It's Only SEC (but I like it....)
GEORGE SOMERVILLE – THE TOUCHDOWN SEC CORRESPONDENT
week 1
It has been a long time since the SEC Championship game back in December. So it’s fair to say that we are desperate for some SEC football!
With Week Zero games whetting our appetites for some Fall ball, this week the SEC teams enter the fray. And what a slate of games we have in store – but more on that later!
It’s time to catch up on what’s been happening in and around the conference! Yup, it’s time for some “It’s Only SEC”….
Here’s what’s going on in SEC country!
this weeks sec Stories
nine conference games
SEC HQ, Birmingham, AL
No doubt the big news coming out of the SEC this week was the announcement that, starting in 2026, the League will transition to a 9-game conference schedule.
Much has been made over the past few years about the SEC (and ACC) playing an 8-game conference schedule, which was out of step with other conferences.
This came to a head last season when none of Alabama, Ole Miss or South Carolina made it to the freshly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. These omissions sparked SEC outrage and fuelled an ongoing debate over the selection committee’s criteria. The discussion was whether they favoured the strength of schedule or absolute wins over the course of a season as the deciding factor.
However, the SEC’s consideration of moving to 9 conference games is not new. It has been a perennial discussion for as long as I can remember.
not for turning….yet
Following the SEC Spring meetings in Destin, the likelihood of the Conference moving to the 9-game schedule still seemed remote. The conference’s Head coaches were unequivocal – they did not want an additional SEC opponent in what was already a punishing schedule.
The BIG10 did not react well to this statement of intent. After all, the two conferences had formed an alliance designed to secure automatic bids for the enlarged playoff format. BIG10 schools recoiled to the news that the SEC could secure the slots without playing a like-for-like schedule.
By the time we got to SEC Media days in July, Commissioner Sankey felt the need to put to bed the rhetoric that the SEC schedule wasn’t quite as tough as made out.
“It is absolutely, fully, 100 percent correct that in the SEC we play eight conference games while some others play nine conference games. Never been a secret.
Last season all 16 members of the Southeastern Conference played at least nine games against what you would label “power opponents.” We had several that played 10 of their 12 games against power opponents. Some conferences have that, some don’t” said Sankey during his opening remarks at Media days.
Sankey continued with what was a smackdown to those outside the SEC, making so much noise.
“I don’t believe there’s anyone looking to swap their conference schedule and its opponents with the opponents played by SEC Conference teams in our conference schedule, be it eight or nine” continued Sankey underlining the SEC’s continued belief that its member have the hardest schedules to play in football.
However, with the news this week of the Conference agreeing to move to the nine-conference game schedule, the following words can now be interpreted differently. Sankey said,
“In the SEC we’re not lacking for quality competition among our 16 football teams, but we’re going to continue to evaluate whether increasing the number of conference football games is appropriate for us. As I’ve said repeatedly, understanding how the CFP will evaluate strength of schedule and even strength of record is critically important in our decision-making”.
time for change
That ongoing evaluation that Sankey references led the Conference to decide that a nine-game schedule was good for its members.
And so it was that the SEC issued a statement this week setting out its position.
“Adding a ninth SEC game underscores our universities’ commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.
“This format protects rivalries, increases competitive balance, and paired with our requirement to play an additional Power opponent, ensures SEC teams are well prepared to compete and succeed in the College Football Playoff.”
Under the new format:
- The SEC will continue with a single-standings, non-divisional structure.
- Each school will play three annual opponents, focused on maintaining many traditional rivalries.
- Each team’s remaining six games will rotate among the remaining conference schools, and
- Each team will face every other SEC program at least once every two years, and every opponent, both home and away, within four years.
Of note is that SEC teams are required to schedule at least one additional high-quality non-conference game from the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten or Big 12 conferences or Notre Dame each season.
The SEC will continue to evaluate its policies to ensure the continued scheduling of high-quality non-conference opponents.
“The SEC has established itself as the leader in delivering the most compelling football schedule in college athletics,” Sankey said. “Fans will see traditional rivalries preserved, new matchups more frequently, and a level of competition unmatched across the nation.”
Exciting times to be involved with the SEC? You betcha!
Sweet 18
Baton Rouge, LA
One of the most significant benefits of Michigan snatching QB recruit Bryce Underwood from the Bayou Bengals is that established QB1 Garrett Nussmeier elected to stay for his final year at LSU.
Until this season, Nussmeier has worn the #13 jersey; however, with the news this week, the LSU QB will switch to a new historic number.
Nussmeier was named a Captain this week and at the same time was handed the #18 jersey.
