With the college football playoffs demanding the Power 5 program beef up their non-conference schedules expect an early season slate of games that are tougher than we have come to expect from the SEC.

In the SEC East teams like Florida and Kentucky will likely not be tested until conference play begins while Georgia opens the year against ACC Coastal Division winner North Carolina. Tennessee’s non-conference game against Virginia Tech will provide one of the most anticipated and unique atmospheres of the season.

Here’s the quick look at the September schedules of the teams in the SEC East.

FLORIDA

Three of the Gators’ first five games are conference games, with the big one at Tennessee on Sept. 24. The non-conference games, Ohio and North Texas, should not provide any sort of resistance.

GEORGIA

The Bulldogs open against North Carolina at the Georgia Dome. This is a tricky opener for new head coach Kirby Smart, who will go into the game with a big question mark at quarterback against a team with 15 returning starters. Luckily for Georgia, one of those starters the Tar Heels must replace is quarterback Marquise Williams, so both teams may stumble a little on offense. Road games against Missouri and Ole Miss round out a very tough September slate.

KENTUCKY

The Wildcats’ early season non-conference schedule features very winnable games against Southern Miss and New Mexico State. Conference games at Florida and against South Carolina could result in a 3-1 September start.

MISSOURI

The Tigers open the season at West Virginia, an opponent that will immediately test their defense. Georgia comes to Faurot Field on Sept. 17 in the Tigers’ conference opener. Walkthrough non-conference games against Eastern Michigan and Delaware State close out Barry Odom’s first month.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Will Muschamp’s first season as the head coach of the Gamecocks won’t have an easy start. Three of the Gamecocks’ first four games are against SEC teams. South Carolina opens at Vanderbilt on Thursday night and will travel to Mississippi State on Sept 10. The home opener is against East Carolina, which came within a few yards of upsetting Florida last year. A road trip to Kentucky completes a challenging first month.

TENNESSEE

The Volunteers will have the most interesting atmosphere for a non-conference game this year with a game against Virginia Tech at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The “Battle at Bristol” is expected to absolutely shatter attendance records as the venue can hold 150,000 or more spectators.

bristol

The Hokies have a new coach, Justin Fuente, and 17 returning starters from a young group last year. It’s the type of game that Tennessee should win but has a recent history of slipping up. Assuming the Volunteers get past the Hokies, they will face Ohio on Sept. 17 before the big showdown against Florida. Tennessee opens the season against Appalachian State.

VANDERBILT

The Commodores always seem to attract those dangerous mid-majors that are searching for a winnable game against a Power 5 conference team. This year Vanderbilt will host Middle Tennessee State and travel to Western Kentucky in the first month. The Commodores will also deal with the nasty triple option at Georgia Tech on Sept. 17. The team opens at home against South Carolina on a Thursday night.