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Each new season brings with it the potential for revenge, and the SEC is coming off plenty of games that had fans immediately thinking about the next meeting.
Here’s a look at five rematches we’re excited for heading into the 2016 season.
Ole Miss at Arkansas (Oct. 15)
A year ago, Arkansas topped Ole Miss 53-52 in one of the wildest finishes of 2015. In overtime, the Razorbacks needed quarterback Brandon Allen to keep the game alive on 4th-and-25. The senior signal-caller did just that, as he completed a pass to Hunter Henry, who then lateraled the ball to Alex Collins. Collins scooped up the ball on the bounce and raced for a 31-yard gain before fumbling, but his teammate, Dominque Reed, was there to recover it.
After Allen completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Drew Morgan, Arkansas’ first 2-point conversion try failed. However, an Ole Miss face mask penalty gave the Razorbacks another crack, and Allen ran into the end zone to lift Arkansas to victory.
Redemption will be on the mind of the Rebels when the two SEC West rivals meet on Oct. 15.
Tennessee at Georgia (Oct. 1)
The Volunteers and the Bulldogs will both be fighting to establish themselves as the king of the SEC East, so this meeting in Athens could have major implications about who will ultimately advance to the SEC Championship Game.
Even though Georgia running back Nick Chubb left the game with an injury on the first offensive play, the Bulldogs still jumped out to a 24-3 lead in the first half. But Tennessee never wavered as the team battled back to pull out a 38-31 victory at Rocky Top. Junior quarterback Joshua Dobbs led the comeback charge, setting a new career-high with 312 passing yards. On the ground, he ran for 118 yards and combined for 5 touchdowns in the win.
If Georgia is going to be a serious contender in the SEC East this season, the Bulldogs will certainly try to get the Volunteers back for the tough defeat they dished out in 2015.
Florida at Tennessee (Sept. 24)
Before the Volunteers head to Athens, they’ll try to beat another SEC East rival the week before. Florida trailed Tennessee by 13 points in the fourth quarter when the two teams met at The Swamp last year but, in the end, the Gators improved to 4-0 after pulling out a shocking 28-27 win.
Although the Volunteers’ lead disappeared, they still had one final chance to escape Gainesville with a last-second victory. It didn’t happen, though, as Aaron Medley missed a 55-yard field goal to give Florida its 11th consecutive win over Tennessee.
The Volunteers will look to snap that streak in this early-season battle at Rocky Top, but both teams will be trying to carve out some space atop the SEC East standings.
Alabama at LSU (Nov. 5)
For the last few seasons, the Crimson Tide and the Tigers have met in SEC West showdowns with lots at stake. And last year was no different. Even though LSU entered Tuscaloosa riding high after Leonard Fournette established himself as a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate, the 2015 contest will be remembered as the night Alabama’s defense shut down the star running back.
The Tide held Fournette to just 31 yards on 19 carries, while Alabama’s stud running back, Derrick Henry, stole the show by finishing with 210 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns.
Even though LSU has dropped its last five matchups with the Tide, the Tigers should be optimistic about this year’s meeting. For starters, this game will be played in Baton Rouge, and the last four times these two rivals have met in Death Valley, each contest been decided by one touchdown or less.
After losing 30-16 last year, LSU will be seeking revenge in this heavyweight clash.
Alabama at Ole Miss (Sept. 17)
Not many people would’ve predicted the Rebels to beat the Crimson Tide in 2014. And last year, even fewer expected to see it happen again. This year, is anybody expecting Ole Miss to make it three in a row?
After suffering a 43-37 loss in Tuscaloosa last season, Alabama certainly has Ole Miss circled on this year’s schedule. Even though the Crimson Tide went on to win the SEC and the national championship, it’ll try to dish out some serious payback in this early-season battle between SEC West rivals.
No team has won three in a row against a Nick Saban-led team since Purdue beat Michigan State three consecutive times in 1997-1999, so you can expect the coach to have his team ready for a rematch come September.
