SEC Scheduling

[Legacy]

SEC Scheduling News (April, May, 2016 announcements)

SEC Scheduling News (April, May, 2016 announcements)

Payouts to visiting teams noted when available. All games at SEC teams unless otherwise noted.

(5-5-16) Missouri will play North Texas in 2021. N.Texas was 1-11 in 2015
(5-2-16) Alabama will play the Citadel (FCS) in 2018. The Citadel was 0-1 against FBS teams, almost beating South Carolina in 2015. The Citadel's record against FCS teams was 9-3.
(4-26-16) Florida will play Miami at neutral site in 2019. Miami was 7-5 against FBS teams in 2015.
(4-21-16) Georgia will play Murray State (FCS) in 2018. Murray State gets 500k and was 3-8 last year.
(4-20-16) Georgia will play UMass in 2018 for $1.5 million. UMass was 3-9 against FBS teams in 2015. (UMass plays Florida and Miss State (home game) in 2016, Miss State away in 2017.)
(4-19-16) Vandy will play NC State in a home-and-home series in '26 & '28. NC State was 6-6 against FBS teams last year (3-5 in ACC)
(4-11-16) Texas A&M will play UAB in 2018. UAB did not play any games last year or this year. Their first year back in FBS is in 2017.
(4-10-16) Arkansas will play Coastal Carolina in 2017. Coastal Carolina was 9-3 against FCS teams. The last time Coastal Carolina played a FBS team was in 2011. Coastal Carolina will become a FBS team this July so this will be a FBS game for Arkansas.
(4-8-16) Vanderbilt will play Eastern Tenn State in '19 and '21. ETSU was dormant in football until 2015. ETSU was 1-10 against FCS teams in 2015.
(4-7-16) Arkansas will play Colorado State in 2019. Colorado State was 6-6 against FBS teams in 2015.
(3-10-16) Texas A&M will play Fresno State in 2020. Fresno State was 2-9 against FBS teams in 2015.

Of the seven SEC teams above and their thirteen games,
-- Ten games are against FBS teams with losing records or FCS teams. One is against a winning team in 2015, two are against 6-6 teams (FBS competition only).
-- Ten games are in the SEC team's home stadium. One game is at a neutral site. Two games are a home-and-home series.
-- None of the games are outside the South.
-- Four games are against FCS opponents at the time those games will be played.
-- Another two games are against other FCS teams who did not play in FBS in 2015, but will be in FBS by the time the games are played.

 

[irishtrain]

This scheduling issue is a bit of a farce with these schools in the sec. This year the Finebaum crowd is poking at strength of schedule with other conferences compared to an sec schedule. Playing 1 very tough opponent and 2 patsies isn't hard as an out of conference schedule. Phony baloney business boys-simple as that. Don't care for the ever present line of 'we play an sec schedule' which makes it necessary to ease up on the out of conference teams. Just play 3 solid teams like Notre Dame. I don't see the sec lining up to play Navy. Just ask South Carolina about that. Plus how about a few cold weather games. They got this thing pretty much the way they like it and when you bring this issue up it really touches a nerve. Like I said many many times-its the best overall conference but --------you cant play week end off games and keep my respect.

 

[irishtrain]

Payouts to visiting teams noted when available. All games at SEC teams unless otherwise noted.

