GOODBREAD: Ranking the toughest September schedules in the SEC, and the weakest
Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer faces a rough schedule in his first season, unforgiving in almost all respects except for two idle dates, and even that is an advantage every team in the SEC will also enjoy.
It has early teeth, too, in the form of a Sept. 21 road game at Wisconsin, and home date against the likely preseason No. 1 team in the country − Georgia. Speaking of the Bulldogs, they don't have it so easy in the early going, either. A year ago, UGA's 2023 schedule was being mocked as too easy − at least, as easy as an SEC schedule can get − and was soft by any measure in September. This time around, the same can't be said of the early part of the Bulldogs' schedule. Georgia takes on Clemson on a neutral field (Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta), and heads to Alabama four weeks later.
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September is the season's most deceiving month.
A 4-0 start supported by a weak non-conference schedule is often fool's gold. On the flipside, an early season loss, particularly with the advent of the 12-team playoff, isn't nearly as alarming as it once was. The SEC is tougher than ever now that Texas and Oklahoma have joined the party, but because September is still heavily populated with non-conference opponents, early-season strength of schedule can still vary a great deal. With that, here are the three toughest September schedules (Aug. 31 games included), and the three weakest, in the SEC this fall:
Toughest SEC September schedules
1) Kentucky
The slate: Aug. 31 vs. Southern Miss, Sept. 7 vs. South Carolina, Sept. 14 vs. Georgia, Sept. 21 vs. Ohio, Sept. 28 at Ole Miss.
The skinny: There aren't two tougher games on any September schedule than Georgia and Ole Miss, which is primed for a big year. Most schools in the SEC get the first of two idle dates in September, but not Kentucky.
2) Georgia
The slate: Aug. 31 vs. Clemson (Atlanta), Sept. 7 vs. Tennessee Tech, Sept. 14 at Kentucky, Sept. 21 idle, Sept. 28 at Alabama.
The skinny: Clemson's defense will be a nasty season-opening test for Georgia, and the trip to Alabama will quickly bring some shape to the top of the league standings.
3) Alabama
The slate: Aug. 31 vs. Western Kentucky, Sept. 7 vs. South Florida, Sept. 14 at Wisconsin, Sept. 21 idle, Sept. 28 vs. Georgia.
The skinny: The Georgia game is the toughest date on UA's entire schedule, and a road trip to face the Badgers in Camp Randall is never fun. While WKU and South Florida are by no means powerhouses, both are more respectable than some of the non-conference fodder other SEC teams will take on.
Weakest SEC September schedules
14) South Carolina
The slate: Aug. 31 vs. Old Dominion, Sept. 7 at Kentucky, Sept. 14 vs. LSU, Sept. 21 vs. Akron, Sept. 28 idle.
The skinny: Tangling with LSU won't be fun, but given all the talent LSU lost from last year, even that's a winnable game at home. Throw in ODU, Akron and an idle date, and Shane Beamer should be beaming entering October.
15) Ole Miss
The slate: Aug. 31 vs. Furman, Sept. 7 vs. Middle Tennessee State, Sept. 14 at Wake Forest, Sept. 21 vs. Georgia Southern, Sept. 28 vs. Kentucky.
The skinny: Four of Ole Miss' first five opponents come to Oxford, and there's little chance the Rebels will catch a loss. Lane Kiffin will hang a bevy of points on the scoreboard during this stretch.
16) Missouri
The slate: Aug. 31 vs. Murray St, Sept. 7 vs. Buffalo, Sept. 14 vs. Boston College, Sept. 21 vs. Vanderbilt, Sept. 28 idle.
The skinny: Compared to the average SEC schedule, the Tigers start the season on a water slide. Eli Drinkwitz will still be the toast of Columbia after what should be a 4-0 start, but we still won't know much about his team by then.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Ranking the toughest September schedules in the SEC, and the weakest
