Hey all,
As the game of conference musical chairs continues, it's time to look at the the 2023 schedules of the Big XII and the SEC.
Big XII
Current Members
Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Top Non Conference Games
9/9- Texas at Alabama: Who could forget last year's barnburner in Austin that the Crimson Tide pulled out at the least minute for a 20-19 victory? This year's game could be just as good as Alabama and Texas are both loaded. Texas would love to beat Bama in Tuscaloosa and give notice to the SEC that next year's newcomers will be a force to reckoned with. UT HC Steve Sarkisian needs a signature win and this would be it. Texas owns the overall series with a 7-2-1 record. However, all seven wins and the tie occurred from 1902-1982. Coincidentally, 1902 is the last time The Longhorns played the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa.
Fun Fact: Alabama and Texas have faced off in all of the big four traditional bowl game sites. They squared off in the 1948 Sugar Bowl, '65 Orange Bowl, '73 Cotton Bowl and 2010 BCS title game which was held at the Rose Bowl.
9/2- Colorado at TCU: This intrepid reporter did touch on this game in last week's blog, but it does deserve another look. TCU had an incredible run last year and lost both talented players and great leaders to graduation. However, the Horned Frogs look to be more talented this year and need for a leader to emerge. Colorado's drastic roster makeover means that the new-look Buffs haven't played together yet. I think TCU pulls away for the win here.
9/9- Oklahoma State at Arizona State: This game is now a battle of future conference foes. Last year, the Pokes pounded the Sons of Sparky, 34-17 in what would be HC Herm Edwards' next to last game at ASU. Both teams come into this one after playing a an FCS tuneup game in week one. ASU will be breaking in a new HC and Okie State will be breaking in a new QB. Very slight edge here goes to ASU. We all know what a house of horrors Sun Devil Stadium can be for young quarterbacks.
9/9- UCF at Boise State: Many a good team has had their season upended on the blue turf. UCF is predicted to finish in the lower half of the Big XII while Boise is once again the odds on favorite to win the Mountain West. If UCF's new QB John Rhys Plumlee, (a transfer from Ole Miss), can find a way to pick apart a Broncos defense with just five returning starters, the Golden Knights might not end up feeling blue on the turf.
9/9- Oregon at Texas Tech: This game looks a little less daunting for the Quacks than when they were plucked and spit-roasted by Georgia to start last season. The Webfoots hold a 2-0 series lead, but the teams met back in 1991 and 1992. The Red Raiders return all 11 starters on offense and will test the Oregon defense, but the Ducks are a Playoff contender and should walk out of Lubbock with the W.
9/16- BYU at Arkansas: Last year the Hogs went to Provo and hung 52 on the Cougars. A win here would be big for BYU because the rest of their non conference slate is weaker than room temperature decaf. This game is also interesting if anybody wants to see Kedon Slovis play. The former Trojan and Pitt Panther QB transferred yet again and should be the starter for the Cougars this year.
Fun Fact: In his collegiate career, Kedon Slovis will be a starting QB in three of the five, Power 5 conferences.
9/16- Pittsburgh at West Virginia: The Backyard Brawl came back into being last season after an 11-year hiatus. Last year the Panthers beat the Mountaineers, 38-31 in Pittsburgh. This year the game returns to Morgantown where WVU HC Neal Brown is on the hot seat. The Mountaineer faithful want to sing an uproarious rendition of Take Me Home, Country Roads after a beatdown of their ancient rivals. A loss and Neal Brown will come home to find for sale signs planted on his front lawn.
Intriguing Big XII Non Conference Games
9/2- UTSA at Houston: Last year at the Alamodome, Houston trailed 21-7 at the end of three quarters. It took a 17-point fourth quarter followed by three overtimes for the Cougars to escape with a 37-35 victory. Oh and UTSA QB Frank Harris returns to lead the Roadrunners offense. All he did last year was torch UH for 400 yards of offense and four TDs. The Cougars need to be on upset alert here. A loss would be an embarrassing way to start their first year in the Big XII.
9/2 Kansas at Nevada: If the Jayhawks really want to get serious about getting to a bowl game they need to get out of Reno with more than just casino chips, a couple of decks of cards and being comped at the buffet. This is most talented KU team since the days of Mark Mangino and they need to play like it.
Top Big XII Conference Games
Once again I leave the rivalry games out here because they are circled on the calendar. Seriously everyone in Kansas knows when they take on K-State and the Red River Rivalry has a true following all its' own.
9/23- UCF at Kansas State: For years we have all heard about UCF can't wait to show folks how well they would take care of business if they were in a Power 5 conference. Here's the Golden Knights "welcome to the league" moment. They have a legitimate shot to to take down the defending league champs at their place. A win grants legitimacy to UCF, a loss turns the Golden Knights into a laughing stock.
9/23- Oklahoma at Cincinnati: Huh? Coming off a 6-7 season after the sudden departure of Lincoln Riley, the Sooners need to just pound a conference foe to feel like OU again. Cincy is ripe for the beating with just three returning starters on offense and a new HC. OU should walk out with a win here no matter how pumped the Bearcats and their fans are for this contest..