If you’re unfamiliar with the traditions at LSU, two jerseys are standalone and are allocated exclusively to players who embody the spirit of the program.
The #7 & #18 jerseys are given to players who best represent what it means to be a Tiger. The #7 jersey is typically given to a player who hails from Louisiana. #18 goes to a player who best demonstrates the values of the team.
This year, the jerseys have been handed to linebacker Harold Perkins (#7) and QB Garrett Nussmeier (#18).
What is interesting is that Nussmeier becomes the first QB to wear the #18 since Matt Mauck in 2003.
Could this be an omen for success this year for the Bayou Bengals? When Mauck wore the jersey back in 2003, he led the Tigers to a National Championship…!
to storm or not to storm the field...that is the question!
Oxford, mS
I don’t have the stats to make a useful comparison, but it did feel like last season we had more high-profile field storms than in previous years. After fans made it onto the field at Vanderbilt, Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ole Miss, to name only five, the SEC issued a strongly worded warning for schools whose fans might be tempted to jump the hedges in overexuberance. In May, the Conference Administrators went further, warning that the fine for field storming would be a flat $500,000 for each occasion that a field invasion occurred at a school. Previously, any fine increased with subsequent incidents.
Obviously, in this day and age of increasing revenue demands, a hit of $500,000 is sure to be unwelcome.
hotty toddy
So, no great surprise that Ole Miss came out his week with a not-so-gentle reminder to fans that storming the field will not be tolerated this season.
“Entering the playing field is strictly prohibited and those found to be violators are subject to arrest. Violators could also be denied ticket privileges for the current and the next season, including but not limited to student, season, and single-game tickets.” the School said in a statement.
So you would imagine that other teams would follow suit? Not Arkansas…..
woo pig sooie
“Following a momentous win, three minutes will be placed on the videoboards inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium to delay the field rush and allow the visiting team, staff and officials to exit the field. At the conclusion of the three minutes, fans will be allowed down to the field to celebrate with the Razorbacks”.
So, the Razorbacks are saying it’s okay to rush the field; it’s just that the fans need to give the visiting team enough time to leave the field, which is an interesting take.
But! We must be careful not to change the game so much that we lose the very identity which makes college football so magical. Yes, I agree very much that player and coach safety is paramount. No question.
But do we want to never again see those scenes from Vanderbilt last year with the goalposts making their way down Broadway to their final resting place in the Cumberland River? No, I didn’t think so.
media days chit chat
Atlanta, GA
I thought each week it might be interesting to drop in some of the chatter that came from SEC Media Days in Atlanta.
If you followed Media days in Atlanta, you couldn’t have missed the rumour that Coach Saban was on the precipice of a return to coaching. This rumour sprouted wings and flew high following a radio interview by ex-Alabama QB and now ESPN pundit, Greg McElroy.
With this “news” “breaking” it was all people could talk about in Atlanta so no surprise that it came up during Head coaches Q&A’s.
Georgia Head coach Kirby Smart comes across as a serious man. Dour we call it in Scotland. This works for Smart, as you wouldn’t want to cross him. As a Head coach in the SEC, this is a good persona to have. Saban-esque if you like. But Kirby has a humorous side. He has a dry but sharp wit and can, at times, show it. He decided to, when asked about the rumours about Saban.
“Yeah, I called and offered him Muschamp’s job but he was overqualified, so he wasn’t interested” said Kirby with a seldom seen smile on his face.
“No, I heard all the scuttlebutt and everything about it. I almost laughed. It was like somebody needed something interesting to talk about yesterday, so they chose to go to Coach Saban to do it” continued Smart smiling but also digging McElroy in the process.
For the record, Nick Saban is not returning to Coach in the game that has given him legendary status. Following McElroy’s revelation, Saban was asked about the opportunity McElroy referenced.
“There is no opportunity that I know of right now that would entice me to go back to coaching,” Saban said in an interview with Fox this summer. “I enjoy what I’m doing. I did it for 50 years. I loved it. I loved the relationship with the players. I loved the competition. But, you know, it’s another station of life now.”
Move along, everyone! Nothing to see here!
Week One Schedule
Across the SEC
There’s always excitement at the start of a new season, but for some reason, the excitement for this season is reaching near fever pitch.
Perhaps it was the unprecedented, off-the-charts madness of last season, which ended with the expanded College Football Playoff, that has whetted our appetite.
Week One promises much for SEC teams. Traditionally, the SEC enters into headline games sometimes, but not always, at neutral venues to kick the season off. This week, we have some hum-dingers to satisfy our 7-month withdrawal from the greatest sport on earth!
