SEC Schedule Difficulty Chart

[CoolBreeze]

SEC chooses violence, feeds Oklahoma and Texas to wolves in 2024

The SEC was not messing around in making Oklahoma and Texas' first conference slate in the new league as difficult as it possibly could be. How tough is it?

fansided.com

 

[DzynKingRTR]

SEC chooses violence, feeds Oklahoma and Texas to wolves in 2024

The SEC was not messing around in making Oklahoma and Texas' first conference slate in the new league as difficult as it possibly could be. How tough is it?

fansided.com

Did their fans think they were just going to get Vandy 8 times?

 

[Bazza]

I couldn't be happier that Florida has a "challenging" schedule in '24.

Of course I'm hoping Coach Napier by then has our team ready to do battle no matter who we play.

Remaining optimistic for this season as well.

Thanks, @CoolBreeze for all the charts and info - really appreciate it!

 

[crimsonaudio]

Did their fans think they were just going to get Vandy 8 times?

I mean, it's basically what they're accustomed to in the little12.

 

[CoolBreeze]

I mean, it's basically what they're accustomed to in the little12.

Well, they have committed and are here so this is going to be fun. Got to tell you, I really like OU and their fans. Remind me of us. They are getting slammed coming into the conference their first year. Hope it will make them stronger while the froghorns run through a decidedly easier inaugural SEC season. But they both are going to get slammed by SEC East and West teams coming at them hard week in and week out. Will be interesting to watch how that unfolds.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Good point in this piece. Bama's strength of schedule has been pacing the SEC for a long time. Frankly, the 2024 schedule is not more difficult than usual and yes, the net result of this new paradigm is that the rest of the SEC teams has harder schedules and just not catching up with the Tide.

https://www.si.com/college/alabama/football/does-alabamas-schedule-easier-texas-oklahoma-sec-all-things-cw#gid=ci02c2221f5000256b&pid=2024

 

[Tidelines]

A lot of this schedule rating stuff is based on having to play teams like Alabama. That makes whoever’s schedule tougher. Alabama gets rated lower than others because we can’t play ourself. It’s tough being the best more than the rest.

 

[CoolBreeze]

SEC strength of schedule rankings 2023: Georgia lands easiest draw, Florida gets toughest slate

Alabama also draws a challenging schedule as it eyes a return to the top of the SEC

www.cbssports.com

 

[TideEngineer08]

Well, it was not so much "throwing them to the wolves" as it was creating the most possible must-see match ups.

But a nice side effect is that they'll get their tails tore up.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Thought I would bump this thread from a year ago. Those predicting Georgia to dominate should realize that their schedule is way, way more difficult than it has ever been while ours remains just as difficult as it has always been. This season is NOT going to turn out the way anyone predicts it will.

 

[bamamc1]

Bazza, what did you guys do to get this schedule this year? Good Lord.

 

[Ledsteplin]

Bazza, what did you guys do to get this schedule this year? Good Lord.

They play 8 top 20 teams. However, they don't have to play Alabama. So there's that.

 

[crimsonaudio]

After years of UGA dominating an annual B12 schedule, we finally get to see if they can handle playing a real slate of teams.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

When aTm and Mizzou came into the SEC, I had several work colleagues who were alumni of those schools. They were all puffed out about having beaten SEC teams recently in bowl games or what we then called "preseason" games, and said the SEC wasn't any tougher than any other league.

I warned them that the games they referenced included multiple weeks of prep time and the best chance of being fully healthy -- not only healing of more serious injuries, but also just not being bruised and scraped up. And sure, under those circumstances, you're really talking about healthy first stringers against healthy first stringers, and teams from the Big 12 could absolutely compete.

Then I followed up with the idea that the toughest thing about the SEC was the grind, and that in November nobody is truly healthy. Late in the season, even if they aren't missing playing time, every single starter has bumps, bangs, bruises and strains that don't appear in the injury report. So it's no longer about just the first string, but also about the quality of depth....which I seriously doubted that they had.

Further, other than Vandy there are no conference games that amount to an off week...and even Vandy can occasionally sneak up on you.

My colleagues laughed and laughed, and said stuff that amounted to that Mizzou DL calling the SEC style of play, "old man football." I said, "Wait 'til November and tell me how that's going for you."

At the end of the year, even with the miracle on grass game for aTm in Tuscaloosa, they said they understood what I was talking about.

I think UTw and OU will do fine early. Let's see how they look the last month. I think they're in for an awakening.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

When aTm and Mizzou came into the SEC, I had several work colleagues who were alumni of those schools. They were all puffed out about having beaten SEC teams recently in bowl games or what we then called "preseason" games, and said the SEC wasn't any tougher than any other league.

