In addition to that announcement, Sankey revealed that the conference will operate under a policy in which each program is required to play one opponent from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 or a major independent (likely Notre Dame). As it stands currently, the SEC is the only conference that only plays eight conference games. Some pieces of that puzzle, at least initially, were revealed on Thursday.Īt the SEC’s spring meeting in Destin, FL, commissioner Greg Sankey announced that the conference would stick with a model of eight conference games and four out-of-conference, despite wide speculation and support for a potential move to nine league games. The last year the Vols had four regular-season wins over ranked teams was 1998 - their last national championship season.With Oklahoma and Texas’ move to the SEC looming in the summer of 2024, loads of speculation has been tossed around in recent months about what the schedule format will look like for the league once the new teams are added. LSU, Alabama and Georgia have won the last three titles. Tennessee has emerged as a candidate to give the SEC its fourth different national champion in four years. ![]() This year, the teams have taken turns at No 1. “They all understand there is a lot of things we have got to get better at.”įor more than a year, it seemed clear Alabama and Georgia were the SEC’s elite teams.Īlabama beat Georgia in last season’s SEC championship game and the Bulldogs earned revenge by stopping the Crimson Tide to win the national championship. “I say it every week, it’s about us, it’s about our preparation but the challenge is about us becoming our best, too,” Heupel said. Coach Josh Heupel says there won’t be a letdown. ![]() Tennessee takes a break from its SEC schedule to play UT-Martin this week. Tennessee (6-0, 3-0) has proved it deserves to be included in the discussion of championship contenders. They’ll need to be well-rested to survive the four-game grind. 12 and at Kentucky on Nov 19.Ĭoach Kirby Smart knows his Bulldogs must take advantage of their off week. Georgia must play three consecutive games against current Top 25 teams after the Florida game: Tennessee on Nov. The annual neutral-site game in Jacksonville, Florida, is never easy, and the Gators also have been ranked this season. Georgia (7-0, 4-0 SEC) is off this week before playing Florida on Oct. To me, it’s just one of those that if you’re in this league, you better recruit your butt off or it will eat you up and spit you out pretty quick.” There are programs continuing to get better. “There’s great programs, there’s traditional programs that have a lot of pride as well. “By no means do you see the West slipping, but you certainly see the East coming back around, for sure,” South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said. The SEC could be in position to have as many as three teams in the four-team College Football Playoff.įor now at least, the East holds bragging rights in the league. Lawrence scores 25, Vanderbilt beats Yale 71-62 in NIT The East Division showed its renewed strength in winning two showdowns against ranked teams from the West last week. Georgia and Florida were both in the top five of the poll for one week in 2020, but at no other time since 1997 have two teams from the East been ranked in the top three. 3 Tennessee, the eventual SEC champion led by senior quarterback Peyton Manning. 3 Tennessee, the East Division boasts two of the top three teams in the country for the first time since Sept. ![]() With the SEC East making its biggest AP Top 25 power play since Florida’s Steve Spurrier and Tennessee’s Phillip Fulmer ruled the division 25 years ago, Georgia is facing a grueling series of games in the second half of the season. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)ĪTLANTA (AP) - Top-ranked defending national champion Georgia is far from assured of a return trip to the Southeastern Conference championship game. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart tries to get an official's attention during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Oct.
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