LSU's 3 permanent rivals for 9-game SEC schedule have been set, per report
LSU’s 3 permanent rivals for the 2024 season and beyond are expected to be Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, per a report.
That’s according to Nola.com’s Scott Rabalais, who notes that the SEC is nearing a decision on its future scheduling format. However, the league has not made any official decisions or taken a formal vote on the 9-game schedule proposal, per the report.
Ole Miss and LSU 1st met back in 1894, so it would make sense for the SEC to retain this rivalry on an annual basis. The 2 programs have met over 100 times, with LSU holding a 65-41-4 edge in all-time series record.
LSU’s history with Texas A&M also dates back to the 1800’s, although the 2 programs have not met nearly as frequently. The 1st game between these foes took place in 1899. They have met annually in different points throughout college football history. LSU is 35-23-3 all-time against the Aggies.
Perhaps the biggest surprise amongst LSU’s expected 3 permanent opponents is Alabama. The Tigers and Tide have met in every season since 1964 and have been the most dominant SEC West programs for the past 2+ decades.
What does this mean for LSU?
This format would give LSU one of the toughest groupings of permanent opponents in the SEC. By facing Alabama and Texas A&M each year, the Tigers would have annual meetings with 2 of the teams who have recruited as well — or better — than they have in recent years.
This format would end LSU’s long-running series with Mississippi State. The Tigers have faced the Bulldogs 116 times — more than any other opponent — and in every season since 1944.
Under the proposed 9-game format, LSU would face every other team in the SEC twice in a 4-season span — once at home and once on the road. That means LSU would still host the Bulldogs once every 4 years.
A final decision on permanent opponents for every SEC program — including Oklahoma and Texas — could be made in the coming weeks.
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That’s a pretty difficult draw as well.
Texas A&M recruits a hell of a lot better than they play. I’d say that’s a pretty fair draw. A tough team in Alabama, and an Ole Miss team that’s punched above its weight for the last 10 years but who knows what they’re going to be like in a nine-game sec schedule. Texas a&m is a complete wild card. They are college football’s proof that all that glitters isn’t gold. I’d think a&m is an easier draw than Oklahoma.
Pretty stupid if true. The SEC should try to balance the schedules out. Group each school in 4 tms with 2 being traditional powers who have won titles in the past or are currently recruiting at a level to win titles (multiple top 10 classes) and 2 lesser tms to compete with each other and have a chance to beat top 2. Also keep rivalries where possible
Group 1 Bama, Aub, TN & Vandy— Keeps Bama playing its 2 most important rivals. Keeps UT playing Vandy. Hard on Vandy but no matter where you put them it’s a uphill battle
Group 2 LSU, A&M, Ole Miss, MSU— LSU has won titles and Aggies are currently recruiting at elite level to win now. Plus A&M seems to have LSU pegged as its rival to replace Horns and SEC wants them to be rivals. Keeps Ole Miss and MSU rival intact.
Group 3: OU, TX, Arky, Mizzou— Easiest one. Keeps OU and TX rivalry going. Gives Arky a chance to be elite again by playing gms close to TX and getting TX recruits. Keeps Arky-Mizzou gm going and SEC wants this to be a rivalry
Group 4: UGA, UF, UK, SC— Keeps UGA vs UF rivalry and both have won titles. Keeps UK vs SC rivalry going.
Your 3 permanent gms come from your group. It allows for bragging rights each year among group members. This is the most balanced schedule for the new SEC. Anything else is just political nonsense.
Not a bad idea.
That would be the pods system which has been reported as not an option anymore.
That would do away with a lot of traditional rivalries (i.e. Georgia Auburn).
I saw that Saban has been complaining about his permanent rivals too. Let’s remember that Alabama has played those three team every year already.
LSU has played its proposed rivals every year too.
It’s not about any pods. It’s just a way to organize so people can see schedule balance, or lack there of. Also, no one outside of the 2 fan bases cares about Aub v UGA. There are 5 more important/better rivalries in the SEC than that one: 1 Bama-Aub, 2 UF-UGA, 3 OU-TX, 4 UT-Bama and the Egg Bowl.
This is a much better schedule and allows you to SEE balance. And Saban is right, it’s ridiculous to have them play LSU, Aub and UT every yr. That’s 3 tms capable of winning the conf any given yr. And while LSU is getting Bama, A&M and Ole Miss, who are the Aggies other 2 gms?? Since they want to compete directly with LSU I want them to have an equally difficult sked.
You are looking at this as one moment in time. Teams go up and down. Not long ago Tennessee and LSU were middle to bottom of the pack. Last year Auburn was way down. You can try to chase parity but at then end of the day it’s impossible. College football is all about rivalries. That’s what get the ratings that generate revenue that schools seek.
End of the day, there are no easy schedules when you play 9 conference games. Also, teams get credit for the difficulty of their schedule.
If you have a difficult schedule you may be able to loose 2-3 games and make the expanded playoff. Teams with a weaker schedule don’t get the benefit of the doubt.
Nobleman you’re just jealous that LSU doesn’t have a historically significant rivalry in the conference. Bama-LSU is only a recent thing in terms of significance. Georgia-Auburn is bigger than any LSU rivalry.
I like this idea. Pretty fair pairings considering rivalries. Only big rivalry gone is GA-Auburn.
