The SEC had really unbalanced schedules until 1978. You are correct in Alabama 7-1 and Auburn 6-1 with Auburn winning the 17-16. game. But that wasn't uncommon. Tennessee won the SEC in 1969 with a 5-1 mark while LSU was 4-1. Both teams lost to Ole Miss. Tennessee was blown out 38-0 and LSU lost 26-23. After Tulane's departure in '65 there had been an attempt to make sure teams had 6 "conference games" so there were some 'designated' conference games. For instance, Vanderbilt's and LSU's games vs Tulane were counted as an "SEC" game and State's vs Texas Tech was as well in 1968. That practice ended in '69.

Now, I really don't know the "why" anymore than the odd scheduling with member schools. LSU and Auburn met in 1969 for the first time since the 40's. Miss State and Georgia Tech never played as SEC opponents. Oddly enough, starting in 1972 teams did start a "rotation" of sorts where they had 5 fixed or permanent opponents and at least one opponent to play home and home for two years and then continue the process until that was completed.

For instance, Auburn played LSU in 1972 and 1973,Kentucky in 1974 and 1975, Ole Miss in 1976 and 1977 and Vanderbilt in 1979 and 1979 and the process started again with LSU in 1980.(Auburn and Ole Miss did play in '72 and '73 in addition to this format --for the first time since 1953).

Alabama and Ole Miss met each other in 1980 and 1981 but those games were not counted as SEC games.

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Posted by Tuscaloosa

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Member since Dec 2011

46820 posts

Posted on 1/3/13 at 1:33 pm to I-59 Tiger

quote:
The SEC had really unbalanced schedules until 1978. You are correct in Alabama 7-1 and Auburn 6-1 with Auburn winning the 17-16. game. But that wasn't uncommon. Tennessee won the SEC in 1969 with a 5-1 mark while LSU was 4-1. Both teams lost to Ole Miss. Tennessee was blown out 38-0 and LSU lost 26-23. After Tulane's departure in '65 there had been an attempt to make sure teams had 6 "conference games" so there were some 'designated' conference games. For instance, Vanderbilt's and LSU's games vs Tulane were counted as an "SEC" game and State's vs Texas Tech was as well in 1968. That practice ended in '69.

Now, I really don't know the "why" anymore than the odd scheduling with member schools. LSU and Auburn met in 1969 for the first time since the 40's. Miss State and Georgia Tech never played as SEC opponents. Oddly enough, starting in 1972 teams did start a "rotation" of sorts where they had 5 fixed or permanent opponents and at least one opponent to play home and home for two years and then continue the process until that was completed.

For instance, Auburn played LSU in 1972 and 1973,Kentucky in 1974 and 1975, Ole Miss in 1976 and 1977 and Vanderbilt in 1979 and 1979 and the process started again with LSU in 1980.(Auburn and Ole Miss did play in '72 and '73 in addition to this format --for the first time since 1953).

Alabama and Ole Miss met each other in 1980 and 1981 but those games were not counted as SEC games.

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