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Ranking each SEC football schedule in 2024, easiest to hardest

An early look at which SEC football teams will have it the easiest, and the hardest, when the 2024 college football schedule kicks off next fall
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One of the building blocks of the 2024 college football season has been put in place already, as the SEC has announced its complete schedule for the year to come at a historic moment for the conference as it welcomes Texas and Oklahoma in the most consequential wave of realignment.

Which leaves the question: how do you determine a quality schedule? One way is to simply count up the wins and losses of your opponents from the season before.

The method is far from perfect, though: the new transfer portal, changes in recruiting fortunes, and just the loss of players owing to their exhausting eligibility or by graduating all mean that programs are doing major surgery to their rosters just about every offseason. Plus, there are just the changes that teams organically go through every year as their fortunes improve or worsen from year to year.

Not to mention the bombshell decision of NCAA record seven-time national championship coach Nick Saban to retire from Alabama, paving the way for some major potential changes in the SEC pecking order going forward.

But right now, with the season months away, looking at wins and losses is what we have as we project forward into 2024. Let's take a look at which SEC football schedules are the easiest, and hardest, for next fall.

16. Missouri

Missouri Tigers running back Cody Schrader on a rushing attempt during a college football game in the SEC.

Opponents' record: 63-81

Missouri schedule: vs. Murray State, vs. Buffalo, vs. Boston College, vs. Vanderbilt, at Texas A&M, at UMass, vs. Auburn, at Alabama, vs. Oklahoma, at South Carolina, at Mississippi State, vs. Arkansas

Missouri gets just two games against opponents that have won at least 10 games this season, putting the Tigers in position for a 10-win season themselves.

15. Tennessee

Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel on the sideline during a college football game in the SEC.

Opponents' record: 78-69

Tennessee schedule: vs. Chattanooga, vs. NC State, vs. Kent State, at Oklahoma, at Arkansas, vs. Florida, vs. Alabama, vs. Kentucky, vs. Mississippi State, at Georgia, vs. UTEP, at Vanderbilt

Big Orange gets to tangle with SEC East rival Georgia on the road late in the season and has to visit Heupel's alma mater, the Sooners, on the road, in the first month of the season. But otherwise, the Vols get the Wolfpack in a neutral site in Charlotte and Alabama at home.

14. Texas

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers on a pass attempt during a college football game.

Opponents' record: 80-66

Texas schedule: vs. Colorado State, at Michigan, vs. UTSA, vs. UL Monroe, vs. Mississippi State, vs. Oklahoma, vs. Georgia, at Vanderbilt, vs. Florida, at Arkansas, vs. Kentucky, at Texas A&M

In addition to the traditional rivalry with the Sooners, the Longhorns make their SEC debut with a home date against East champ Georgia, play a high-quality, non-conference game on the road against CFP contender Michigan, and renew their rivalry with the Aggies at season's end.

13. Ole Miss

Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart attempts a pass during a college football game in the SEC.

Opponents' record: 81-65

Ole Miss schedule: vs. Furman, vs. MTSU, at Wake Forest, vs. Georgia Southern, vs. Kentucky, at South Carolina, at LSU, vs. Oklahoma, at Arkansas, vs. Georgia, at Florida, vs. Mississippi State

A tough late-season stretch for the Rebels in the Magnolia Bowl and dates at home against the Sooners and Bulldogs that will test whether this team can stay in SEC title contention when it counts.

12. Auburn

Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne throws a pass during a college football game in the SEC.

Opponents' record: 81-64

Auburn schedule: vs. Alabama A&M, vs. Cal, vs. New Mexico, vs. Arkansas, vs. Oklahoma, at Georgia, at Missouri, at Kentucky, vs. Vanderbilt, vs. UL Monroe, vs. Texas A&M, at Alabama

After a five-game home stretch to start the season, Auburn hits the road in three important conference games before two key road dates against the Aggies and closing in the Iron Bowl.

11. LSU

Scenes before an SEC college football game at LSU between teams in the Top 25 rankings.

Opponents' record: 81-63

LSU schedule: vs. USC, vs. Nicholls, at South Carolina, vs. UCLA, vs. South Alabama, vs. Ole Miss, at Arkansas, at Texas A&M, vs. Alabama, at Florida, vs. Vanderbilt, vs. Oklahoma

Brian Kelly's team gets off to a hot start in Vegas against the Trojans and then hosts the other big L.A.-based school at home a few weeks later. Remember, both of those teams are in the Big Ten starting in 2024. Key games against the Tide and Sooners are at home in Death Valley.

10. Texas A&M

Texas A&M running back Le'Veon Moss on a rushing attempt during a college football game in the SEC.

Opponents' record: 83-63

Texas A&M schedule: vs. Notre Dame, vs. McNeese, at Florida, vs. Bowling Green, vs. Arkansas, vs. Missouri, at Mississippi State, vs. LSU, at South Carolina, vs. New Mexico State, at Auburn, vs. Texas

The Mike Elko experience opens up in 2024 with a major non-conference matchup against the Fighting Irish, but notable avoided having to play either Alabama or Georgia, while getting a chance to renew their rivalry against the Longhorns, crucially at home.

9. Kentucky

Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops on the sideline during a college football game in the SEC.

