SEC football: Grading Auburn, rest of league’s non-conference scheduling
By Rob Maxwell
Vanderbilt
It’s already a difficult road for Vanderbilt maneuvering through the rugged SEC. But the school goes out and schedules Notre Dame, Stanford (four times) and some other solid games against N.C. State, Colorado State and Kansas State. It won’t be easy for Derek Mason and the Commodores, but they’re not backing down from anyone.
Future non-conference opponents
2018: Middle Tennessee, Nevada, at Notre Dame, Tennessee State
2019: at Purdue, Northern Illinois, UNLV, East Tennessee State
2020: Mercer, at Kansas State, Colorado State
2021: East Tennessee State, at Colorado State, Stanford, Houston
2022: at Hawaii, Wake Forest, at Northern Illinois
2023: Hawaii, at Wake Forest, at UNLV
2024: at Stanford, at Georgia State
2025: Stanford, Georgia State, Colorado State
2026: N.C. State, at Colorado State
2027: at Stanford
2028: at N.C. State
2029: Purdue
FlyWarEagle analysis: So we know two things about Vanderbilt: First, you’re going to get a fantastic education if you go there and if you play football there, you’re going to see the United States. Trips to Hawaii, Stanford, Colorado State, UNLV … how about that Commodore scheduling? There’s little to not like here. Not to mention that the 2021 schedule has Colorado State, Stanford and Houston — what other SEC football teams have the level of those three non-conference games on their schedules? (Hint: no one). Grade: A