Pretty ignorant comment for an Alabama fan. Alabama vs LSU, LSU vs Arkansas (Golden Boot), Texas vs A&M (Lonestar showdown), Kentucky vs Tennessee (Battle of Beer Barrel) are all not included and a couple others. Were you born up north son?
I bet you don’t even know that Auburn-Ga is the longest rivalry in the South. The others are not that big. Funny coming from a fan of a school that gave up long rivalries for the good money in the SEC. How’s that Kansas rivalry going that’s days.
So you want Tennessee to have Vandy Bama and Kentucky as it’s permanent annual rivalries? I bet they do to. Not fair. Go back to the Big 12.
The only fair way to resolve this is to do away with the rivalry games each year and have a rotating 10 game conference schedule with 2 out of conference games each year.
No offense. But since LSU doesn’t have a rivalry game, you guys don’t understand it.
LSU doesn’t have a rivalry game? That’s like saying UGA doesn’t have a rivalry game with Auburn. LSU and Ole Miss have had a heated rivalry since the 1890s. The Rebels have their in-state rivals Mississippi State, but that’s more of a back-and-forth family feud. Cheers of “Go to hell LSU” are not uncommon at Ole Miss games regardless of the opponent on the field.
OK. Good to know. I just by several online sites listing rivalry games and that game doesn’t show in any list.
No big deal.
LSU-Ole Miss? The 60’s called to say hey.
I like those groupings and think they make sense but there will be a lot of pressure for A&M and Texas to be permanent rivals. I can’t imagine they won’t be.
I’d rather have Florida than Alabama, but whatever. Hopefully everyone else plays every other year instead of back to back and then off two.
I would rather have Miss State than LSU. 50 miles away and Bama has played them more than any other team.
I don’t love it, but those have been solid rivalries for awhile now, so they make sense. We always play them every year so…
Yeah, no surprise. I’d prefer Florida over Alabama or Ole Miss. Seems like everyone outside of LSU and Bama fans consider LSU-Bama a rivalry. Alabama has a 2-1 edge over LSU. Not much of a rivalry. But then, who is on Bama’s level? I guess LSU is as close to it as anyone over the last two decades.
I agree. It is not a longtime rivalry.
It may not be as long term as some but it’s the one game Saban makes sure they have a bye week before every year.
I felt that Bama, Ole Miss, and Arkansas made the most sense. I doubt LSU/A&M will stay together. I think the SEC/ESPN will want TX/A&M, OU/MZ on Thanksgiving weekend like old times. Which means by default LSU/Arkansas will go back to being on that weekend. I don’t see why competitive balance should matter when we’re going to a 12-team playoff anyway. You can go 9-3 and probably still get in regardless of who your permanent opponents are. I rather see quality matchups compared to competitive balance.
Why do you feel those make the most sense?
I don’t want Arkansas on Thanksgiving Friday or whenever it was. And since they won’t be an annual game, it’s not gonna happen. LSU should reboot the Tulane rivalry. They were our most natural rival for decades.
Seems pretty fair. I mean, you got ATM who can’t even make a bowl game, and you got Ole Miss who without the first half of their schedule would be decent in the Sun Belt. Not to mention, ATM is just going to get worse now that Texas is joining.
This schedule makes some sense. LSU doesn’t have a rivalry? Certainly not in state, but all of you East fans may not realize the history and feuding between Ole Miss and LSU. While the Rebels want the state bragging rights of winning the Egg Bowl, their rivalry with Mississippi State is more of a back-and-forth family squabble. But for years “Go to hell LSU” was shouted at every Ole Miss game regardless of the opponent on the field (not sure if that’s still a practice). And the feelings go both ways. And then there’s Bama. While most other teams take their bye week before playing Alabama, for quite some time, UA takes its bye week before LSU. Sure, the hatred has intensified since King Saban arrived, and the W-L columns are lopsided, but this game annually provides some of the biggest TV numbers and revenue. And there’s always been a border war going on with Texas, especially A&M. For decades the Aggies have been a comparable rival and was the last game of the season.
The LSU-Bama game has been hyped every year since the so-called Game of the Century. I think the hype and the TV ratings are mainly why the SEC wants to maintain it as an annual game. The hate is mostly from LSU fans, but fans all over the SEC hate Alabama. We’re not unique in hating them. The players seem to be respectful of each other, or probably too tired to fight by the end of the game. For a game where the players hate each other, we should have gotten Florida as a permanent opponent.
I love the Florida rivalry and think that should be one of our three. It helps that I live in Florida and one of my daughters graduated from there, but it’s truly been a great series. My favorite three games over the past 10 years or so have been Florida, Auburn, and Texas A&M. I knew we wouldn’t get Auburn as a rival as they already have Alabama and UGA, but I hoped we would keep Florida and they would give Bama MSU. I gather that isn’t happening.
The LSU/A&M matchup at the end of the season sure has been fun to watch the last few years. I’d like to see that rivalry grow even more.
Just win them all! Alabama is on the decline, Ole Miss is inconsistent and A&M always underachieves.
I heard that statement in 2010,2016,2018 and 2019.
Probably just have to accept that nobody will be 100 percent satisfied. I HATE the idea of losing the UK rivalry (we stomp you in football, you beat us in hoops) but there hasn’t been a beer barrel trophy in a long time. I would rather play them than the Crummydores.