Bama and SEC 2024 schedules

STONECOLDSABAN

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As much as we make fun of the gus bus, he had Saban's number when it came to playing in auburn.
I have said it before, I Think Saban gets too much flak for that. If you look at every good team Auburn has had since 2004. (10 wins or better). No one has beat them at Auburn. The only exception was 2006 when they went 11-2 but weirdly lost two home games against Arky and UGA.
 

PA Tide Fan

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both teams don't "schedule their byes" around that game. The SEC makes the SEC schedule. While it is true neither team has scheduled an OOC game on that day that I can remember.
Technically you're correct. The conference schedules the games but I have to believe that both schools communicated to the SEC some time ago that they want their bye week to be scheduled around that game, since some other teams bye weeks change from year to year.
 

81usaf92

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As much as we make fun of the gus bus, he had Saban's number when it came to playing in auburn.
I think when you actually break it down… Auburn has given us more trouble than LSU. Yes 2011, 2012, 2008, and a few of the ones in Tuscaloosa stand out but I could easily pick 2015, 2016, 2020, 2018, and 2013 as joke LSU games as well.

Auburn has taken us to the brink with horrible to mediocre Auburn teams, and has beaten us in slugfests when we had the better team. Do this…. Out of the 2007, 2010, 2011, 2019, and 2022 games vs LSU… how many of those games did LSU not really belong on the same field as us? 2022 is my vote. Now 2007, 2010, 2013, 2017, and 2019 how many of those games was Auburn truly equal or better than us?

The point is Auburn truly gets up for a game that they have no business being in and it’s a damn dogfight. When we lose to LSU it’s generally by one or two plays, but when we lose to Auburn it’s generally because we couldn’t kill their Will in the first half. I consider Auburn the most dangerous team on our schedule right now and every year that he play them in Auburn. LSU is more prone to be a game in which our will eventually wears them out in the 3rd quarter.
 

crimsonaudio

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Saban has lost to Auburn 5 times ,Has lost to LSU 5 times.
But those games (generally) haven't meant as much as the LSU games. LSU games often meant one team had the inside track on a NC chase - Auburn games were largely just a matter of survival for Auburn.

People outside of Alabama care about Bama-LSU due to NC implications, not so much the iron bowl.
 

81usaf92

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People outside of Alabama care about Bama-LSU due to NC implications, not so much the iron bowl.
viewing ratings disagree… since 2019. LSU vs Alabama has only ranked in the top 10 of viewership 1 time (2019). Iron Bowl has ranked in the top 10 3 times (2019,2020, and 2021). There are many years in which Bama vs LSU doesn’t rank in the top 10 of viewership and very few years in which Alabama vs Auburn doesn’t. When viewership is high for Alabama vs LSU is when LSU comes in undefeated. That’s why 2015 and 2019 are the few times in which the game was viewed more than the IB. Generally speaking the IB gets about 3-4 million more views than the LSU vs Alabama game. Sure the weight of the LSU vs Alabama game is usually bigger, but with the exception of last year you had a good feeling that you knew the winner all but 4 games in the stretch. The Auburn game is way harder to predict and more entertaining to the non affiliated fan than a grind out crowbar game like LSU vs Alabama. It’s why ratings are consistently higher for that game especially when it’s in Auburn.

The Iron Bowl is constantly viewed as the #1 or #2 rivalries consistently by sports writers and fans alike. Alabama vs LSU is rarely in the top 10. I get your point but since 1985 there has not been a rivalry aside from Ohio St vs Michigan that has had the nations attention like the IB.
 

crimsonaudio

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The Iron Bowl is constantly viewed as the #1 or #2 rivalries consistently by sports writers and fans alike. Alabama vs LSU is rarely in the top 10. I get your point but since 1985 there has not been a rivalry aside from Ohio St vs Michigan that has had the nations attention like the IB.
Probably why they'll keep it.

My answer is 100% about why we always get LSU - it's because the NC has gone through Tuscaloosa and Red Stick more often than any other rivalry in CFB since Saban arrived.

Are there other reasons? Certainly.
 
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BamaMoon

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From the looks of things something like this is how it would fit into the schedule

aug 31 vs WKU
Sep 7 vs USF
Sep 14 @ Wisconsin

Sep 21 @ Oklahoma
Sep 28 USCe
Oct 5 Georgia
Oct 12 @ Vandy
Oct 26 @ Tennessee
Bye
Nov 9 @ LSU
Nov 16 Mercer
Nov 23 Mizzou
Nov 30 Auburn

Bold are confirmed dates

There is a large speculation that Oklahoma vs Alabama will be on September 21st because the SEC and ESPN wants to have a huge prime time conference opener game featuring one of the new additions. Texas has ULM that day so that’s why Oklahoma vs Alabama seems to be the likely candidate.
First, I LOVE when the season starts on the last weekend of August. It's like we get football a week sooner when compared to when it falls on the next weekend most years.

