A 16-team division-less Southeastern Conference with a 12-team College Football Playoff that calls for seven at-large bids certainly makes this year’s SEC Football slate more interesting than ever. Here are the 10 most important league games that will determine the CFP outlook and fans must watch.
10. Oklahoma at Auburn
Saturday, Sept. 28
One of the earlier games in the league will answer major questions about each team. Are the Oklahoma Sooners truly able to remain a CFB Playoff caliber team at this level, and what steps have the Auburn Tigers taken under Hugh Freeze? Being at Auburn could result in a Tiger win that sends SEC Football into chaos, and it’s flying under the radar as a September matchup.
9. Alabama at LSU
Saturday, Nov. 9
There’s not much explanation needed here. The Alabama Crimson Tide and LSU Tigers matchup has become one of the most explosive games in all of SEC Football, and adding two new teams won’t change that. There’s more intrigue this year with questions surrounding both programs, but by the time they face off in November, those questions will largely already be answered.
8. Missouri at Texas A&M
Saturday, Oct. 5
Many believe the Missouri Tigers are a fluke and the Texas A&M Aggies are flying under the radar. This Oct. 5 game is the first major test for both teams, and the underdog, A&M, is playing at home under first-year head coach Mike Elko. As a result, watch out. The loser of this game likely won’t have a path to reach the CFB Playoff.
7. Texas vs. Oklahoma
Saturday, Saturday, Oct. 12
Similar to Alabama-LSU, it’s the Red River Shootout. The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners are the two SEC Football newcomers, and this game could have league championship implications. Depending on how much danger each team is in of falling off the map, it could be the death knell of the season for either team too.
6. Alabama at Tennessee
Saturday, Oct. 19
Sticking with rivalries of high profile that belong, here is the Third Saturday in October. Although the Vols have arrived, beating the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens is more of a pipe dream than a reality or even a necessity in this era. However, beating Alabama at home is an absolute must if they want to reach the CFB Playoff, and given Bama’s schedule, the same actually may hold true for them.
5. Georgia at Texas
Saturday, Oct. 19
There’s a real chance this game falls out of the national mainstream by the time it’s played, as both teams have a somewhat major test before this one, and in fact, they have two. However, if they survive, it’ll be a top five matchup that could determine who plays for the SEC Football Championship. As a result, it has to be on here.
4. Texas at Texas A&M
Saturday, Nov. 30
After 12 years, this once-great Southwest Conference and the Big 12 rivalry resumes. It’s the standout matchup of the final week, even over Alabama-Auburn since Alabama will win that game at home easily. A&M could be threatening for the CFB Playoff, and Texas is a wildcard in terms of where they’ll stand. That it’s at A&M makes this game even more important.
3. Tennessee at Oklahoma
Saturday, Sept. 21
OU has a run of three straight games against the Tennessee Vols, Auburn and Texas. However, this matchup with the Volunteers will set the tone for the entire SEC Football season. As things stand right now, it’s the first ranked matchup within league play for the newly formed conference, and both teams are considered just outside the CFB Playoff right now, so the winner gets a huge boost.
2. Ole Miss at LSU
Saturday, Oct. 12
Nobody knows how Lane Kiffin’s Rebels will work out. This will be their first ranked foe, so it’s their first real test. While their home matchup with the Oklahoma Sooners just missed this list, their November game against Georgia doesn’t matter. Everything about the CFB Playoff for them comes to this game, and if LSU gets past the USC Trojans, the same is true for them.
1. Georgia at Alabama
Saturday, Sept. 28
Was this one ever in any doubt? These are the two most prestigious SEC Football programs the past decade, and the question is whether or not Bama can maintain that success with DeBoer taking over. This is their first ranked foe on the slate right now, so it’ll tell us how good they are, and they do have it at home. Conference championship implications are big here too, so this one’s obvious.
