Despite reports coming on the ACC, Pac-12 and Big Ten all expecting to cancel non-conference teams for fall sports this year, nothing has been said on the SEC or Big 12.
According to Baylor’s athletic director Mack Rhoades, he sees the Big 12 remaining with its schedule as is (12 games) with the conference-only look as an option. While it would be interesting to see the SEC and Big 12 hold out and have schools within both conferences play each other, let’s say both transitioned to a conference-only model.
#Baylor AD Mack Rhoades on @bigten’s decision on conference football games only. @Big12Conference pic.twitter.com/7Bj1lufsJT
— David Smoak (@DavidSmoak) July 9, 2020
Now, what would this mean for the University of Alabama football program?
For starters, one could knock off Southern California, Georgia State, Tennesse-Martin and Kent State from its 2020 list of suitors.
At this point, the Crimson Tide has eight games – including Tennessee and Georgia from the SEC East.
Instead of having a neutral site game versus a marquee opponent to test it after fall camp, the Tide would open its season at Bryant-Denny Stadium against Georgia on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Whether the quarterback is Mac Jones or Bryce Young, the opposition is a vaunted Bulldog defense with Kirby Smart and his deck of talent.
The question is who would serve as the other teams Alabama could pull to have a nine or 12-game conference schedule?
RELATED: Multiple power five conferences expected to play conference-only football schedules this fall
This opens a potential matchup with Florida.
Regardless of Urban Meyer and Steve Spurrier no longer running the program, the Gators are still a power in college football and would draw much attention. South Carolina could be an interesting choice, seeing how its quarterback Ryan Hilinski did well against the Tide last year and he returns as a sophomore.
His first three years (2013-15) at Kentucky were rough, but Mark Stoops has compiled a record of 32-20 with the Wildcats since 2016. He’s guided the institution to four consecutive bowl games, and posted a 10-win season with the Cats in 2018.
Missouri and Vanderbilt both rank at the bottom of the totem pole for the conference, but the two would still serve as better options than Georgia State, UT-Martin and Kent State for the Tide.
For quite some time, Alabama fans have argued about wanting a more challenging schedule.
The thought process has been about desiring competitive games to put the Tide in the right position for success come postseason.
Going to a conference-only schedule enhances that competition.
Alabama football and its fans would be kept on their toes each week, as every matchup supplied huge action. For now, the SEC is not planning to have conference-only games and it’s expecting to wait until late July or early August to make a decision on the football season.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
