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2020 SEC football schedule: 3 toughest schedules for next year
By Keith Farner
Published:
The timing of a given schedule plays so much into how a season plays out, and next year’s SEC schedule is no different.
The coaches, administration and fans of these teams may already be barking about how these schedules play out after the SEC released the 2020 schedule on Wednesday.
Below, we break down the three toughest schedules for the 2020 campaign (listed in alphabetical order, not necessarily by order of difficulty):
Georgia Bulldogs
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 7 (Mon.) vs. Virginia (Atlanta)
Sept. 12 EAST TENNESSEE STATE
Sept. 19 at Alabama
Sept. 26 UL-MONROE
Oct. 3 VANDERBILT
Oct. 10 AUBURN
Oct. 17 at Missouri
Oct. 24 Open Date
Oct. 31 vs. FLORIDA (Jacksonville)
Nov. 7 at South Carolina
Nov. 14 TENNESSEE
Nov. 21 at Kentucky
Nov. 28 GEORGIA TECH
On the surface, you might think Virginia is an easy nonconference foe until you remember how the Cavaliers handled South Carolina last bowl season. Facing Alabama in Tuscaloosa potentially without Jake Fromm, who would be off to the NFL, is a tall order.
The games around the bye week will be significant because hosting Auburn before traveling to Missouri is tricky, just as the Florida game being ahead of South Carolina in Columbia. The Bulldogs typically play Kentucky following the Gators.
LSU Tigers
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 5 UT-SAN ANTONIO
Sept. 12 TEXAS
Sept. 19 vs. Rice (Houston)
Sept. 26 OLE MISS
Oct. 3 NICHOLLS STATE
Oct. 10 at Florida
Oct. 17 at Arkansas
Oct. 24 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Oct. 31 Open Date
Nov. 7 ALABAMA
Nov. 14 SOUTH CAROLINA
Nov. 21 at Auburn
Nov. 28 at Texas A&M
Texas is about as difficult a nonconference opponent as possible, especially early in the season. But then look at the end of the season. The gauntlet of Alabama and South Carolina, which won’t be easy, comes before back-to-back road games with Auburn and Texas A&M.
South Carolina Gamecocks
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 5 COASTAL CAROLINA
Sept. 12 EAST CAROLINA
Sept. 19 MISSOURI
Sept. 26 at Kentucky
Oct. 3 at Florida
Oct. 10 TENNESSEE
Oct. 17 Open Date
Oct. 24 TEXAS A&M
Oct. 31 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 7 GEORGIA
Nov. 14 at LSU
Nov. 21 WOFFORD
Nov. 28 at Clemson
Will Muschamp may dismiss this schedule as simply another tough year in the SEC, plus Clemson. But don’t forget Wofford stuck in there with six games following the off week. The triple option is very tricky to prepare for, especially if it’s the only opponent that features the offense. But any team facing the run from Oct. 24 would be in for more than a couple losses, and possibly a challenge to remain healthy.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
