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What's wild is that as soon as they go to 9 IC games there will be even more great games each week. They also left some great games out ... UF v. FSU, as an example
Week 1: Aug. 31-Sept. 1
Best game: LSU vs. Southern Cal (Las Vegas, Sept. 1)
Best of the rest:
• Notre Dame at Texas A&M
• Georgia vs. Clemson (Atlanta)
• Miami (Fla.) at Florida
• Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt
LSU and USC is the obvious marquee game. Both squads should have improved their defenses somewhat, and it won’t be Caleb Williams versus Jayden Daniels — there’s a possibility of actual defense being played! Otherwise, there’s a good case to be made for any of the next three games, which have varying levels of intrigue. Mike Elko makes his debut as the Aggies’ coach against the team he once worked for. Miami at Florida: a matchup of programs that will be striving for good vibes after middling second years for Billy Napier and Mario Cristobal — the loser will instantly have any offseason optimism wiped out. Georgia and Clemson should be a top-25 matchup, but it might be top-five versus No. 25, depending on how the offseason goes.
Week 2: Sept. 7
Best game: Texas at Michigan
Best of the rest:
• South Carolina at Kentucky
• Tennessee vs. North Carolina State (Charlotte)
• Houston at Oklahoma
• Arkansas at Oklahoma State
• Mississippi State at Arizona State
It’s not often that national championship foes meet the following year, much less in Week 2, but that’s a possibility when Texas travels to Michigan in early September. There’s so much intrigue within this game. What will Michigan’s roster look like, and who will its coach be in a huge early-season test? Texas will most likely bring back quarterback Quinn Ewers, who will have major Heisman Trophy buzz. These historic programs have met only once, in the 2005 Rose Bowl when Vince Young led a 10-point fourth-quarter comeback to win 38-37. This week’s slate is pretty good overall, including South Carolina and Kentucky playing the first SEC game of the season, but nothing can outshine the Longhorns and Wolverines.
Week 3: Sept. 14
Best game: Alabama at Wisconsin
Best of the rest:
• Texas A&M at Florida
• Georgia at Kentucky
• LSU at South Carolina
• Ole Miss at Wake Forest
• Boston College at Ole Miss
Kudos to Alabama for traveling up north, as Georgia and some others have before. This time it could be good preparation for a potential road game in the first round of the College Football Playoff — though it won’t be as cold in September as December. You could call this week Pitfall Saturday, as Alabama, Georgia and LSU all seek to avoid a loss they might not be able to afford given the rest of their schedules. Tennessee at Oklahoma pits Nico Iamaleava against Jackson Arnold … and there’s some history between Josh Heupel and OU as well. (Randy Sartin / USA Today)
Week 4: Sept. 21
Best game: Tennessee at Oklahoma
Best of the rest:
• UCLA at LSU
• Florida at Mississippi State
• Arkansas at Auburn
Welcome to the SEC, Oklahoma. The Sooners’ inaugural conference matchup will be at home against Tennessee, a game that should have some extra motivation for Volunteers coach Josh Heupel, a former national championship quarterback and assistant coach at Oklahoma who was unceremoniously let go after the 2015 season. Presumably, it’ll be the first marquee game for a pair of heralded 2023 blue-chip quarterbacks in Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma) and Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee), adding to the game’s excitement. Week 4 isn’t as robust considering what’s ahead in Week 5, but there are still a few good matchups outside of the big game in Norman, including LSU’s second faceoff of the season against a Los Angeles-based Big Ten school.
Week 5: Sept. 28
Best game: Georgia at Alabama
Best of the rest:
• Oklahoma at Auburn
• Kentucky at Ole Miss
• Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (Dallas)
• Mississippi State at Texas
The hype will be massive for Georgia’s first trip to Tuscaloosa in four years. But the loser will still be in a good position for the expanded Playoff. There’s also intrigue for Oklahoma making its first-ever trip to Auburn in what will be only the third meeting of the programs. Kentucky and Ole Miss, meanwhile, will probably be an elimination game to see who can stay in contention for the conference and/or Playoff.
