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Permanent Opponents & Number of Games Played
Posted on 8/28/25 at 11:51 am
Posted on 8/28/25 at 11:51 am
So here is my final answer on who I think the permanent opponents will be..
I feel pretty confident that it won't be exactly this.. but this is my best guess using the number of games each team has played against other SEC opponents, while taking into account Thanksgiving matchups and other important games..
Oklahoma, Missouri & South Carolina are really limited using this approach, and so I tried to sort them out first. See the next post for each teams games against SEC opponents.
Question 1 - Who will LSU play for Thanksgiving?
The options are Oklahoma & Arkansas. While I think that it's possible they try to force an Oklahoma vs LSU series, I suspect the chances of Bedlam returning are somewhat high, and so it doesn't feel right to make that the game and then pull the rug out again.. I went with Arkansas, which left Oklahoma with Missouri.
Question 2 - Who will play Missouri?
1 - Oklahoma
2 of Texas, Texas A&M, Arkansas or South Carolina
I considered Vanderbilt and Kentucky, but they have 3 perm opponents with a shite ton of games, and I think those games need to be played. There is no reason to pull Vanderbilt vs Kentucky or Kentucky and Tennessee or Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, all with more than 90 games played..
Texas is an option that they may choose, but I went with the consensus amongst Arkansas fans wanting Texas and the whole world saying Texas will have Oklahoma, A&M and Arkansas.
South Carolina needs Georgia as that is by far the most games against. Florida vs SC might be on the chopping block for Missouri vs SC, but I made the decision for Florida vs SC to win out based on geography.
That leaves Arkansas & Texas A&M as Missouri's opponents.
Question 3 - Who should be Mississippi State's 3 opponents?
1 - Ole Miss
2 - Alabama
3 - LSU or Auburn or Kentucky
Kentucky already has SC, TN & Vanderbilt, so they are out imo.
LSU already has Arkansas, Ole Miss and Florida/Alabama/A&M
That leaves Auburn as the 3rd opponent, but I didn't like leaving those 117 games for LSU vs Miss State.
Question 4 - Who should be Oklahoma's 3rd opponent?
1 - Mizzou
2 - Texas
3 - Texas A&M or some forced game with no history?
A&M is their #3 most played opponent with 31 games. They are geographically close, and so that was the decision.
Everything else fell into place for the most part.
Thoughts? If you have a change, you have to consider how that change effects the rest of the puzzle. Switching A&M and Texas as Missouri's opponent doesn't have that big of effect.. that one really boils down to who Arkansas wants to play.
TLDR: Oklahoma, Missouri & South Carolina were the hardest to figure out. See the next post for each teams games against SEC opponents.
I feel pretty confident that it won't be exactly this.. but this is my best guess using the number of games each team has played against other SEC opponents, while taking into account Thanksgiving matchups and other important games..
Oklahoma, Missouri & South Carolina are really limited using this approach, and so I tried to sort them out first. See the next post for each teams games against SEC opponents.
Question 1 - Who will LSU play for Thanksgiving?
The options are Oklahoma & Arkansas. While I think that it's possible they try to force an Oklahoma vs LSU series, I suspect the chances of Bedlam returning are somewhat high, and so it doesn't feel right to make that the game and then pull the rug out again.. I went with Arkansas, which left Oklahoma with Missouri.
Question 2 - Who will play Missouri?
1 - Oklahoma
2 of Texas, Texas A&M, Arkansas or South Carolina
I considered Vanderbilt and Kentucky, but they have 3 perm opponents with a shite ton of games, and I think those games need to be played. There is no reason to pull Vanderbilt vs Kentucky or Kentucky and Tennessee or Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, all with more than 90 games played..
Texas is an option that they may choose, but I went with the consensus amongst Arkansas fans wanting Texas and the whole world saying Texas will have Oklahoma, A&M and Arkansas.
South Carolina needs Georgia as that is by far the most games against. Florida vs SC might be on the chopping block for Missouri vs SC, but I made the decision for Florida vs SC to win out based on geography.
That leaves Arkansas & Texas A&M as Missouri's opponents.
Question 3 - Who should be Mississippi State's 3 opponents?
1 - Ole Miss
2 - Alabama
3 - LSU or Auburn or Kentucky
Kentucky already has SC, TN & Vanderbilt, so they are out imo.
