Football season is just over a month away and fans across the country are looking forward to the upcoming SEC season. Here is the game each SEC East team’s fans should have circled on their calendar. 

Florida

Nov. 25 @ Florida State

After five straight losses to the Seminoles, Florida was able to right the ship with three straight wins over Florida State. Now, the Seminoles have a chance to strike back following the firing of Dan Mullen in Billy Napier’s first season. However, Mike Norvell’s start at Florida State hasn’t been inspiring, either. Due to this, the in-state rivalry may not have the flare it once did, but the importance still remains. Both teams desperately want to come out on top and a win could help both coaches gain the goodwill of fans. Napier’s opening year at the head of the program could go a number of ways, but a win in the Sunshine Showdown could cement the campaign as a success. 

Georgia

Nov. 19 @ Kentucky

The defending champions are set to make another run at the title this season even with a load of production leaving for the NFL. The Bulldogs’ will likely be favored in each of their regular season games by a double-digit margin. It is tough to pick a spot where they may trip up, but a road trip to Lexington to take on Kentucky in their final SEC matchup could cause trouble. Mark Stoops has put together effective defenses in his tenure and may be able to take advantage of Bulldog quarterback Stetson Bennett’s lack of talent that most championship quarterbacks possess. With the Wildcats hosting the contest, Georgia will have to play an all-around solid game in order to avoid an upset in Lexington.

Kentucky

Oct. 29 @ Tennessee

Kentucky has produced historic seasons under Mark Stoops but the Wildcats’ annual game against Tennessee has still evaded the program. Before Stoops’ arrival in Lexington, the Vols led the all-time series 75-24-9 including a 26-game win streak from 1985-2010. However, in the nine years with Stoops as head coach, Tennessee has still owned the series with a 7-2 advantage. Considering those nine years have featured abysmal Tennessee teams and quality Kentucky teams, this lopsided record is inexcusable. The Wildcats will have a chance to avenge their loss from last season through a rematch with the Vols in late October, though.

Missouri

Sept. 10 @ Kansas State

Under Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri has been a middle-of-the-road team boasting an 11-12 record. With the SEC looking as tough as ever next season, the Tigers may struggle to find wins inside the conference. In order to qualify for a bowl game, they’ll need to take care of business against a competent Kansas State team on the road in Week two. Last season, the Wildcats ended with an 8-5 record and played competitive games in the matches they lost. Star running back Deuce Vaughn is back for Kansas State which does not bode well for a Missouri team that gave up well over 200 yards per game on the ground last season. If the Tigers can survive the trip and come out with a win, then it may be an indication that Missouri is a good enough team to win a few conference games and earn a bowl bid. If not, it could be the start of a long season in Columbia. 

South Carolina

Nov. 26 @ Clemson

Over the past decade, Dabo Swinney has built Clemson into a college football powerhouse. However, it appeared the Tigers may have taken a slight step back in 2021. Despite this, South Carolina got routed in a 30-0 blowout at home to cap off an otherwise successful first season under Shane Beamer. This loss marks the seventh straight win for the Tigers in the annual in-state rivalry matchup. This year, it’s expected that Clemson regains its footing and returns to the top of the ACC. A game against a successful Tigers team in Death Valley is a recipe for another disaster but Beamer will have to make it competitive if he wants to prove he’s the right man for the job. Clemson lost both of its coordinators this offseason and quarterback DJ Uiagalelei was underwhelming as the captain of the offense in his first year as the starter. The Gamecocks likely won’t win, but a good fight against the powerhouse of Clemson is a necessary cap on the season.

Tennessee

Sept. 24 vs. Florida

The Vols seem to have finally found their coach after years of searching following the firing of Phillip Fulmer in 2008. Josh Heupel put together an impressive first year in Knoxville and many project Tennessee to be an improved team this season with a shot at second in the SEC East. However, a team that still gave the Vols trouble last year was Florida. The Gators fell apart throughout the 2021 campaign but still managed to down Tennessee at home by 24 points. This win marked the 16th win for Florida in the last 17 years. Despite this, it appears the Vols will have the upper hand this season. The table has been flipped as the Gators have to travel to a likely sold-out Neyland Stadium for just their fourth game under new head coach Billy Napier after already battling with Utah and Kentucky. If the Vols can’t defeat Florida this year with all the cards in their favor, then when will they?

Vanderbilt

Aug. 27 @ Hawaii

Expectations are once again on the floor for Vanderbilt after an embarrassing 2-10 season in Clark Lea’s first year as head coach. The Commodores give no sign of being any better this year and their schedule won’t help them improve in the win column, either. Out-of-conference matches with Hawaii, Elon, Wake Forest and Northern Illinois leave them with one cupcake and two likely losses to pair with a daunting SEC slate. Due to this, Hawaii stands alone as the game Vanderbilt may be able to steal. The Rainbow Warriors lost their head coach amidst allegations of abuse which resulted in a chunk of the roster entering the transfer portal. This would normally line up for a Vanderbilt win, but considering the Commodores got run out of their own stadium by ETSU last season, nothing is certain. The trip to Hawaii may be one of the few opportunities Vanderbilt will have at a victory this year making it a must-win game. And who knows, maybe an opening win will put the Commodores on track to a relatively successful season.