(5-5-16) Missouri will play North Texas in 2021. N.Texas was 1-11 in 2015
(5-2-16) Alabama will play the Citadel (FCS) in 2018. The Citadel was 0-1 against FBS teams, almost beating South Carolina in 2015. The Citadel's record against FCS teams was 9-3.
(4-26-16) Florida will play Miami at neutral site in 2019. Miami was 7-5 against FBS teams in 2015.
(4-21-16) Georgia will play Murray State (FCS) in 2018. Murray State gets 500k and was 3-8 last year.
(4-20-16) Georgia will play UMass in 2018 for $1.5 million. UMass was 3-9 against FBS teams in 2015. (UMass plays Florida and Miss State (home game) in 2016, Miss State away in 2017.)
(4-19-16) Vandy will play NC State in a home-and-home series in '26 & '28. NC State was 6-6 against FBS teams last year (3-5 in ACC)
(4-11-16) Texas A&M will play UAB in 2018. UAB did not play any games last year or this year. Their first year back in FBS is in 2017.
(4-10-16) Arkansas will play Coastal Carolina in 2017. Coastal Carolina was 9-3 against FCS teams. The last time Coastal Carolina played a FBS team was in 2011. Coastal Carolina will become a FBS team this July so this will be a FBS game for Arkansas.
(4-8-16) Vanderbilt will play Eastern Tenn State in '19 and '21. ETSU was dormant in football until 2015. ETSU was 1-10 against FCS teams in 2015.
(4-7-16) Arkansas will play Colorado State in 2019. Colorado State was 6-6 against FBS teams in 2015.
(3-10-16) Texas A&M will play Fresno State in 2020. Fresno State was 2-9 against FBS teams in 2015.

Of the seven SEC teams above and their thirteen games,
-- Ten games are against FBS teams with losing records or FCS teams. One is against a winning team in 2015, two are against 6-6 teams (FBS competition only).
-- Ten games are in the SEC team's home stadium. One game is at a neutral site. Two games are a home-and-home series.
-- None of the games are outside the South.
-- Four games are against FCS opponents at the time those games will be played.
-- Another two games are against other FCS teams who did not play in FBS in 2015, but will be in FBS by the time the games are played.

if Notre Dame played any of these teams the sec crowd would have a cow-I don't throw UMass out there that was a once in a blue moon game

 

[Bishop2b5]

This scheduling issue is a bit of a farce with these schools in the sec. This year the Finebaum crowd is poking at strength of schedule with other conferences compared to an sec schedule. Playing 1 very tough opponent and 2 patsies isn't hard as an out of conference schedule. Phony baloney business boys-simple as that. Don't care for the ever present line of 'we play an sec schedule' which makes it necessary to ease up on the out of conference teams. Just play 3 solid teams like Notre Dame. I don't see the sec lining up to play Navy. Just ask South Carolina about that. Plus how about a few cold weather games. They got this thing pretty much the way they like it and when you bring this issue up it really touches a nerve. Like I said many many times-its the best overall conference but --------you cant play week end off games and keep my respect.

6 of the top 18 and 9 of the top 29 toughest schedules this past season belonged to SEC teams, including Bama's, which ranked as #1.

NCAAF Sagarin - NCAAF Football - USA TODAY

 

[military_irish]

6 of the top 18 and 9 of the top 29 toughest schedules this past season belonged to SEC teams, including Bama's, which ranked as #1.

NCAAF Sagarin - NCAAF Football - USA TODAY

Those rankings are deceiving because they over rank a majority of the SEC teams to began with. Alabama played one semi-tough out of conference game, in the regular season, against Wisconsin. Which Wisconsin was beat by the three decent teams they played in the regular season. (Alabama, Iowa, Northwestern)

The "tough" aspect comes from the fact they played 7 ranked teams at the time of the game. 6 were from the SEC. (#20 Wisconsin, #15 Ole Miss, #8 Georgia, #9 Texas A&M, #2 LSU, #17 Miss St, #18 Florida) Of those 7 only 4 remained ranked at the end of the season (3 from the SEC) and only 1 in the top 15. (#10 Ole Miss)

If they ranked half the American Conference in the top 25 and all they do is play each other. Each week would look like an amazing game and Houston would probably have been #1 all year long.

That's why rankings should not come out until at least the 3rd or 4th week and games against FCS school should not count.

 

[NDbrbkny]

what's uf's excuse for not playing the U annually ?

