The SEC is set to kick off an exciting new chapter for the 2024 college football season, with Texas and Oklahoma now part of the 16-team conference and the elimination of the East and West divisions. The difficulty of the eight-game conference schedules will play a key role in determining which teams make the SEC championship game and the new 12-team College Football Playoff. Sporting News analyzed the schedules based on factors such as ranked opponents and home vs. road games to determine the level of difficulty for each team.
Among the toughest schedules in the SEC for 2024 are Florida, Oklahoma, and Mississippi State. Florida faces a challenging lineup that includes five top-10 teams, while Oklahoma will have to contend with six teams ranked No. 13 or higher in Sporting News’ preseason rankings. Mississippi State, under first-year coach Jeff Lebby, will face tough road games against top-ranked opponents like Georgia, Texas, and Ole Miss.
On the other end of the spectrum, Missouri, Ole Miss, and LSU have been deemed to have the easiest schedules. Missouri will face just three ranked opponents, with a soft non-conference schedule to start the season. Ole Miss, led by coach Lane Kiffin, has a favorable lineup that excludes facing Alabama, while LSU boasts a strong home record that could help them tackle their opponents.
With Georgia, Texas, and Alabama expected to be top contenders in the SEC, all eyes will be on the tough schedules they face. Texas A&M and Arkansas have slight schedule advantages, while Auburn and Tennessee are faced with challenging matchups against both Georgia and Alabama. The season ahead promises intense matchups and fierce competition as teams battle it out for a shot at the SEC championship and the College Football Playoff.
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