9/23- Texas at Baylor: The Bears open up the season with four straight home games. This is the fourth one and it's their conference opener. This game is a big early road test for a Texas team trying to live up to great preseason expectations. Baylor doesn't play Oklahoma, so getting a win here clears a path for the Bears to make a run at the league title game.
Fun Fact: The series record between Baylor and Texas includes a forfeit. It happened in 1910. In the third quarter of a 6-6 tie, the Bears refused to continue playing unless the referee, Don Blake who had ties to the Texas HC W.S. Wasmund, was removed from the game. He stayed, the Bears left and a forfeit win was awarded to the Longhorns.
11/4- Kansas State at Texas: KSU HC Chris Klieman's Wildcats are the defending league champions, but the kids from the Little Apple have dropped their last six games to the Longhorns and haven't won in Austin since 2011. A win here most likely gives K-State an inside track to the league title game. Texas just may be undefeated coming into into this one and could stampede the Wildcats.
11/11- Oklahoma State at UCF: Will the Cowboys have enough left in the tank to take on UCF after throwing everything into what could be their last ever rivalry game with Oklahoma the week prior? We shall see.
Big XII Scheduling Observations
...Texas stands alone; The Longhorns are the only team in the league that does not play an FCS foe. Technically Houston does not either, but they are hosting Sam Houston State who will be playing their first season on the FBS level.
...Altitude for openers; Texas Tech heads to Wyoming to start the season on 9/2. Just to remind you all Laramie, Wyoming has an elevation 7,185 feet. Now, Lubbock doesn't exactly sit at sea level at an elevation of 3,202 feet, but it's still less than half of where Laramie is.
...They call it a rivalry; The Bedlam Game, aka the Oklahoma- Okie State rivalry really isn't one. Rivalries are usually competitive. The Sooners hold a 91-19-7 series edge.
...Battling Houstons; University of Houston will host Sam Houston State on 9/23.
...Tough Triple; TCU finishes the season by hosting Texas on 11/11, then Baylor on 11/18, then just six days later plays at Oklahoma on 11/24.
...Cougar fear; Maybe Texas and Oklahoma are leaving the Big XII because of BYU. The Cougars hold a combined 6-1 record against the Longhorns and Sooners.
...O-O-O Cyclones!; In three straight weeks from 9/6 to 9/23 Iowa State will take on Ohio University, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.
...Two Cougars for the Big XII; Yeah that sounds like a bad movie title, but the Big XII now has two schools with the same mascot in BYU and Houston. It's ok, the SWAC on the FCS level has three sets of Tigers with Grambling, Jackson State and Texas Southern.
...Just some teams they used to know; Houston's entrance into the Big XII this year reunites the Cougars with old Southwest Conference foes Texas, TCU, Texas Tech and Baylor. All that's missing is a freezing Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day and Lindsey Nelson in an obnoxious plaid sport coat.
...Optimism in Lawrence; Kansas' Homecoming opponent is... Oklahoma.
SEC
The conference consists of 14 teams split into in two divisions of seven teams each
Current Members
SEC West: Alabama , Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Texas A&M
SEC East: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Top Non Conference Games
8/31- Florida at Utah: The Gators finished were spanked, 30-3 by Oregon State in last year's Last Vegas Bowl to end HC Billy Napier's first year in the Swamp at 6-7. This year's Gators are being touted as a vastly improved team and they will be tested to show that improvement in Salt Lake City. They will be tested on the field by a hard-hitting talented Utes squad and by the weather conditions. It should be a hot, dry game being played in Rice-Eccles Stadium that sits at 4,265 feet of elevation. Throw in a very hostile crowd led by the Mighty Utah Student Section and the Gators might get sent home as luggage if they can't rise to the occasion.
9/9- Texas at Alabama: Alabama has heard all off season how Georgia literally is the big dog in the conference and how St. Nicholas of Tuscaloosa and his teams have lost a step or two. A good way to fight back against that narrative is to score a decisive victory over a future league member. The Crimson Tide only has 10 total returning starters, but all the new players assuming starting roles are mostly five star talents waiting to make their mark in Tide history.
9/9- Arizona at Mississippi State: The Wildcats come to Starkville on an upward trajectory under HC Jedd Fisch while nobody knows how the Bulldogs will respond after the sudden death of HC Mike Leach last December. The Wildcats may steal a win against what could be an emotional mess of an MSU squad.
9/9- Florida State v. LSU (Orlando, FL): Last year saw new HC Brian Kelly's Tigers fall flat on their face in a 24-23 upset at the hands of the Seminoles. LSU is touted as a legitimate national title contender this year. They need a big win here to really get their momentum rolling. However, the Seminoles own an 8-2 record in the overall series and haven't lost game to the Bayou Bengals since 1982.
9/9- Texas A&M at Miami: The Hurricanes are looking to avenge last year's, 17-9 loss to the Aggies at College Station. A lot of memories of last year's tilt will be on the minds of the players as both teams will combine to field 39 returning starters. Wow. This could be one of the best games of the entire 2023 season.
