SEC football: Grading Auburn, rest of league’s non-conference scheduling
By Rob Maxwell
Alabama
Say this for Alabama, when it schedules a game against a formidable non-conference opponent early in the season, it usually handles its business.
Since 2008, Alabama has beaten the following teams in its season opener: Florida State, USC, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Virginia Tech twice, Michigan, and Penn State in back-to-back seasons in the second game of the season.
Like it or not, that’s strong.
Future non-conference opponents
2018: Louisville (Orlando, Fla.), Arkansas State, Louisiana Lafayette, The Citadel
2019: Duke (Atlanta), New Mexico State, Southern Miss, Western Carolina
2020: USC (Arlington, Texas), Georgia State, Kent State
2021: Miami (Fla.) (Atlanta), Southern Miss, Mercer
2022: Utah State, at Texas
2023: Central Michigan, Texas, Western Kentucky
2028: at Notre Dame
2029: Notre Dame
FlyWarEagle analysis: That’s six high-level, made-for-TV games with USC, Miami, Texas (twice) and Notre Dame (twice). Louisville would fall into that category if Lamar Jackson wasn’t in the NFL. Minus some teams Alabama should never play (Citadel, Mercer, Western Carolina), it’s a strong slate. Grade: A