Week 6: Oct. 5
Best game: Missouri at Texas A&M
Best of the rest:
• Auburn at Georgia
• Ole Miss at South Carolina
• Tennessee at Arkansas
• Central Florida at Florida
Missouri and Texas A&M played regularly as Big 12 foes but have played only once since 2014, and next season’s matchup at Kyle Field should be a good one. Missouri, riding off 2023’s momentum, should be 4-0 entering that contest. However, Texas A&M will have already played Notre Dame, Florida and Arkansas, so it will be interesting to see how Elko navigates that early, challenging slate. Elsewhere, Auburn and Georgia, coming off playing Oklahoma and Alabama, respectively, meet in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, a game that always draws significant interest. Plus, keep an eye on Florida, which will be playing another leg of the Sunshine State-wide gauntlet.
Week 7: Oct. 12
Best game: Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas)
Best of the rest:
• Florida at Tennessee
• Ole Miss at LSU
• South Carolina at Alabama
• Mississippi State at Georgia
• Vanderbilt at Kentucky
A game time was not announced for the Red River Shootout/Rivalry, but 11 a.m. CT would work, given history and the SEC’s and ESPN’s desire to dominate all time slots. Florida-Tennessee and Ole Miss-LSU would be good consolation prizes for the 3:30 p.m. and prime-time slots unless there’s worry about shunting Alabama and Georgia to different networks. First-world problems.
Week 8: Oct. 19
Best game: Georgia at Texas
Best of the rest:
• Alabama at Tennessee
• LSU at Arkansas
• South Carolina at Oklahoma
• Kentucky at Florida
• Texas A&M at Mississippi State
The Third Saturday in October is usually bookmarked for Alabama-Tennessee, but Georgia and Texas in Austin is too enticing not to have it as the best of the week. Much will be at stake for both teams at that point. Both will have played two teams that were in the CFP last year (Texas at Michigan, Georgia at Alabama), and the game in Austin will have serious SEC Championship Game and CFP implications. If Carson Beck returns for Georgia, then it’s also a matchup of two likely Heisman Trophy candidates and NFL first-round picks at quarterback. The Week 8 slate is jampacked. Recliners across the South will earn their money that weekend.
Week 9: Oct. 26
Best game: Oklahoma at Ole Miss
Best of the rest:
• LSU at Texas A&M
• Missouri at Alabama
• Arkansas at Mississippi State
• Texas at Vanderbilt
• Auburn at Kentucky
Yet another excellent week. Oklahoma has never visited Ole Miss — there has been only one other meeting between the two: the 1999 Independence Bowl. Next year these could be teams competing for a CFP spot. Missouri-Alabama is the game we would’ve wanted to see this year, and it might still be good next year with the Tigers’ Luther Burden returning to CoMo. The main point of interest for Texas’ trip to Nashville, Tenn.: Can the Opry survive a Longhorn stampede?
Week 10: Nov. 2
Best game: Ole Miss at Arkansas
Best of the rest:
• Georgia vs Florida (Jacksonville)
• Texas A&M at South Carolina
• Kentucky at Tennessee
Week 10 isn’t as strong as others — Alabama and LSU are idle with their matchup on the horizon — but don’t sleep on Ole Miss at Arkansas, who have split their last four meetings. The Rebels are a legitimate Playoff contender in 2024, but what will Arkansas’ season be to this point in a prove-it year for Sam Pittman? Georgia-Florida is an annual rivalry game that provides intrigue this weekend. Tennessee and Kentucky have played a few competitive games over the past few years, and the showdown in Neyland could have CFP implications if both teams are in the Top 20 at this point.