 

[Bishop2b5]

Those rankings are deceiving because they over rank a majority of the SEC teams to began with. Alabama played one semi-tough out of conference game, in the regular season, against Wisconsin. Which Wisconsin was beat by the three decent teams they played in the regular season. (Alabama, Iowa, Northwestern)

The "tough" aspect comes from the fact they played 7 ranked teams at the time of the game. 6 were from the SEC. (#20 Wisconsin, #15 Ole Miss, #8 Georgia, #9 Texas A&M, #2 LSU, #17 Miss St, #18 Florida) Of those 7 only 4 remained ranked at the end of the season (3 from the SEC) and only 1 in the top 15. (#10 Ole Miss)

If they ranked half the American Conference in the top 25 and all they do is play each other. Each week would look like an amazing game and Houston would probably have been #1 all year long.

That's why rankings should not come out until at least the 3rd or 4th week and games against FCS school should not count.

SEC teams went 9-2 in the bowls this past season. Apparently it's not just overhype from ranking them all high and beating up on each other. The "tough" aspect as you put it doesn't come from where opponents were ranked at the time they were played. The rankings I linked to (Sagarin's) are based on final results of each opponent's season, not where they were ranked when played.

The argument that rankings shouldn't come out until a month into the season has appeal and sounds good, but would probably make little difference in reality. The rankings that come out only after a few games tend to look almost exactly like the AP and Coaches' polls. Preseason rankings are usually off for a lot of the teams they rank, but it all works its way out over the course of the season and the final polls are pretty accurate.

All we really want to see is a team's record be an accurate reflection of their actual playing strength - to know that a team who is 12-0 or 11-1 and going to a big bowl or the playoffs didn't get there by only playing a weak schedule. SEC teams play brutal conference schedules and weak OOC ones. So what? They're playing tough schedules overall. Tell me you still thought it was all just "high preseason rankings and playing each other" when Bama beat the B1G champion MSU 38-0, Ole Miss beat Okie St 48-20, LSU beat Texas Tech 56-27, or Bama beat Clemson in the NC game.

 

[Irish#1]

SEC teams went 9-2 in the bowls this past season. Apparently it's not just overhype from ranking them all high and beating up on each other. The "tough" aspect as you put it doesn't come from where opponents were ranked at the time they were played. The rankings I linked to (Sagarin's) are based on final results of each opponent's season, not where they were ranked when played.

The argument that rankings shouldn't come out until a month into the season has appeal and sounds good, but would probably make little difference in reality. The rankings that come out only after a few games tend to look almost exactly like the AP and Coaches' polls. Preseason rankings are usually off for a lot of the teams they rank, but it all works its way out over the course of the season and the final polls are pretty accurate.

All we really want to see is a team's record be an accurate reflection of their actual playing strength - to know that a team who is 12-0 or 11-1 and going to a big bowl or the playoffs didn't get there by only playing a weak schedule. SEC teams play brutal conference schedules and weak OOC ones. So what? They're playing tough schedules overall. Tell me you still thought it was all just "high preseason rankings and playing each other" when Bama beat the B1G champion MSU 38-0, Ole Miss beat Okie St 48-20, LSU beat Texas Tech 56-27, or Bama beat Clemson in the NC game.

IMO, you need to take into account how well the team was playing when you played them, along with where they finished at the end of the season. A team that was 4-0 and finished 6-6 doesn't mean they weren't playing good early.

 

[Bishop2b5]

IMO, you need to take into account how well the team was playing when you played them, along with where they finished at the end of the season. A team that was 4-0 and finished 6-6 doesn't mean they weren't playing good early.

I completely agree with you on this. Teams change over the course of a season and their overall record may be a poor reflection of who they were early or late in the season, or when your team played them. The problem is that it's hard to factor that into overall rankings in an objective way.

 

[Legacy]

I completely agree with you on this. Teams change over the course of a season and their overall record may be a poor reflection of who they were early or late in the season, or when your team played them. The problem is that it's hard to factor that into overall rankings in an objective way.

