Sports Illustrated predicts who Tennessee Vols' 3 permanent opponents would be in new SEC scheduling format
With Texas and Oklahoma set to join the SEC in 2025, the conference is working to figure out a new scheduling format. According to Sports Illustrated, the league is trying to decide between two new scheduling formats. The two options currently on the table are a 1-7 format (one permanent opponent and seven rotating opponents) […]
With Texas and Oklahoma set to join the SEC in 2025, the conference is working to figure out a new scheduling format.
According to Sports Illustrated, the league is trying to decide between two new scheduling formats. The two options currently on the table are a 1-7 format (one permanent opponent and seven rotating opponents) or a 3-6 format (three permanent opponents and six rotating opponents).
The feeling right now is that a 3-6 format is more likely, though that's far from a certainty.
If the league does move to a 3-6 format, Sports Illustrated's Ross Dellenger has an idea of how the Tennessee Vols' schedule could look.
Dellenger and his SI colleagues believe that Tennessee's three permanent opponents would be Vanderbilt, Alabama, and South Carolina.
"SInow took a jab of the 3 permanents for each team using (1) traditional primary/secondary matchups and (2) an equitable philosophy the league has used in the past where top half teams play more top half & bottom play more bottom half," tweeted Dellenger.
This would mean that Tennessee would no longer play Georgia and Florida every year, but it would keep the historic rivalry with Alabama intact.
If this ends up being what the SEC goes with, I think it's a win for the Vols. Sure, the game against Alabama every year would be tough, but the two games against Vanderbilt and South Carolina should be wins for Tennessee in most years. That's a fair tradeoff for playing Alabama once a year. Plus, it's not like Nick Saban is going to be at Alabama forever. He'll eventually retire and the Crimson Tide won't be quite as powerful as they have been the last 15 years.
It'll be interesting to see what the SEC actually decides. But if it ends up being this 3-6 model that SI is suggesting, it'll be good news for Tennessee football.
Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
