We Have the Full 2021 SEC Football Schedule and My Body Is Ready (Bonus: 10 Best Games RANKED)
My own mind fascinates me. I have spent the majority of my Wednesday trying to calm down from the massive letdown which was Tennessee's hiring of Josh Heupel but now I'm already all the way back in on the 2021 football season. I didn't even know the schedule was coming out today — it usually comes out during the previous season, but obviously COVID changed all of that — but it took far less than I could have ever imagined to get my brain back in on football.
We already knew every opponent, but literally just the conference assigning dates had me locked in on a 30-minute TV special and excited for another season of college football which will inevitably cause me nothing but pain and anger. As much as I want to quit, I will continue coming back for this no matter what. I need all of the college football.
Georgia-Clemson and Alabama-Miami in Week 1?! And SEC Championship Game rematch between Bama and Florida in Week 3?! As fun as playing 10 SEC games was for one year, the addition of great non-conference matchups like that gets me fired up. Just get me to September. It is my belief that my school will not be worth the grass it's playing on, but we'll have plenty of other fantastic college football to watch.
Here are my 10 best games on the 2021 schedule to look forward to:
10. Missouri at Georgia
You'll see a lot of UGA on this list against other opponents you'd expect, but Mizzou could sneak up on some people next year. If the Tigers want to compete for the East, this will be a big one.
9. Auburn at Penn State
Bryan Harsin's first test in the SEC will actually come on the road in the Big Ten. It will be interesting to see how each of these programs rebounds from sub-par seasons.
8. Liberty at Ole Miss
This may very well be the most intriguing game of the 2021 college football season. Hugh Freeze heads back to Oxford with Liberty and will be on the opposing sideline from Lane Kiffin. If you love offense, this football game is for you.
7. Ole Miss at Alabama
The 63-48 final score from these programs' 2020 matchup is nowhere nearly indicative of how close that ballgame was. the Rebels had the undefeated national champs on the ropes in Kiffin's first year. Could they be the ones to take down the Tide in 2021?
6. Texas A&M at LSU
Jimbo Fisher's A&M squad finished one spot too low in the final rankings to be included in this season's College Football Playoff. Are the Aggies playing for a Playoff spot next year on the road in Baton Rouge to end the regular season?
5. Alabama vs. Miami (Atlanta)
Could this finally be the neutral site kickoff game where Alabama has a challenge? I guess we'll find out.
4. Georgia vs. Florida (Jacksonville)
With Tennessee and South Carolina breaking in new head coaches, it seems highly likely this neutral site rivalry game will decide the SEC East for approximately the 15th consecutive year. But it should be a great ballgame.
3. Georgia vs. Clemson (Charlotte)
Now THIS is how you kick off a college football season. The loser of this matchup is obviously not disqualified from CFP contention, but the winner will have an incredibly win on its resume heading into the rest of the season. The stakes are palpable.
2. Alabama at Florida
Very tough break for the Gators that they actually have to play Alabama this year. You hate to see that. We'll see if Dan Mullen is able to avenge his 2020 SEC Championship game loss to Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.
1. Alabama at Texas A&M
I think A&M could be the real deal next year. The Aggies' one blowout loss to Alabama kept them out of the Playoff this year, will they be able to tame the Tide at home and potentially claim the SEC West in 2021?
Only 219 days until we get another season of the best sport in America back up and running. Can't wait.