I warned them that the games they referenced included multiple weeks of prep time and the best chance of being fully healthy -- not only healing of more serious injuries, but also just not being bruised and scraped up. And sure, under those circumstances, you're really talking about healthy first stringers against healthy first stringers, and teams from the Big 12 could absolutely compete.

Then I followed up with the idea that the toughest thing about the SEC was the grind, and that in November nobody is truly healthy. Late in the season, even if they aren't missing playing time, every single starter has bumps, bangs, bruises and strains that don't appear in the injury report. So it's no longer about just the first string, but also about the quality of depth....which I seriously doubted that they had.

Further, other than Vandy there are no conference games that amount to an off week...and even Vandy can occasionally sneak up on you.

My colleagues laughed and laughed, and said stuff that amounted to that Mizzou DL calling the SEC style of play, "old man football." I said, "Wait 'til November and tell me how that's going for you."

At the end of the year, even with the miracle on grass game for aTm in Tuscaloosa, they said they understood what I was talking about.

I think UTw and OU will do fine early. Let's see how they look the last month. I think they're in for an awakening.

As a bonus, we play OU at the end of November...

 

[CoolBreeze]

When aTm and Mizzou came into the SEC, I had several work colleagues who were alumni of those schools. They were all puffed out about having beaten SEC teams recently in bowl games or what we then called "preseason" games, and said the SEC wasn't any tougher than any other league.

I warned them that the games they referenced included multiple weeks of prep time and the best chance of being fully healthy -- not only healing of more serious injuries, but also just not being bruised and scraped up. And sure, under those circumstances, you're really talking about healthy first stringers against healthy first stringers, and teams from the Big 12 could absolutely compete.

Then I followed up with the idea that the toughest thing about the SEC was the grind, and that in November nobody is truly healthy. Late in the season, even if they aren't missing playing time, every single starter has bumps, bangs, bruises and strains that don't appear in the injury report. So it's no longer about just the first string, but also about the quality of depth....which I seriously doubted that they had.

Further, other than Vandy there are no conference games that amount to an off week...and even Vandy can occasionally sneak up on you.

My colleagues laughed and laughed, and said stuff that amounted to that Mizzou DL calling the SEC style of play, "old man football." I said, "Wait 'til November and tell me how that's going for you."

At the end of the year, even with the miracle on grass game for aTm in Tuscaloosa, they said they understood what I was talking about.

I think UTw and OU will do fine early. Let's see how they look the last month. I think they're in for an awakening.

Good stuff and spot on. The froghorns and sooners are well positioned to come into this league talent and depth wise but you are correct, the grind is where mental toughness takes over and Bama has been doing this a long, long time being everyone on the schedules "rival game" against tough SEC West opponents year in and year out. Not only will the newcomers get checked in reality but so will the SEC East in general. Georgia, in particular, is going to feel the heat which is why I scratch my head when all these talking heads pick them as National Champions. Mizzou is going to feel it too and poor Florida man. Anyway, going to be interesting. I think the days of undefeated champions in the SEC are over because we will all be crossing the finish line with black eyes, on crutches and a sense of relief!

 

[Cowtown Bama]

Texas got the easier schedule by far between them and Oklahoma. Except for Georgia and Oklahoma they don’t play the hardest teams in the league. No Bama, LSU, Tennessee, or Ole Miss.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Texas got the easier schedule by far between them and Oklahoma. Except for Georgia and Oklahoma they don’t play the hardest teams in the league. No Bama, LSU, Tennessee, or Ole Miss.

This ^^^^

They have one of the easiest paths to the SEC title game.

 

[Power Eye]

After years of UGA dominating an annual B12 schedule, we finally get to see if they can handle playing a real slate of teams.

UGA hasn't faced a top ten team on the road since they played us in 2020, and that was hardly a crazy environment with a sparse crowd. They have 3 road games against preseason top ten teams this year. They could be fantastic, but I anticipate they will lose 2 games with that schedule. Fortunately for them, it happens when they can get away with 2 regular season losses.

 

[CoolBreeze]

This ^^^^

They have one of the easiest paths to the SEC title game.

They had a pretty easy schedule in the last league they were in and had problems navigating through a slate of decidedly weaker opponents. They will come into the conference with something to prove for sure but went 8-5 in 2022. Tittippi Tate in Austin is their first SEC game this year then a break before the OU - UGA - Vandy stretch (they could lose one or more of those games). Then another break before UF-HOGS - UK - TAMU stretch...which is rife with trap games. I see multiple loses on that schedule for them no matter how you slice it.