Opponents' record: 84-62

Kentucky schedule: vs. Southern Miss, vs. South Carolina, vs. Georgia, vs. Ohio, at Ole Miss, vs. Vanderbilt, at Florida, vs. Auburn, at Tennessee, vs. Murray State, at Texas, vs. Louisville

The hardest game on UK's schedule comes at home early in the season against the Bulldogs, but after that the Wildcats hit the road against some tough SEC competition, including the Longhorns.

8. Arkansas

Arkansas Razorbacks football coach Sam Pittman on the sidelines before a college football game in the SEC.

Opponents' record: 85-60

Arkansas schedule: vs. Ark.-Pine Bluff, at Oklahoma State, vs. UAB, at Auburn, vs. Texas A&M, vs. Tennessee, vs. LSU, at Mississippi State, vs. Ole Miss, vs. Texas, vs. Louisiana Tech, at Missouri

No more KJ Jefferson or Raheim Sanders for the Razorbacks after both transferred, but at least they get some of these more difficult games at home, including a restoration of the old series against Texas, but the Hogs play at a tough Big 12 rival and close on the road to Mizzou.

7. South Carolina

South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer on the sideline during a college football game in the SEC.

Opponents' record: 85-59

South Carolina schedule: vs. Old Dominion, at Kentucky, vs. LSU, vs. Akron, vs. Ole Miss, at Alabama, at Oklahoma, vs. Texas A&M, at Vanderbilt, vs. Missouri, vs. Wofford, at Clemson

Spencer Rattler and Antwane Wells are out the door, one by draft and the other by transfer, while the Gamecocks prepare for a tough first half schedule that includes consecutive road dates against the Crimson Tide and the Sooners.

6. Georgia

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck attempts a pass during a college football game in the SEC.

Opponents' record: 86-59

Georgia schedule: vs. Clemson, vs. Tenn. Tech, at Kentucky, at Alabama, vs. Auburn, vs. Mississippi State, at Texas, vs. Florida, at Ole Miss, vs. Tennessee, vs. UMass, vs. Georgia Tech

After missing out on a three-peat chance, the Bulldogs start off 2024 with a tough road, including in the opener in Atlanta, before a landmark date in Tuscaloosa against the team that just beat it for the SEC championship. And that's before a crucial mid-season trip to Austin.

5. Mississippi State

Mississippi State head coach Jeff lebby before a college football game in the SEC.

Opponents' record: 88-58

Mississippi State schedule: vs. Eastern Kentucky, at Arizona State, vs. Toledo, vs. Florida, at Texas, at Georgia, vs. Texas A&M, vs. Arkansas, vs. UMass, at Tennessee, vs. Missouri, at Ole Miss

Jeff Lebby makes his debut as Bulldogs head coach looking ahead to a customarily difficult schedule that includes important road games against a Big 12 opponent, and back-to-back dates on the road to the Longhorns and Bulldogs, and then the Volunteers.

4. Alabama

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe on a rushing attempt during a college football game in the SEC.

Opponents' record: 91-55

Alabama schedule: vs. Western Kentucky, vs. USF, at Wisconsin, vs. Georgia, at Vanderbilt, vs. South Carolina, at Tennessee, vs. Missouri, at LSU, vs. Mercer, at Oklahoma, vs. Auburn

Key road engagements await the reigning SEC champions in 2024, including an interesting date at Camp Randall early on, before returning home in a huge matchup against the Bulldogs. Then come three road trips against the Vols, Tigers, and Sooners later in the year. Quite a road for Kalen DeBoer as he replaces Nick Saban as Crimson Tide head coach.

3. Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Nic Anderson celebrates a touchdown during a college football game.

Opponents' record: 92-54

Oklahoma schedule: vs. Temple, vs. Houston, vs. Tulane, vs. Tennessee, at Auburn, vs. Texas, vs. South Carolina, at Ole Miss, vs. Maine, at Missouri, vs. Alabama, at LSU

A pretty tough road for the Sooners in their SEC debut, with early tests against the Green Wave and with key late matchups on the road against Mizzou and LSU with a home game against the Crimson Tide.

2. Vanderbilt

Scenes at a Vanderbilt Commodores college football game in the SEC.

Opponents' record: 100-46

Vanderbilt schedule: vs. Virginia Tech, vs. Alcorn State, at Georgia State, at Missouri, vs. Alabama, at Kentucky, vs. Ball State, vs. Texas, at Auburn, vs. South Carolina, at LSU, vs. Tennessee

Clark Lea has his work cut out for him after winning just two games this season and losing two key offensive personnel, quarterback AJ Swann and wideout London Humphreys, to the transfer portal. 

1. Florida

Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz attempts a pass during a college football game in the SEC.

Opponents' record: 102-44

Florida schedule: vs. Miami (Fla.), vs. Samford, vs. Texas A&M, at Mississippi State, vs. UCF, at Tennessee, vs. Kentucky, vs. Georgia, at Texas, vs. LSU, vs. Ole Miss, at Florida State

Billy Napier enters a season of already-intense expectations with a date off the bat against a Power Five in-state rival. And he'll need all the wins he can get early on with this late-season deluge against some of the class of the SEC before finishing against the Seminoles.

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