Week 11: Nov. 9
Best game: Alabama at LSU
Best of the rest:
• Oklahoma at Missouri
• Georgia at Ole Miss
• Florida at Texas
• Mississippi State at Tennessee
• South Carolina at Vanderbilt
Alabama and LSU would not be an annual game if the SEC sticks with an eight-game schedule, providing yet another reason for the conference to go to nine. But at least we get it for 2024, along with a couple of intriguing games created by expansion. Oklahoma and Missouri are of course old Big Eight foes and another should-be-annual game that would be lost by sticking to an eight-game schedule. Among that, Florida-Texas and Georgia-Ole Miss, someone will have to miss out on the 3:30 p.m. and prime-time slot.
Week 12: Nov. 16
Best game: LSU at Florida
Best of the rest:
• Tennessee at Georgia
• Texas at Arkansas
• Missouri at South Carolina
LSU has dominated Florida lately — the Tigers haven’t lost to the Gators since 2018 — but the past five matchups in Gainesville have been decided by an average of 5 points. This game falls in the middle of Florida’s unbelievable stretch of Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State. How will the Gators respond? Tennessee at Georgia is a rivalry game, and the Longhorns going to Arkansas to renew their storied rivalry provides another game of note.
Week 13: Nov. 23
Best game: Alabama at Oklahoma
Best of the rest:
• Texas A&M at Auburn
• Kentucky at Texas
• Ole Miss at Florida
• Missouri at Mississippi State
• Vanderbilt at LSU
Though you can’t project how things will look this late in the season, it’s hard to see anything other than Alabama going to Norman being the prime game. The teams met in the early 2000s when Bob Stoops beat Dennis Franchione and then Mike Shula. My, how things have changed.
Week 14: Nov. 30
Best game: Texas at Texas A&M
Best of the rest:
• Auburn at Alabama
• Oklahoma at LSU
• Georgia Tech at Georgia
• Louisville at Kentucky
• Mississippi State at Ole Miss
• Arkansas at Missouri
theathletic.com
Week 1: Aug. 31-Sept. 1
Best game: LSU vs. Southern Cal (Las Vegas, Sept. 1)
Best of the rest:
• Notre Dame at Texas A&M
• Georgia vs. Clemson (Atlanta)
• Miami (Fla.) at Florida
• Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt
LSU and USC is the obvious marquee game. Both squads should have improved their defenses somewhat, and it won’t be Caleb Williams versus Jayden Daniels — there’s a possibility of actual defense being played! Otherwise, there’s a good case to be made for any of the next three games, which have varying levels of intrigue. Mike Elko makes his debut as the Aggies’ coach against the team he once worked for. Miami at Florida: a matchup of programs that will be striving for good vibes after middling second years for Billy Napier and Mario Cristobal — the loser will instantly have any offseason optimism wiped out. Georgia and Clemson should be a top-25 matchup, but it might be top-five versus No. 25, depending on how the offseason goes.
Week 2: Sept. 7
Best game: Texas at Michigan
Best of the rest:
• South Carolina at Kentucky
• Tennessee vs. North Carolina State (Charlotte)
• Houston at Oklahoma
• Arkansas at Oklahoma State
• Mississippi State at Arizona State
It’s not often that national championship foes meet the following year, much less in Week 2, but that’s a possibility when Texas travels to Michigan in early September. There’s so much intrigue within this game. What will Michigan’s roster look like, and who will its coach be in a huge early-season test? Texas will most likely bring back quarterback Quinn Ewers, who will have major Heisman Trophy buzz. These historic programs have met only once, in the 2005 Rose Bowl when Vince Young led a 10-point fourth-quarter comeback to win 38-37. This week’s slate is pretty good overall, including South Carolina and Kentucky playing the first SEC game of the season, but nothing can outshine the Longhorns and Wolverines.