LSU already has Arkansas, Ole Miss and Florida/Alabama/A&M
That leaves Auburn as the 3rd opponent, but I didn't like leaving those 117 games for LSU vs Miss State.
Question 4 - Who should be Oklahoma's 3rd opponent?
1 - Mizzou
2 - Texas
3 - Texas A&M or some forced game with no history?
A&M is their #3 most played opponent with 31 games. They are geographically close, and so that was the decision.
Everything else fell into place for the most part.
Thoughts? If you have a change, you have to consider how that change effects the rest of the puzzle. Switching A&M and Texas as Missouri's opponent doesn't have that big of effect.. that one really boils down to who Arkansas wants to play.
TLDR: Oklahoma, Missouri & South Carolina were the hardest to figure out. See the next post for each teams games against SEC opponents.
21
Posted on 8/28/25 at 11:51 am to BigBro
# of Games played against options for permanent opponents
MISSOURI
• 97 vs Oklahoma * Thanksgiving
• 17 vs Texas A&M *
• 16 vs Arkansas *
-----
• 24 vs Texas
• 17 vs Vanderbilt
• 15 vs South Carolina
• 13 vs Kentucky
SOUTH CAROLINA
• 36 vs Kentucky * Thanksgiving OOC
• 76 vs Georgia *
• 44 vs Florida *
-----
• 42 vs Tennessee
• 34 vs Vanderbilt
• 24 vs Arkansas
• 23 vs LSU
• 18 vs Ole Miss
• 17 vs Miss State
• 17 vs Alabama
• 15 vs Mizzou
• 11 vs Texas A&M
OKLAHOMA
• 97 vs Missouri * Thanksgiving
• 120 vs Texas *
• 31 vs Texas A&M *
-----
• 15 vs Arkansas
• 7 vs Alabama
• 5 vs Tennessee
ALABAMA
• 89 vs Auburn * Thanksgiving
• 106 vs Tennessee *
• 107 vs Mississippi State *
-----
• 89 vs LSU
• 84 vs Vanderbilt
• 74 vs Georgia
ARKANSAS
• 70 vs LSU * Thanksgiving
• 80 vs Texas *
• 16 vs Mizzou *
-----
• 81 vs A&M
• 70 vs LSU
• 69 vs Ole Miss
• 35 vs Miss State
• 34 vs Auburn
• 24 vs SC
• 20 vs Tennessee
AUBURN
• 89 vs Alabama * Thanksgiving
• 129 vs Georgia *
• 97 vs Mississippi State *
-----
• 84 vs Florida
• 58 vs LSU
• 54 vs Tennessee
• 48 vs Ole Miss
• 45 vs Vanderbilt
FLORIDA
• 102 vs Georgia * Thanksgiving OOC
• 71 vs LSU *
• 44 vs South Carolina *
-----
• 84 vs Auburn
• 75 vs Kentucky
• 57 vs Vanderbilt
• 56 vs Miss State
• 54 vs Tennessee
GEORGIA
• 102 vs Florida * Thanksgiving OOC
• 129 vs Auburn *
• 76 vs South Carolina *
-----
• 83 vs Vanderbilt
• 78 vs Kentucky
• 74 vs Alabama
• 54 vs Tennessee
KENTUCKY
• 36 vs So Carolina * Thanksgiving OOC
• 120 vs Tennessee *
• 97 vs Vanderbilt *
-----
• 78 vs Georgia
• 75 vs Florida
• 58 vs LSU
• 51 vs Miss State
• 46 vs Ole Miss
• 35 vs Auburn
• 14 vs Missouri
LSU
• 70 vs Arkansas * Thanksgiving
• 113 vs Ole Miss *
• 71 vs Florida *
-----
• 117 vs Mississippi State
• 89 vs Alabama
• 63 vs Texas A&M
• 58 vs Auburn
MISSISSIPPI STATE
• 119 vs Ole Miss * Thanksgiving
• 107 vs Alabama *
• 97 vs Auburn *
-----
• 117 vs LSU
• 51 vs Kentucky
• 35 vs Arkansas
• 24 vs Vanderbilt
• 18 vs Texas A&M
OLE MISS
• 119 vs Mississippi State * Thanksgiving
• 112 vs LSU *
• 96 vs Vanderbilt *
-----
• 70 vs Alabama
• 69 vs Arkansas
• 66 vs Tennessee
TENNESSEE
• 118 vs Vanderbilt * Thanksgiving
• 107 vs Alabama *
• 120 vs Kentucky *
-----
• 66 vs Ole Miss
• 54 vs Georgia