Too bad the OK and Wisky games couldn't be reversed if for no other reason because of the weather. It will likely be around 90 degrees on Sept. 13 in Norman for a high. Their "average" for that time is upper 80's, but it could be much higher...even mid to upper 90's. Could be brutal, weather wise. But OH, what a scene of Crimson it'll be!!! Must watch TV for sure!

I personally love how it is a unique schedule...even if it might be a one off before adjustments in 2025.

And from the initial readings hear it looks like Vandy and Mizzu are definitely the losers with this scheduling!
 

BamaMoon

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I'm gonna say it again, I wish the SEC would change WHEN we play Auburn. I'd love to see it fall in late Sept. or early Oct.

I *THINK* part of the voodoo at Jerkin Hair is how their team/fans/program lives to try to upset Bama.

Most years, we are just trying to avoid a loss an have the SECCG and CFPs in our sight. For them, it's all about Bama. For us, it's all about SECCG and NCs.

I think playing the game earlier in the year would take off some of the "juice" that they seem to get so high for.
 

BamaMoon

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Thought about future scheduling: It seems the SEC values our games with Tenn, LSU and Auburn, but it would be a shame to not schedule some of the other games that could be huge as well. No way we should face the 3 "rivalries" plus 2 or 3 more games every year against teams like Texas, A$M, OK or Georgia or UF.

So, how about some kinda "rotating rivalry" schedule that would allow for us to play LSU, Auburn and UT but not all 3 every year? Obviously, this could be implemented with other teams as well. It would obviously create "room" in the schedule to have 3 or 4 BIG conference games each year without cause any one team to be facing 4 or 5 conference games against the SEC elite each year.

In some way, there needs to be a balance of sorts and something like this might work where we might play 2 of the 3 out of UT, AU and LSU each year, but not all 3 each year.

Just thinking out loud here!
 

81usaf92

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Thats one way to look at it. I am not saying Clemson is going to win but I will say Georgia vs Clemson is a rivalry game. Those programs don't like each other. Even with all of Clemson's problems in 2021 they still held Georgia to like 7 points. And listening to dawg fans they expect lose A LOT of veteran talent after this year. Especially along the Offensive Line.
The problem is that I think ever since Ohio St took Karen to the woodshed Clemson has lost their way. Karen has done a lot of damage by being so open about the NIL and transfer portal and it has costed Clemson alot.

I think Clemson is basically Kentucky at this point.
 

81usaf92

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Thought about future scheduling: It seems the SEC values our games with Tenn, LSU and Auburn, but it would be a shame to not schedule some of the other games that could be huge as well. No way we should face the 3 "rivalries" plus 2 or 3 more games every year against teams like Texas, A$M, OK or Georgia or UF.

So, how about some kinda "rotating rivalry" schedule that would allow for us to play LSU, Auburn and UT but not all 3 every year? Obviously, this could be implemented with other teams as well. It would obviously create "room" in the schedule to have 3 or 4 BIG conference games each year without cause any one team to be facing 4 or 5 conference games against the SEC elite each year.

In some way, there needs to be a balance of sorts and something like this might work where we might play 2 of the 3 out of UT, AU and LSU each year, but not all 3 each year.

Just thinking out loud here!
Auburn will always be on our schedule. It makes way too much money and both schools would go nuts.

Rivalries that have zero chance of ending in the SEC

1) Iron Bowl
2) The Shootout
3) The Party
4) Egg Bowl

Pretty much everything else could possibly rotate or be an every other year game.
 

BamaMoon

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Auburn will always be on our schedule. It makes way too much money and both schools would go nuts.

Rivalries that have zero chance of ending in the SEC

1) Iron Bowl
2) The Shootout
3) The Party
4) Egg Bowl

Pretty much everything else could possibly rotate or be an every other year game.
I'd have no problem keeping the Barn every year, but don't think we should get UT and LSU permanently every year either.
 
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81usaf92

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I'd have no problem keeping the Barn every year, but don't think we should get UT and LSU permanently every year either.
Personally I’m more for a 10 sec game schedule with divisions. But put us and Auburn in the East and Mizzou in the West. You solve the rivalry issue and create a way to have everyone play everyone in a 6 year span.
 

BamaMoon

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I don't see how we play a 10 game schedule and have room for h/h with other power 5 teams like we have scheduled in the future.

I'd expect if there's a change of how many conference games we play in 2025 and going forward it will go to 9.

JMO.
 

81usaf92

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I don't see how we play a 10 game schedule and have room for h/h with other power 5 teams like we have scheduled in the future.

I'd expect if there's a change of how many conference games we play in 2025 and going forward it will go to 9.

JMO.
Honestly I would just get rid of most because it seems expansion isn’t over. Aside from the Ohio St, Wisconsin, and Florida St series none of them really are great.

10 game SEC schedule

7 Division games
3 non division games rotating h/h
1 P5 game
1 G5 game

12 game season.
 

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