In fall camps throughout the SEC, coaches wanted Mother Nature to turn up the heat. Players frowned about going hard in the heat and humidity but coaches wanted it. Getting players acclimated to what it will be like on Saturday is one aspect of getting game-ready.

Of the 12 games involving SEC schools playing outside in the elements on Thursday and Saturday, the average high temperature will be a sweltering 90 degrees, according to weather.com. On-field temps along with the heat index could push these numbers into the triple digits.

The projected high in Columbia for Thursday’s South Carolina-Texas A&M game is 97 degrees, the highest of all game. During last year’s Thursday night opener involving the Gamecocks, the game time temperature was 93 degrees. Many players had a difficult time with the heat including Jadeveon Clowney.

Some colder temperatures could prevail at certain game sites. Scattered thunderstorms, ranging anywhere from 10 to 50 percent, are predicted on Saturday in Athens, Auburn, Gainesville, Starkville and Columbia, Missouri.

Thursday (all times eastern)

6 p.m. South Carolina vs. Texas A&M: Columbia, South Carolina – High of 97 degrees

8 p.m. Boise State vs. Ole Miss: Atlanta, Georgia – Inside Georgia Dome

9:15 p.m. Vanderbilt vs. Temple: Nashville, Tennessee – High of 92

Saturday

Noon Kentucky vs. UT Martin: Lexington, Kentucky – High of 88

3:30 p.m. Alabama vs. West Virginia: Atlanta, Georgia – Georgia Dome

3:30 p.m. Missouri vs. South Dakota State: Columbia, Missouri – High of 89

4 p.m. Auburn vs. Arkansas: Auburn, Alabama – High of 87

5:30 p.m. Georgia vs. Clemson: Athens, Georgia – High of 90

7 p.m. Florida vs. Idaho: Gainesville, Florida – High of 93

7 p.m. Tennessee vs. Utah State: Knoxville, Tennessee – High of 92

7:30 p.m. Mississippi State vs. Southern Miss: Starkville, Mississippi – High of 89

9 p.m. LSU vs. Wisconsin: Houston, Texas – NRG Stadium (formerly Reliant Stadium)