Unless P5 teams play each other in OOC games during the regular season in home-and-home games....

 

[Legacy]

To simplify for myself, I just consider three SEC teams from each division as possible contenders each year - Florida, Georgia and Tennessee from the East and Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss from the West.

In cross division play, each team this year plays one of other division's three teams.

Florida-LSU
Georgia-Ole Miss
Tenn-Alabama

I'd like to see more of those matchups by going to a nine game conference schedule and dropping the exhibition games.

 

[Legacy]

Recruiting and money drive all things CFB. That includes scheduling. If playing Ohio State at their house would help us in recruiting, then I am all for it. If it doesn't, then we can maybe play them in the playoff. Pretty simple to me.

Out-of-conference series the SEC should renew

ALABAMA
Notre Dame
Last played: Alabama 42, Notre Dame 14; Jan. 7, 2013

Not too many teams can boast an all-time winning record against Alabama. Then again, not many teams have the football lineage of Notre Dame. The two programs last met in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game with Nick Saban’s Tide trouncing Manti T’eo’s Fighting Irish. However, prior to that title bout, Alabama and Notre Dame hadn’t locked horns since playing a home-and-home during the 1986 and 1987 seasons — which yielded wins for the home teams. The Irish hold a 5-2 edge over Alabama in a rivalry that dates back to the 1973 Sugar Bowl. The Tide’s season opener against Southern California will be the first time it’s played the Trojans since 1985. Time to also renew some games with Notre Dame, as well.

 

[Legacy]

what's uf's excuse for not playing the U annually ?

Florida AD: Don’t expect Miami to be on our schedule on a regular basis

“No, I do not see them on our schedule on a regular basis,” Foley said on the air. “I think when you’re asking your football team to play eight games in this league and Florida State, that’s a tough slate. This league is obviously as good as it gets, and Florida State is as good as it gets.”

By dodging an annual series with Miami, Florida is able to schedule annual blood paths against teams such as UMass, North Texas and Presbyterian. These games offer little value outside of allowing the school and local community to rake in cash on game days; and it’s not just Florida doing this, it’s every SEC school.

 

[NDbrbkny]

that's the cop out answer if you saw in the comments miami is broke in $$$$ and playing them will just enrich them

 

[Legacy]

that's the cop out answer if you saw in the comments miami is broke in $$$$ and playing them will just enrich them

Also, Florida has lost seven of the last eight games against Miami. Imagine if Fla won the SEC East and went to the Championship - but lost to FSU and Miami.

 

[Legacy]

Ranking College Football's Top 25 Toughest Schedules for 2016 (Athlon)

SEC
11. Bama
12. Auburn
17. A&M
19. Ole Miss
22. LSU

 

[Legacy]

Tennessee has announced they've added seven games to their future schedules. For those interested in attending:

UTEP - '18
Chattanooga -'19 (FCS)
UAB - '19 (restarted program with first D-1 game in '17)
Charlotte - '20 (joined FBS in '12)
Bowling Green - '21
Ball State - '22
Army West Point - '22

All are home games. All are G5 schools or FCS.

For those five teams teams who played in FBS last year, the only team with a winning record is Bowling Green (10-4). The other four went a combined 12-36.

 

[Legacy]

Demand for UGA football tickets impacted by lackluster home schedule, other factors

Georgia has six home games this year and none of the opponents are projected top 25 teams: Appalachian State (Sept. 2), Samford (Sept. 16), Mississippi State (23), Missouri (Oct. 14), South Carolina (Nov. 4) and Kentucky (Nov. 18).

Ticket prices also increased this year: The face-value cost of a ticket rises to $50, up from $45 last year and $40 in 2015, where the price had been since 2008. And the required donation to the Hartman fund has also increased in 2017.

The Hartman Fund is the vehicle through which donors can buy season tickets. The donation gives one the right to then purchase season tickets. And the more you contribute the better your seats tend to be.

