ESPN's Chris Low published the list of SEC non-conference opponents last week. It's a little misleading because you glance based on the lengths of the lists. That said, here are some thoughts over the opponents:
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Florida has done nothing with their nonconference games. Since 1992, Georgia and Florida have used the complexity of the Florida-Georgia game to avoid huge nonconference opponents. When the 12 game schedule was implemented as experimental and later permanent, Georgia embraced it with games against Clemson, Colorado, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Louisville, and Oregon. Florida is getting one series with Miami and the games split between 2008 and 2013. That's weak.
South Carolina has a strong start on the 12 game schedule utilization as they have already booked North Carolina and NC State. However, their announced nonconference games after 2010 besides Clemson look pretty weak.
Kentucky has a nonconference schedule that's embarrassing. Aside from playing an imploding Louisville team, they play absolutely no one of note. Their long standing series with Indiana isn't even on the book. Hey, what's wrong with booking Cincinnati when your campuses aren't even that far apart?
Ole Miss has booked a good nonconference schedule. After a series with Missouri and Wake Forest, they have games against Clemson, Texas, and others put down. Rumors are saying that Ole Miss wants to cancel their series with Tech. South of Oxford, you have Mississippi State who appears to be applying for conditional Conference USA membership along with their weak schedule.
Tennessee, as always, has a ton of sizzle in their nonconference schedule. They don't have a huge yearly nonconference rivalry like Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, so they have more flexibility with their schedule. They use that leverage to book Ohio State, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and similar opponents on a regular basis.