Week 3: Sept. 14
Best game: Alabama at Wisconsin
Best of the rest:
• Texas A&M at Florida
• Georgia at Kentucky
• LSU at South Carolina
• Ole Miss at Wake Forest
• Boston College at Ole Miss
Kudos to Alabama for traveling up north, as Georgia and some others have before. This time it could be good preparation for a potential road game in the first round of the College Football Playoff — though it won’t be as cold in September as December. You could call this week Pitfall Saturday, as Alabama, Georgia and LSU all seek to avoid a loss they might not be able to afford given the rest of their schedules. Tennessee at Oklahoma pits Nico Iamaleava against Jackson Arnold … and there’s some history between Josh Heupel and OU as well. (Randy Sartin / USA Today)
Week 4: Sept. 21
Best game: Tennessee at Oklahoma
Best of the rest:
• UCLA at LSU
• Florida at Mississippi State
• Arkansas at Auburn
Welcome to the SEC, Oklahoma. The Sooners’ inaugural conference matchup will be at home against Tennessee, a game that should have some extra motivation for Volunteers coach Josh Heupel, a former national championship quarterback and assistant coach at Oklahoma who was unceremoniously let go after the 2015 season. Presumably, it’ll be the first marquee game for a pair of heralded 2023 blue-chip quarterbacks in Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma) and Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee), adding to the game’s excitement. Week 4 isn’t as robust considering what’s ahead in Week 5, but there are still a few good matchups outside of the big game in Norman, including LSU’s second faceoff of the season against a Los Angeles-based Big Ten school.
Week 5: Sept. 28
Best game: Georgia at Alabama
Best of the rest:
• Oklahoma at Auburn
• Kentucky at Ole Miss
• Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (Dallas)
• Mississippi State at Texas
The hype will be massive for Georgia’s first trip to Tuscaloosa in four years. But the loser will still be in a good position for the expanded Playoff. There’s also intrigue for Oklahoma making its first-ever trip to Auburn in what will be only the third meeting of the programs. Kentucky and Ole Miss, meanwhile, will probably be an elimination game to see who can stay in contention for the conference and/or Playoff.
Week 6: Oct. 5
Best game: Missouri at Texas A&M
Best of the rest:
• Auburn at Georgia
• Ole Miss at South Carolina
• Tennessee at Arkansas
• Central Florida at Florida
Missouri and Texas A&M played regularly as Big 12 foes but have played only once since 2014, and next season’s matchup at Kyle Field should be a good one. Missouri, riding off 2023’s momentum, should be 4-0 entering that contest. However, Texas A&M will have already played Notre Dame, Florida and Arkansas, so it will be interesting to see how Elko navigates that early, challenging slate. Elsewhere, Auburn and Georgia, coming off playing Oklahoma and Alabama, respectively, meet in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, a game that always draws significant interest. Plus, keep an eye on Florida, which will be playing another leg of the Sunshine State-wide gauntlet.
Week 7: Oct. 12
Best game: Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas)
Best of the rest:
• Florida at Tennessee
• Ole Miss at LSU
• South Carolina at Alabama
• Mississippi State at Georgia
• Vanderbilt at Kentucky
A game time was not announced for the Red River Shootout/Rivalry, but 11 a.m. CT would work, given history and the SEC’s and ESPN’s desire to dominate all time slots. Florida-Tennessee and Ole Miss-LSU would be good consolation prizes for the 3:30 p.m. and prime-time slots unless there’s worry about shunting Alabama and Georgia to different networks. First-world problems.
Week 8: Oct. 19
Best game: Georgia at Texas
Best of the rest:
• Alabama at Tennessee
• LSU at Arkansas
• South Carolina at Oklahoma
• Kentucky at Florida
• Texas A&M at Mississippi State
The Third Saturday in October is usually bookmarked for Alabama-Tennessee, but Georgia and Texas in Austin is too enticing not to have it as the best of the week. Much will be at stake for both teams at that point. Both will have played two teams that were in the CFP last year (Texas at Michigan, Georgia at Alabama), and the game in Austin will have serious SEC Championship Game and CFP implications. If Carson Beck returns for Georgia, then it’s also a matchup of two likely Heisman Trophy candidates and NFL first-round picks at quarterback. The Week 8 slate is jampacked. Recliners across the South will earn their money that weekend.