• 54 vs Auburn
• 54 vs Florida
TEXAS
• 119 TX vs Texas A&M * Thanksgiving
• 120 TX vs Oklahoma *
• 80 TX vs Arkansas *
-----
• 24 TX vs Mizzou
TEXAS A&M
• 119 A&M vs Texas * Thanksgiving
• 31 A&M vs Oklahoma *
• 17 A&M vs Missouri *
-----
• 81 A&M vs Arkansas
• 63 A&M vs LSU
• 18 A&M vs Miss State
• 16 A&M vs Alabama
• 15 A&M vs Ole Miss
• 15 A&M vs Auburn
• 11 A&M vs So Carolina
VANDERBILT
• 118 vs Tennessee * Thanksgiving
• 98 vs Ole Miss *
• 97 vs Kentucky *
-----
• 86 vs Alabama
• 83 vs Georgia
• 57 vs Florida
• 45 vs Auburn
• 34 vs South Carolina
MISSOURI
• 97 vs Oklahoma * Thanksgiving
• 17 vs Texas A&M *
• 16 vs Arkansas *
-----
• 24 vs Texas
• 17 vs Vanderbilt
• 15 vs South Carolina
• 13 vs Kentucky
SOUTH CAROLINA
• 36 vs Kentucky * Thanksgiving OOC
• 76 vs Georgia *
• 44 vs Florida *
-----
• 42 vs Tennessee
• 34 vs Vanderbilt
• 24 vs Arkansas
• 23 vs LSU
• 18 vs Ole Miss
• 17 vs Miss State
• 17 vs Alabama
• 15 vs Mizzou
• 11 vs Texas A&M
OKLAHOMA
• 97 vs Missouri * Thanksgiving
• 120 vs Texas *
• 31 vs Texas A&M *
-----
• 15 vs Arkansas
• 7 vs Alabama
• 5 vs Tennessee
ALABAMA
• 89 vs Auburn * Thanksgiving
• 106 vs Tennessee *
• 107 vs Mississippi State *
-----
• 89 vs LSU
• 84 vs Vanderbilt
• 74 vs Georgia
ARKANSAS
• 70 vs LSU * Thanksgiving
• 80 vs Texas *
• 16 vs Mizzou *
-----
• 81 vs A&M
• 70 vs LSU
• 69 vs Ole Miss
• 35 vs Miss State
• 34 vs Auburn
• 24 vs SC
• 20 vs Tennessee
AUBURN
• 89 vs Alabama * Thanksgiving
• 129 vs Georgia *
• 97 vs Mississippi State *
-----
• 84 vs Florida
• 58 vs LSU
• 54 vs Tennessee
• 48 vs Ole Miss
• 45 vs Vanderbilt
FLORIDA
• 102 vs Georgia * Thanksgiving OOC
• 71 vs LSU *
• 44 vs South Carolina *
-----
• 84 vs Auburn
• 75 vs Kentucky
• 57 vs Vanderbilt
• 56 vs Miss State
• 54 vs Tennessee
GEORGIA
• 102 vs Florida * Thanksgiving OOC
• 129 vs Auburn *
• 76 vs South Carolina *
-----
• 83 vs Vanderbilt
• 78 vs Kentucky
• 74 vs Alabama
• 54 vs Tennessee
KENTUCKY
• 36 vs So Carolina * Thanksgiving OOC
• 120 vs Tennessee *
• 97 vs Vanderbilt *
-----
• 78 vs Georgia
• 75 vs Florida
• 58 vs LSU
• 51 vs Miss State
• 46 vs Ole Miss
• 35 vs Auburn
• 14 vs Missouri
LSU
• 70 vs Arkansas * Thanksgiving
• 113 vs Ole Miss *
• 71 vs Florida *
-----
• 117 vs Mississippi State
• 89 vs Alabama
• 63 vs Texas A&M
• 58 vs Auburn
MISSISSIPPI STATE
• 119 vs Ole Miss * Thanksgiving
• 107 vs Alabama *
• 97 vs Auburn *
-----
• 117 vs LSU
• 51 vs Kentucky
• 35 vs Arkansas
• 24 vs Vanderbilt
• 18 vs Texas A&M
OLE MISS
• 119 vs Mississippi State * Thanksgiving
• 112 vs LSU *
• 96 vs Vanderbilt *
-----
• 70 vs Alabama
• 69 vs Arkansas
• 66 vs Tennessee
TENNESSEE
• 118 vs Vanderbilt * Thanksgiving
• 107 vs Alabama *
• 120 vs Kentucky *
-----
• 66 vs Ole Miss
• 54 vs Georgia
• 54 vs Auburn
• 54 vs Florida
TEXAS
• 119 TX vs Texas A&M * Thanksgiving
• 120 TX vs Oklahoma *
• 80 TX vs Arkansas *
-----
• 24 TX vs Mizzou
TEXAS A&M
• 119 A&M vs Texas * Thanksgiving
• 31 A&M vs Oklahoma *
• 17 A&M vs Missouri *
-----
• 81 A&M vs Arkansas
• 63 A&M vs LSU
• 18 A&M vs Miss State
• 16 A&M vs Alabama
• 15 A&M vs Ole Miss
• 15 A&M vs Auburn
• 11 A&M vs So Carolina