This year donors with at least 550 priority points (a point for every dollar donation) who contributed at least $275 per seat last year can automatically renew their tickets.

 

[irishtrain]

I agree with the LSU AD. Alabama has somehow miraculously avoided playing the schedule that other's play. I am fine with them playing the 8 game conference + 1 other big conference game (as long as it is a quality team).

Their scheduling is a mess (joke) they should not be allowed to play 9 tough games and 3 joke games. Even some of the conference games are easy pickins for their elite. Pay the price of touting your semi pro conference and play all the teams in it. Why else have a conference plus I don't see any one lining up to play Navy who Notre Dame takes crap for playing every year. They don't want any part of Navy Air Force etc they would rather play UT Chattanoogga

 

[zelezo vlk]

Notre Dame and Arkansas Set Two-Game Football Series :: Notre Dame Football :: UND.COM :: The Official Site of Notre Dame Athletics

Home & Home with Arkansas in 2020 and 2025. Arkansas is 1 of 4 SEC teams to have never played ND in football, per the link.

 

[irishff1014]

Interesting series.

 

[Legacy]

With the SEC entering its conference play, here's how they have fared in games with Power 5 teams (6-6, counting BYU as a Power 5 team).

Big Ten (0-2)
1. Florida 17, Michigan 33 (N)
2. Missouri 3 (H), Purdue 35

Pac-12(0-2)
1. Texas A&M 44 (A), UCLA 45
2. Mississippi 16 (A), California 27

ACC(3-1)
1. Alabama 24, Florida St 7 (N)
2. Tennessee 42, Georgia Tech 41 OT (N)
3. South Carolina 35, NC State 28 (N)

1. Auburn 6 (A), Clemson 14

Big 12(1-1)
1. Vanderbilt 14 (H), Kansas St 7

1. Arkansas 7 (H), TCU 28

Independents (2-0)
1. LSU 27, BYU 0 (N)
2. Georgia 20 (A), Notre Dame 19

SEC teams were 1-3 in Away games, 1-2 in Home games, 4-1 in Neutral site games.
SEC East - 4-2. SEC West 2-4.

Remaining P5 games
Two other games against P5 teams remain (prior to SEC/ACC traditional matchups in Week 13):
Syr- LSU (H) - Week 4
Miss St (H) - BYU - Week 7

Week 13
Fla-FSU
Ga-GaTech
L'ville-Kentucky

 

[irishtrain]

Play 1 tough OOC game and 2 jokes---that's the ticket. Hide behind your conf tie ins and there you have an SEC schedule. Don't look now but the other 5 power 5 guys are catching up to you because their adm heads are also allowing semi pros in.

 

[Legacy]

SEC Football Helmet Schedule
P5 opponents 2017

Florida - Michigan (L) added to annual FSU
Georgia - Notre Dame (W) added to annual Ga Tech
Kentucky - annual Louisville
Missouir - Purdue (L)
South Carolina - NC State (W) added to annual Clemson
Tennessee - Ga Tech (W)
Vanderbilt - Kansas State (W)

Alabama - Florida State (W)
Arkansas - TCU (L)
Auburn - Clemson (L)
LSU - BYU (W), Syracuse
Miss St - BYU
Ole Miss - Cal (L)
A&M - UCLA (L)

Counting BYU as a P5 team, four SEC teams play two P5 opponents this year. (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, LSU)

 

[ACamp1900]

I love The Onion... lol

Vanderbilt Chancellor Recommends Fans Get Vaccinated Before SEC Road Schedule Begins - The Onion - America's Finest News Source

 

[Wingman Ray]

Play 1 tough OOC game and 2 jokes---that's the ticket. Hide behind your conf tie ins and there you have an SEC schedule. Don't look now but the other 5 power 5 guys are catching up to you because their adm heads are also allowing semi pros in.

