The Tennessee Vols' proposed 3 permanent opponents in new SEC scheduling format have changed again
The Tennessee Vols are still waiting to hear who their three permanent opponents will be if/when the SEC moves to a “3-6” schedule.
Nothing is official yet, but the SEC is fully expecting to move to a "3-6" scheduling format in 2024 with Texas and Oklahoma joining the conference.
The new format would give each SEC team three permanent opponents that they'd play each season. The other six opponents would rotate from year to year.
Each SEC team would host every other SEC team at least once every four years.
When this format was first floated, the Tennessee Vols' three permanent opponents were expected to be Alabama, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt.
According to Sports Illustrated's Ross Dellenger, the latest intel suggests that Tennessee's three permanent opponents have changed. The new expectation is that UT's permanent opponents will be Alabama, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt.
Here's the full list from Dellenger:
Note: None of this is official yet and it could still change before the SEC makes a final decision.
Any scenario that doesn't involve playing Florida and Georgia every year is good for the Vols, though they'll still play the Gators and the Bulldogs twice every four years.
Going from playing Alabama, Florida, and Georgia every single year to probably never playing all three in the same season (UT would likely play Florida and Georgia in alternating years) would be a win for the Vols.
Of course, either way, it won't be easy for any SEC teams moving forward. Adding another conference game to the schedule while likely dropping an "easy game" from the schedule is going to make the schedule more challenging for everyone.
But that's why players come to the SEC — to play against the best every week.