VANDERBILT
• 118 vs Tennessee * Thanksgiving
• 98 vs Ole Miss *
• 97 vs Kentucky *
-----
• 86 vs Alabama
• 83 vs Georgia
• 57 vs Florida
• 45 vs Auburn
• 34 vs South Carolina
This post was edited on 8/28/25 at 3:47 pm
Posted on 8/28/25 at 12:35 pm to BigBro
Normally I would say TLDR but I read it and upvoted. Solid post.
Hopefully they apply logic (as you did) when making these decisions.
Hopefully they apply logic (as you did) when making these decisions.
Posted on 8/28/25 at 12:45 pm to BigBro
I would rather have LSU as a perm. LSU games are always fun games no matter the score and the atmospheres are always electric.
Posted on 8/28/25 at 12:54 pm to BigBro
There's no way that they are going to give us MSU and Vanderbilt. They will use Vanderbilt to balance out another team's schedule.
Posted on 8/28/25 at 1:56 pm to Landmass
quote:
There's no way that they are going to give us MSU and Vanderbilt. They will use Vanderbilt to balance out another team's schedule.
Maybe.. but who would they give you instead? Arkansas? There really isn't that big of a difference on your schedule.
It could change someone else's schedule I suppose, so you may be right..
Posted on 8/28/25 at 2:00 pm to Vulcan Materials
quote:
I would rather have LSU as a perm. LSU games are always fun games no matter the score and the atmospheres are always electric.
In my example, you got LSU, Texas & Missouri.. You guys happy about that? I assume you would rather have Ole Miss than Missouri, but as I said, someone has to play Mizzou..
It wouldn't be hard to swap out Texas for Texas A&M if y'all would prefer that game as well.
Posted on 8/28/25 at 2:13 pm to BigBro
Nice work.
You may be right on LSU's 3 permanents. Highly likely LSU and Bama won't happen because of Bama's other 2 being traditional Big Six opponents, so Arkansas is a likely choice for LSU.
I do think Ole Miss and Florida will be in LSU's permanents. We know UF and UGA are paired, so the question is do they stick Tennessee with Florida? That "rivalry" only happened because of the 1992 expansion. And Florida has dominated it.
I see UF getting someone like USC as a 3rd. Long-time Florida fans would want Auburn in the mix, but Auburn will already have UGA and Bama.
There will be some rationale involved to not overload any school with 3 big boys.
You may be right on LSU's 3 permanents. Highly likely LSU and Bama won't happen because of Bama's other 2 being traditional Big Six opponents, so Arkansas is a likely choice for LSU.
I do think Ole Miss and Florida will be in LSU's permanents. We know UF and UGA are paired, so the question is do they stick Tennessee with Florida? That "rivalry" only happened because of the 1992 expansion. And Florida has dominated it.
I see UF getting someone like USC as a 3rd. Long-time Florida fans would want Auburn in the mix, but Auburn will already have UGA and Bama.
There will be some rationale involved to not overload any school with 3 big boys.
This post was edited on 8/28/25 at 2:24 pm
Posted on 8/28/25 at 2:22 pm to BigBro
It is a reasonable list and is very close to what will happen.