In fact, I’m not alone in thinking that this week’s slate of games might be among the greatest slates we have seen in a long time. With the news that games in the UK & Ireland will be carried by DAZN this season, there is genuine excitement for sitting down this Saturday to watch some awesome football.
Here are this week’s games, which feature SEC teams (all kick-off times are local time). Stats from SEC Media.
Week One
(2024 Record)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
Central Arkansas (6-6) at Missouri (10-3, 5-3 SEC)
Series: First Meeting
6:30 p.m. CT • SEC Network
Columbia, Mo. • Faurot Field (62,621)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29
Auburn (5-7, 2-6 SEC) at Baylor (8-5)
Series: BU leads, 2-1-1
7 p.m. CT • FOX
Last: BU, 15-14 (1976 at Auburn)
Waco, Texas • McLane Stadium (45,140)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
Syracuse (10-3) at Tennessee (10-3, 6-2 SEC)
Series: UT leads, 3-0
Noon ET • ABC
Last: UT, 33-9 (2001 at Knoxville)
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium (101,915)
Texas (13-3, 7-1 SEC) at Ohio State (14-2)
Series: Tied, 2-2
11 a.m. CT • FOX
Last: OSU, 28-14 (2025 at CFP Cotton Bowl Semifinal)
Columbus, Ohio • Ohio Stadium (102,870)
Mississippi State (2-10, 0-8 SEC) at Southern Miss (1-11)
Series: MSU leads, 18-12-1
11 a.m. CT • ESPN
Last: MSU, 41-20 (2023 at Starkville)
Hattiesburg, Miss. • M.M. Roberts Stadium (36,000)
Toledo (8-5) at Kentucky (4-8, 1-7 SEC)
Series: UK leads, 1-0
12:45 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Lexington, Ky. • Kroger Field (61,000)
Alabama (9-4, 5-3 SEC) at Florida State (2-10)
Series: UA leads, 3-1-1
2:30 p.m. CT • ABC
Last: UA, 24-7 (2017 at Atlanta)
Tallahassee, Fla. • Doak S. Campbell Stadium (79,560)
Marshall (10-3) at Georgia (11-3, 6-2 SEC)
Series: UGA leads, 1-0
3:30 p.m. ET • ESPN
Athens, Ga. • Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium (93,033)
Alabama A&M (6-6) at Arkansas (7-6, 3-5 SEC)
Series: First Meeting
3:15 p.m. CT • SEC Network
Fayetteville, Ark. • Reynolds Razorback Stadium (76,000)
Illinois State (10-4) at Oklahoma (6-7, 2-6 SEC)
Series: First Meeting
5 p.m. CT • SEC+/ESPN+
Norman, Okla. • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (83,489)
UTSA (7-6) at Texas A&M (8-5, 5-3 SEC)
Series: TAMU leads, 2-0
6 p.m. CT • ESPN
Bryan – College Station, Texas • Kyle Field (102,733)
Charleston Southern (1-11) at Vanderbilt (7-6, 3-5 SEC)
Series: VU leads, 1-0
6 p.m. CT • SEC+/ESPN+
Nashville, Tenn. • FirstBank Stadium (35,000)
Long Island (4-8) at Florida (8-5, 4-4 SEC)
Series: First Meeting
7 p.m. ET • SEC+/ESPN+
Gainesville, Fla. • Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548)
LSU (9-4, 5-3 SEC) at Clemson (10-4)
Series: LSU leads, 3-1
6:30 p.m. CT • ABC
Last: LSU, 42-25 (2020 at CFP Champ Game)
Clemson, S.C. • Frank Howard Field at Memorial Stadium (81,500)
Georgia State (3-9) at Ole Miss (10-3, 5-3 SEC)
Series: First Meeting
6:45 p.m. CT • SEC Network
Oxford, Miss. • Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
South Carolina (9-4, 5-3 SEC) vs. Virginia Tech (6-7)
Series: SC leads, 11-7-2
3 p.m. ET • ESPN
Last: UT, 28-21 (1991 at Columbia)
Atlanta, Ga. • Mercedes-Benz Stadium (72,500)
GEORGE SOMERVILLE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WRITER
GEORGE IS A LONG STANDING FANATIC OF LIFE AND FOOTBALL IN THE DEEP SOUTH AND WRITES HIS WEEKLY COLUMN CALLED “IT’S ONLY SEC” FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. HE IS ALSO CO-HOST AND ONE THIRD OF THE COLLEGE CHAPS PODCAST, THE UK’S FIRST PODCAST DEDICATED TO THE COLLEGE GAME.