mississippi State at BYU
Florida at Florida State
Kentucky at Louisville
South Carolina at Clemson
UCLA at A&M

Congrats to Missouri and Mississippi State for leaving the South.

At least each SEC team plays one P5 team, but only one SEC team (Georgia) plays two P5 teams??

Ah... but to take a line from our favorite donut eating slob of a coach at Arky... who the hell thinks beats those teams in the SEC? Other SEC teams typically. So the top 25 was more than likely skewed when one takes that in to account. The bowl record from this past year says a lot about the strength of teams relative to who they play and who they win/lose to. And try as one might... there wasn't a conference as dominating in this past bowl season. And before you go... "yeah, but what about two years ago?" even with a subpar bowl season, the SEC still had a winning record. And over the course of the decade of dominance, the SEC has led the way in bowl victories, draft picks, national championships, and on and on. But again... most of the marquee match ups in the opening weekend involve a lot of SEC schools. The regular season conference games speak for themselves.

As far as leaving the south. It comes down to two things. Money and recruiting. Why leave the south when the cost doesn't justify it and there is nothing to gain in recruiting? Pretty simple. There is always a purpose to everything in CFB... and money and recruiting tops the list. Why would we play at Ann Arbor or South Bend when we gain no recruiting advantages? As a fan I would love to see home and home games against the elite teams. I can't stand the neutral site BS. But it does nothing for the two drivers of most programs. Our recent recruiting success in Texas, as well as our established presence in Ga and Florida will likely mean that neutral site games will continue well past the 2018 match up against Louisville. The closest my Bama team gets to a home and home would be against a Cali team like USC or UCLA as we continue to gain some recruiting traction in that state.

2016 SEC recruiting maps: Alabama signs players in 11 states, Auburn 6 | AL.com

 

[MNIrishman]

You do realize that Saban left MSU is much better shape for Dantonio than what Saban inherited there. John L drove what Saban did in the ground. Same for Les at LSU. And Bama was horrible prior to Saban arriving. Don't really get your point with all that.

If a marquee matchup means private jets, a lot of people with money, a large endowment, and one mediocre football team, then my definition has been wrong all these years. Enjoy.

I'm just pointing out that Saban has only seen this level of success in an environment where he's playing by a different set of rules.

College football isn't always about the best teams---that's the NFL. Some teams are just relevant and draw eyes independent of rankings because the university itself is relevant nationally and don't represent the entirety of their value via the football team.