Have a co-worker who is a Bama student ticket holder and booster. Had some health issues and his wife is pretty ill so they were selling most of their tickets at face value offering them to the office employees first.

Talk about a terrible home schedule. Most these teams I wouldnt go see play if the tickets were free and I happened to be in Tuscaloosa that day. It is absolutely criminal had bad the season schedule is for Bama and how the ticket holders get absolutely raped with ticket prices only to have terrible teams year in year out on the schedule.

With Bama being a power for the last decade, there is no excuses to play the teams that they play. It has been proven that by large, the SEC isnt any more difficult that any other conference overall. Yes some good teams but also some very bad teams. Just an easy way to stockpile wins.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Have a co-worker who is a Bama student ticket holder and booster. Had some health issues and his wife is pretty ill so they were selling most of their tickets at face value offering them to the office employees first.

Talk about a terrible home schedule. Most these teams I wouldnt go see play if the tickets were free and I happened to be in Tuscaloosa that day. It is absolutely criminal had bad the season schedule is for Bama and how the ticket holders get absolutely raped with ticket prices only to have terrible teams year in year out on the schedule.

With Bama being a power for the last decade, there is no excuses to play the teams that they play. It has been proven that by large, the SEC isnt any more difficult that any other conference overall. Yes some good teams but also some very bad teams. Just an easy way to stockpile wins.

So you're saying Bama just hasn't played anyone of significance in the last decade.

uh... ok.

 

[Wingman Ray]

So you're saying Bama just hasn't played anyone of significance in the last decade.

uh... ok.

No Im saying Bama plays 1 team to start off the year then a series of easy teams that everyone knows is nothing more than practice time for 2nd and 3rd string players every year. It is really embarrassing for a team with the riches that Bama has talent wise to play bottom of the barrel teams that guarantee stat padding wins and injury free games.

Sorry but SEC play isnt exactly exceptional the past couple of years. Yes there are always ranked teams in the SEC but due to the schedule that they play with very bad OOC teams and then conference, it guarantees 7+ win seasons which gets them bowl eligibility year after year.

Look on the 2017 schedule and tell me who is really a threat to beat Bama?

FSU was a good team and a good win. Auburn ran neck with a D2 team Mercer (who bama just happens to play the game before Auburn as a week off game). Miss St may be the only quality team on that schedule other than FSU. LSU just got dominated. Ole Piss sucks. Tenn barely beat FL which got owned by Mich. So tell me who sir is so great on that schedule again please?

 

[T Town Tommy]

No Im saying Bama plays 1 team to start off the year then a series of easy teams that everyone knows is nothing more than practice time for 2nd and 3rd string players every year. It is really embarrassing for a team with the riches that Bama has talent wise to play bottom of the barrel teams that guarantee stat padding wins and injury free games.

Sorry but SEC play isnt exactly exceptional the past couple of years. Yes there are always ranked teams in the SEC but due to the schedule that they play with very bad OOC teams and then conference, it guarantees 7+ win seasons which gets them bowl eligibility year after year.

Look on the 2017 schedule and tell me who is really a threat to beat Bama?

FSU was a good team and a good win. Auburn ran neck with a D2 team Mercer (who bama just happens to play the game before Auburn as a week off game). Miss St may be the only quality team on that schedule other than FSU. LSU just got dominated. Ole Piss sucks. Tenn barely beat FL which got owned by Mich. So tell me who sir is so great on that schedule again please?

If your argument is that the SEC has been down overall the last two years I could agree with that. Maybe I just misread your post.

 

[ACamp1900]

As a ND fan I would LOVE 2-3 marquee mathcups every year and then a schedule littered with nothing but complete cup cakes or bottom dwelling power 5 teams all without leaving the general vicinity of Indiana. ND would win 9 plus games just about every single year just by default and 'wake up the echos' super quick. Alas, with all our inherit roadblocks ND chooses to add yet another but doing this national grind of a schedule every single year.