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As of now, and for the immediate future, SEC teams will play eight conference games a season, which means the other four openings on their schedules are usually filled with “cupcake” games.
For the purposes of the this story, let’s define cupcake as an FCS team or a Group of 5 or Independent FBS school that won four of fewer games last season.
Here’s a look at each SEC team’s non-conference slate this season, including games against “cupcakes:”
Alabama: Middle Tennessee (Sept. 12), Louisiana-Monroe (Sept. 26), and Charleston Southern (Nov. 21). At least the Crimson Tide makes up for this fluff with its season-opening matchup against Wisconsin at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Sept. 5.
Arkansas: UTEP (Sept. 5), Toledo (Sept. 12), Texas Tech (Sept. 19) and UT Martin (Oct. 31). Obviously, the biggest threat in this group is Texas Tech, especially if coach Kliff Kingsbury can get his Red Raiders to rebound from last season’s 4-8 campaign.
Auburn: Jacksonville State (Sept. 12), San Jose State (Oct. 3) and Idaho (Nov. 21). The Tigers’ other non-conference game this year is their season opener, against Louisville at home. If either team has a chance to make the final four at the end of the season, it will be interesting to see how much the loser team of this game will suffer/benefit in the eyes of the College Football Playoff selection committee.
Florida: New Mexico State (Sept. 5), Eastern Carolina (Sept. 12), Florida Atlantic (Nov. 21) and Florida State (Nov. 28). The Gators avoid playing an FCS team this season, but FSU is probably the toughest non-conference opponent of any team in the country.
Georgia: Louisiana Monroe (Sept. 5), Southern (Sept. 26), Georgia Southern (Nov. 21) and Georgia Tech (Nov. 28). Remember when Louisiana Monroe went into Little Rock and stunned Arkansas in 2012? You can bet Georgia coach Mark Richt sure does.
Kentucky: Louisiana Lafayette (Sept. 5), Eastern Kentucky (Oct. 3), Charlotte (Nov. 21) and Louisville (Nov. 28). Kentucky is probably extra grateful for its cupcakes. With South Carolina, Florida, Missouri and Auburn among their first six opponents this year, the Wildcats will be hard-pressed to match last year’s 5-1 start.
LSU: McNeese State (Sept. 5), Syracuse (Sept. 26), Eastern Michigan (Oct. 3), Western Kentucky (Oct. 24). There was a stretch when Syracuse was most definitely not a cupcake, but Scott Shaffer’s squad nearly lost to FCS opponent Villanova last year. Plus, give the Colonels credit for having the onions to venture into Death Valley this season.
Mississippi State: Southern Miss (Sept. 5), Northwestern State (Sept. 19), Troy (Oct. 10) and Louisiana Tech (Oct. 17). It would have been nice to face a non-conference team outside of the South. Maybe next year, right?
Missouri: Southeast Missouri State (Sept. 5), Arkansas State (Sept. 12), UConn (Sept. 19) and BYU (Nov. 14). The Independent Cougars, who finished 8-5 last season, are certainly not cupcakes; the Huskies of the AAC definitely are. It’s hard to believe UConn is only five seasons removed from its appearance in the Orange Bowl.
Ole Miss: UT Martin (Sept. 5), Fresno State (Sept. 12), New Mexico State (Oct. 10) and Memphis (Oct. 17). Good job by UT Martin for scheduling Arkansas and the Rebels this year.
South Carolina: North Carolina (Sept. 3), UCF (Sept. 26), the Citadel (Nov. 21) and Clemson (Nov. 28). Impressive. The Citadel is the only cupcake in this group.
Tennessee: Bowling Green (Sept. 5), Oklahoma (Sept. 12), Western Carolina (Sept. 19) and North Texas (Nov. 14). With all due respect to the MAC, going from Bowling Green to Oklahoma is some kind of jump in talent.
Texas A&M: Arizona State (Sept. 5), Ball State (Sept. 12), Nevada (Sept. 19), and Western Carolina (Nov. 14). The Aggies will be tested right away in their season opener against the Sun Devils. But their two straight cupcake games after the ASU matchup might not help them against Arkansas on Sept. 26.
Vanderbilt: Western Kentucky (Sept. 3), Austin Peay (Sept. 19), Middle Tennessee (Oct. 3) and Houston (Oct. 31). Looking at this group, the Commodores are probably the only SEC team that can honestly say it doesn’t have a cupcake on its schedule.
If you’re an SEC fan who likes to watch your team feast on cupcakes, enjoy this format while you can. Next season, every conference team will have to face one non-SEC team from a Power 5 conference.
Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.