Week 9: Oct. 26
Best game: Oklahoma at Ole Miss
Best of the rest:
• LSU at Texas A&M
• Missouri at Alabama
• Arkansas at Mississippi State
• Texas at Vanderbilt
• Auburn at Kentucky
Yet another excellent week. Oklahoma has never visited Ole Miss — there has been only one other meeting between the two: the 1999 Independence Bowl. Next year these could be teams competing for a CFP spot. Missouri-Alabama is the game we would’ve wanted to see this year, and it might still be good next year with the Tigers’ Luther Burden returning to CoMo. The main point of interest for Texas’ trip to Nashville, Tenn.: Can the Opry survive a Longhorn stampede?
Week 10: Nov. 2
Best game: Ole Miss at Arkansas
Best of the rest:
• Georgia vs Florida (Jacksonville)
• Texas A&M at South Carolina
• Kentucky at Tennessee
Week 10 isn’t as strong as others — Alabama and LSU are idle with their matchup on the horizon — but don’t sleep on Ole Miss at Arkansas, who have split their last four meetings. The Rebels are a legitimate Playoff contender in 2024, but what will Arkansas’ season be to this point in a prove-it year for Sam Pittman? Georgia-Florida is an annual rivalry game that provides intrigue this weekend. Tennessee and Kentucky have played a few competitive games over the past few years, and the showdown in Neyland could have CFP implications if both teams are in the Top 20 at this point.
Week 11: Nov. 9
Best game: Alabama at LSU
Best of the rest:
• Oklahoma at Missouri
• Georgia at Ole Miss
• Florida at Texas
• Mississippi State at Tennessee
• South Carolina at Vanderbilt
Alabama and LSU would not be an annual game if the SEC sticks with an eight-game schedule, providing yet another reason for the conference to go to nine. But at least we get it for 2024, along with a couple of intriguing games created by expansion. Oklahoma and Missouri are of course old Big Eight foes and another should-be-annual game that would be lost by sticking to an eight-game schedule. Among that, Florida-Texas and Georgia-Ole Miss, someone will have to miss out on the 3:30 p.m. and prime-time slot.
Week 12: Nov. 16
Best game: LSU at Florida
Best of the rest:
• Tennessee at Georgia
• Texas at Arkansas
• Missouri at South Carolina
LSU has dominated Florida lately — the Tigers haven’t lost to the Gators since 2018 — but the past five matchups in Gainesville have been decided by an average of 5 points. This game falls in the middle of Florida’s unbelievable stretch of Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State. How will the Gators respond? Tennessee at Georgia is a rivalry game, and the Longhorns going to Arkansas to renew their storied rivalry provides another game of note.
Week 13: Nov. 23
Best game: Alabama at Oklahoma
Best of the rest:
• Texas A&M at Auburn
• Kentucky at Texas
• Ole Miss at Florida
• Missouri at Mississippi State
• Vanderbilt at LSU
Though you can’t project how things will look this late in the season, it’s hard to see anything other than Alabama going to Norman being the prime game. The teams met in the early 2000s when Bob Stoops beat Dennis Franchione and then Mike Shula. My, how things have changed.
Week 14: Nov. 30
Best game: Texas at Texas A&M
Best of the rest:
• Auburn at Alabama
• Oklahoma at LSU
• Georgia Tech at Georgia
• Louisville at Kentucky
• Mississippi State at Ole Miss
• Arkansas at Missouri
Now that the 2024 SEC football schedule is set, what is the best game each week?
The SEC schedule for 2024 has been finalized. Here's what we'll be watching week to week.
theathletic.com
