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Winners, losers of the SEC's 2024 schedule release

Georgia HC Kirby Smart Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

Winners and losers of the SEC's 2024 schedule release

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 6/14/23

The SEC took a page out of the NFL's playbook by turning its 2024 schedule announcement into a primetime event.

The conference had a good reason for the pomp and circumstance considering how many people were interested in what the schedule would look like in the first year with Oklahoma and Texas as members.

For the most part, the SEC knocked it out of the park, producing an intriguing schedule full of established rivalries, as well as some fresh matchups.

Who's got the toughest slate in 2024? pic.twitter.com/3iiUpB8Cne
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) June 14, 2023

In the immediate aftermath of the release, here's a way-too-early look at the winners and losers of the 2024 SEC schedule.

Winner: LSU

The Tigers avoid Georgia and get Vanderbilt at home, a major win by itself. LSU also draws Alabama, Ole Miss and Oklahoma at home, while the program's road slate looks more manageable with games at Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina and Texas A&M, teams which went a combined 26-25 in 2022. The Tigers' out-of-conference schedule includes contests against USC and UCLA, so for anyone thinking they're getting off easy, think again.

Loser: Georgia

While the team's schedule is laughably weak this coming season, Georgia will have a much tougher road in 2024. The Bulldogs are set to face rival Tennessee at home, Florida at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville and most troubling, travel to Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas. Those three teams combined for a 27-12 record in 2022.

Winner: Texas A&M

The Aggies are one of two teams (the Razorbacks being the other) to avoid Alabama and Georgia in 2024. Texas A&M hosts Arkansas, LSU and Texas, while its road games don't appear too daunting. The Aggies will travel to face teams that were a combined 28-23 last season in Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State and South Carolina.

Loser: Alabama

Alabama-Georgia will be one of the games of the year in 2024 and the Crimson Tide also have a potentially brutal road schedule with games at LSU, Oklahoma and Tennessee. The Iron Bowl with Auburn is still on the schedule, too, giving Alabama even less of a friendly schedule as the SEC kick-starts its new era.

Winner: Fans

With the biggest rivalries in the conference preserved (with the exception of Auburn-LSU) and Texas-Texas A&M renewed, the fans are the biggest winners of the SEC 's 2024 schedule. The Longhorns and Aggies haven't played since 2011, when both schools were members of the Big 12. Other rivalries on the schedule in 2024 include (deep breath) Alabama-Auburn, Alabama-LSU, Arkansas-LSU, Auburn-Georgia, Florida-Georgia, Florida-LSU, Georgia-Tennessee, LSU-Ole Miss, LSU-Texas A&M and Ole Miss-Mississippi State.

Those are all marquee games that should get fans excited about the near future of SEC football.

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