Intriguing Non Conference Games
9/2- Virginia v. Tennessee (Nashville, TN): Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans will host this battle between the Cavaliers and Volunteers. The Orange and White had a an incredible breakout second year under HC Josh Heupel in 2022. They went 11-2 and pounded Clemson in the Orange Bowl. The Wahoos are coming off a tough 3-7 season and are looking for great improvement in year two in HC Tony Elliott's system. This one should be competitive for a quarter and a half barring the Volunteers falling flat on their face early.
9/9- Auburn at California: The last time Auburn came to the Golden State in 2002, Carson Palmer scored on a QB sneak with 2:00 left to lift USC to a 24-17 victory. That was a far more talented Tiger team in 2002 than today, but then again Cal isn't gonna be that great either this year. Both teams return 17 starters and are desperate to earn enough wins for a bowl game. It will be a battle for early season survival at old Memorial Stadium.
Fun Fact: Auburn once played in what was known as the Bacardi Bowl. This bowl was held eight times between 1907 and 1946 in Havana. Cuba. It usually featured a college team from the U.S. v. a Cuban team from the University of Havana or a local athletic club. However, Auburn played Villanova to a 7-7 tie in the only game to feature two U.S. teams on January 1, 1937.
10/21- Army at LSU: The Black Knights of the Hudson can certainly throw an opponent off balance with their version of triple-option. The triple-option chews up the clock, which can eliminate up to a third of total possessions over the course of a game. It also helps negate an opponent's talent advantage by making them play assignment football on defense. You can't just swarm to the ball or you'll be exposed for a big gain. To win this game, LSU needs to get off the field on third down and make every offensive possession a scoring drive. The Tigers also have a HC in Brian Kelly who saw the triple-option every year when he was at Notre Dame and does know how to defend it. LSU will win this game, but it will sure make all the Tiger fans squirm in the process.
Top Conference Games
Once again I leave the rivalry games out here because they are circled on the calendar for all schools.
9/30- Missouri at Vanderbilt: What huh? Yeah this is stretch, but if perennially overmatched Vandy wants to go to a bowl for the first time since 2018, they have to win.
9/30- Kentucky at Florida: The Wildcats have won two straight v. the Gators and can immediately put Florida HC Billy Napier on the hot seat with a third straight win. Florida may be one teams that has it's seasoned ruined by Kentucky on the way to their fifth straight bowl game.
10/14- Texas A&M at Tennessee: They've only played each other four times ever. This will be the Aggies second trip to Knoxville, winning in 2020, 34-13. However, this is a much improved Volunteer squad looking for another 10+ win season. Tennessee comes into this game off a bye while Texas A&M comes in off of hosting Alabama. Ouch.
11/4- LSU at Alabama: All due respect to the rest of the division, but this is the game that will decide who wins the SEC West. It's as simple as that.
11/18- Georgia at Tennessee: This the only real roadblock for the Bulldogs on the way to the SEC title tilt. Seriously, with a league schedule for Georgia that includes Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Missouri, the Vols may be the only team that can put a blemish on the Bulldogs record.
SEC Scheduling Observations
...They really are in the same league; Alabama and Kentucky have faced off on the gridiron only 15 times in the last 51 years of SEC play.
...FCS Yes!; All 14 SEC teams will play an FCS team. Funny how they just can't find room for a ninth conference game. Hmmmmmmmmmm
...Road Tide, huh?; Alabama will play its' first road game at a non Power 5 school since 1992 when they head to South Florida on 9/16.
...It could happen; Vanderbilt could be 4-0 heading into their conference opener v Kentucky on 9/23. The Commodores have four winnable games v. Hawaii and Alabama A&M at home to start followed by road trips to Wake Forest and UNLV.
...They finally meet; LSU will play Grambling for the firs time ever on 9/9. I know there were a whole lot of years way back when that LSU was just a little leery of facing HC Eddie Robinson and his brand of Bayou Bengals.
...112 years; Ole Miss and Mercer will square off for the first time since 1911 when the Bears come to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on 9/2. The Rebels won that first meeting, 34-0 as part of schedule that featured Henderson State, Southwest Presbyterian and the Louisiana Industrial School.
...Triple A Lone Star State Stint; Texas A&M hosts Auburn on 9/23, takes on Arkansas at Jerryworld on 9/30, then comes home again for Alabama on 10/7.
...Bye-Bye-Bye; Florida will play three conference games against teams coming off a bye. Toughest of the three games has to be v. Georgia on 10/28.
...They are neutral on the subject; Eight SEC team play a game at a neutral site this year.
...A month away; Arkansas has a nightmare stretch away from Fayetteville going to LSU on 9/23, then playing at Jerryworld v. Texas A&M on 9/30 followed by visits to Ole Miss on 10/7 and Alabama on 10/14. Ouch
Until next time folks, remember several more schools could be in new conferences by the next time we meet here.
-The Commissioner
