Alabama Football: Toughest and easiest in ’21 final SEC schedule
By Ronald Evans
Alabama Football: On Wednesday the official 2021 SEC football schedule was announced. Check out the teams having the toughest and easiest seasons.
College football gets back to normal in 2021 with Alabama Football and other SEC teams returning to an eight-game conference schedule. Based on the high probability COVID will not derail the 2021 season, the SEC schools will also have four, out-of-conference opponents.
Alabama Football 2021 Schedule
- Sept. 4 versus Miami in Atlanta
- Sept. 11 versus Mercer in Tuscaloosa
- Sept. 18 versus Florida in Gainesville
- Sept. 25 versus Southern Mississippi in Tuscaloosa
- Oct. 2 versus Ole Miss in Tuscaloosa
- Oct. 9 versus Texas A&M in College Station
- Oct. 16 versus Mississippi State in Starkville
- Oct. 23 versus Tennessee in Tuscaloosa
- Oct. 30 Open Date
- Nov. 6 versus LSU in Tuscaloosa
- Nov. 13 versus New Mexico State in Tuscaloosa
- Nov. 20 versus Arkansas in Tuscaloosa
- Nov. 27 versus Auburn in Auburn
With only one open Saturday in the SEC, 2021 schedule, the Alabama Crimson Tide and five other conference teams must play eight straight games before getting a week off. The other five are Arkansas, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M. Facing each other on Oct. 23 will be tired Crimson Tide and Volunteers teams.
Along with LSU, Ole Miss and Mississippi State have open weeks before taking on the Crimson Tide.
Evaluating schedules in the offseason is difficult. Transfers will occur and injuries will happen. Teams that start the season strong may not finish that way. The opposite will also occur. A good guess is there will be at least one good surprise and one bad surprise team as the season plays out.
Until (much) more is known, a first pass on the strength and weakness of schedules must suffice. Every SEC team having to play the Crimson Tide is at a disadvantage to those teams that don’t. Based on our earlier projection of the SEC having five competitive tiers in 2021, the schedules are mostly measured by the Crimson Tide, Georgia, Florida and Texas A&M being the top four teams again. Out-of-conference opponents are also considered.
SEC East Toughest Schedule
It is a tie between South Carolina and Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks’ biggest challenges will be at Georgia, at Texas A&M, Florida, at Missouri, Auburn and Clemson. Every game will likely again be a challenge for Vandy. The toughest for the Dores are Stanford, Georgia, at Florida, at South Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky and at Ole Miss.
SEC East Easiest Schedule
The Georgia Bulldogs’ three toughest regular-season games are Clemson in Charlotte, Florida in Jacksonville and Missouri in Athens. They have a good chance to get to Atlanta, no worse than 11-1, and possibly 12-0.
SEC West Toughest Schedule
Another tie here with Arkansas and Auburn. The Razorbacks have Texas at home, plus road games at Texas A&M, Georgia, LSU and Alabama. Auburn travels to State College to play Penn State and also play LSU and Texas A&M on the road. In addition, the Aubies have Georgia and Alabama in Auburn.
SEC West Easiest Schedule
Ole Miss opens with last season’s 4-7 Louisville in Atlanta. Lane Kiffin’s team must travel to Tuscaloosa and Auburn. Their other challenges will be LSU and Texas A&M, but both games are in Oxford. Runners-up to Ole Miss for easiest schedules are LSU and Texas A&M.
The complete 2021, SEC football schedule is available here.
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There is little doubt, every fanbase not supporting Alabama Football will disagree with this analysis. Debates cannot be resolved before games are played on Nov. 27.