Auburn, followed by Arkansas, has the toughest opponents.
Auburn, followed by Arkansas, has the toughest opponents.
Posted on 8/28/25 at 2:28 pm to BigBro
Thank you for this. I've seen too many predicitions just give us Ole Miss and shove us with two teams that make no sense. If we do not have at least 2 if not all 3 that are not geographically and thought with series history I'd be pissed.
Don't give us Oklahoma and Kentucky or something stupid like that.
I want two of Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, or Vandy. Arkansas doesn't have as much history but it's been a good series since expansion and its geographically sound. Vandy is Geographically sound but not as much history. Tennessee could fit here but they are farther east and I also think they have more teams, plus I'd prefer any of the teams above to them.
Don't give us Oklahoma and Kentucky or something stupid like that.
I want two of Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, or Vandy. Arkansas doesn't have as much history but it's been a good series since expansion and its geographically sound. Vandy is Geographically sound but not as much history. Tennessee could fit here but they are farther east and I also think they have more teams, plus I'd prefer any of the teams above to them.
Posted on 8/28/25 at 2:33 pm to BigBro
for STATE? Yea NO! they will not give STATE 2 permanents within the same state. Maybe Bama and Kentucky considering of the meaning from the past of the games. The fact you gave Ole Miss one of the easiest along with Texas is comical.
Posted on 8/28/25 at 2:49 pm to Patbull217
This is hilarious.. back to back Miss State posts..
One says "thank you for this.."
The other says
There is literally no way to make everyone happy.
Some people want to maintain rivalries..
Some people want easier games..
It is what it is..
What is easy about this schedule?
In your opinion, who should Ole Miss have as their 3 perm opponents?
One says "thank you for this.."
The other says
quote:
for STATE? Yea NO! they will not give STATE 2 permanents within the same state. Maybe Bama and Kentucky considering of the meaning from the past of the games.
There is literally no way to make everyone happy. Some people want to maintain rivalries..
Some people want easier games..
It is what it is..
quote:
The fact you gave Ole Miss one of the easiest along with Texas is comical.
What is easy about this schedule?
In your opinion, who should Ole Miss have as their 3 perm opponents?
This post was edited on 8/28/25 at 2:52 pm
Posted on 8/28/25 at 2:50 pm to Patbull217
quote:
The fact you gave Ole Miss one of the easiest
Simply used most games played to establish a tradition/rivalry. You know about tradition right, the reason you get to use artificial noise makers at your games.
Posted on 8/28/25 at 3:06 pm to BigBro
This is a well thought out scenario and probably better than the SEC commissioner's office will come up with.
I like the emphasis on games played against and geography, as well as history.
Solid groupings.
I like the emphasis on games played against and geography, as well as history.
Solid groupings.
Posted on 8/28/25 at 3:07 pm to BigBro
Posts like this are why I’m here. Very good insight
Posted on 8/28/25 at 3:11 pm to BigBro
Tennessee is a big winner here.
Posted on 8/28/25 at 3:12 pm to BigBro
Great post per usual.
Posted on 8/28/25 at 3:20 pm to BigBro
I know how hard it is to put this together, so, don't take this as being overly critical, but it looks like your guiding light was tradition...
...for everyone but A&M.
Kind of stands out a bit. Maybe that's the way it will play out, but I'll be surprised if one of A&M's opponents is not a pre-2012 member of the SEC. This would be too much like being back in the Big XII for an exercise that is supposed to increase conference integration, not drive it backwards.
...for everyone but A&M.
Kind of stands out a bit. Maybe that's the way it will play out, but I'll be surprised if one of A&M's opponents is not a pre-2012 member of the SEC. This would be too much like being back in the Big XII for an exercise that is supposed to increase conference integration, not drive it backwards.
Posted on 8/28/25 at 3:24 pm to twk
quote:
looks like your guiding light was tradition...
...for everyone but A&M.
Kind of stands out a bit. Maybe that's the way it will play out, but I'll be surprised if one of A&M's opponents is not a pre-2012 member of the SEC. This would be too much like being back in the Big XII for an exercise that is supposed to increase conference integration, not drive it backwards.
So you're complaining that he ignored Tradition when it comes to A&M. And then complain that A&M is paired with too many traditional rivals from the Big 12?
Posted on 8/28/25 at 3:27 pm to BigBro
Florida would be getting the short end with that.
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