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To no surprise, the SEC leads the nation with eight ranked teams in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll. And with Mississippi State and Texas A&M the top two teams in the “others receiving votes category,” that means the voters think that 10 SEC clubs are among the Top 27 schools in the country.
The SEC also leads the nation with three teams in the Top 10 — Alabama, Auburn and Georgia. The Tide and Tigers are both in the top 6 for the second straight season.
Here’s a breakdown of all the preseason AP ranked teams that SEC schools will face. Of course things could change by the time the games take place and you will have bowl games against potential ranked foes as well. By the way, for a point of comparison, top-ranked Ohio State plays just one game vs. a team currently ranked (No. 5 Michigan State).
ALABAMA (7 games vs. ranked foes)
- Saturday vs. No. 20 Wisconsin in Arlington
- Sept 19 vs. No. 17 Ole Miss
- Oct. 3 at No. 9 Georgia
- Oct. 10 vs. No. 18 Arkansas
- Oct. 24 vs. No. 25 Tennessee
- Nov. 7 vs. No. 14 LSU
- Nov. 28 at No. 6 Auburn
ARKANSAS (6)
- Oct. 3 at No. 25 Tennessee
- Oct. 10 at No. 3 Alabama
- Oct. 24 vs. No. 6 Auburn
- Nov. 7 at No. 17 Ole Miss
- Nov. 14 at No. 14 LSU
- Nov. 27 vs. No. 24 Missouri
AUBURN (5)
- Sept. 19 at No. 14 LSU
- Oct. 24 at No. 18 Arkansas
- Oct. 31 vs. No. 17 Ole Miss
- Nov. 14 vs. No. 9 Georgia
- Nov. 28 vs. No. 3 Alabama
FLORIDA (6)
- Sept. 26 vs. No. 25 Tennessee
- Oct. 3 vs. No. 17 Ole Miss
- Oct. 10 at No. 24 Missouri
- Oct. 17 at No. 14 LSU
- Oct. 31 vs. No. 9 Georgia in Jacksonville
- Nov. 28 vs. No. 10 Florida State
GEORGIA (5)
- Oct. 3 vs. No. 3 Alabama
- Oct. 10 at No. 25 Tennessee
- Oct. 17 vs. No. 24 Missouri
- Nov. 14 at No. 6 Auburn
- Nov. 28 at No. 16 Georgia Tech
KENTUCKY (4)
- Sept. 26 vs. No. 24 Missouri
- Oct. 15 vs. No. 6 Auburn
- Oct. 31 vs. No. 25 Tennessee
- Nov. 7 at No. 9 Georgia
LSU (4)
- Sept. 19 vs. No. 6 Auburn
- Nov. 7 at No. 3 Alabama
- Nov. 14 vs. No. 18 Arkansas
- Nov. 21 at No. 17 Ole Miss
OLE MISS (4)
- Sept. 19 at No. 3 Alabama
- Oct. 31 at No. 6 Auburn
- Nov. 7 vs. No. 18 Arkansas
- Nov. 21 vs. No. 14 LSU
MISSISSIPPI STATE (6)
- Sept. 12 vs. No. 14 LSU
- Sept. 26 at No. 6 Auburn
- Nov. 5 at No. 24 Missouri
- Nov. 14 vs. No. 3 Alabama
- Nov. 21 at No. 18 Arkansas
- Nov. 28 vs. No. 17 Ole Miss
MISSOURI (3)
- Oct. 17 at No. 9 Georgia
- Nov. 21 vs. No. 25 Tennessee
- Nov. 27 at No. 18 Arkansas
SOUTH CAROLINA (5)
- Sept. 19 at No. 9 Georgia
- Oct. 3 at No. 24 Missouri
- Oct. 10 vs. No. 14 LSU
- Nov. 7 at No. 25 Tennessee
- Nov. 28 vs. No. 12 Clemson
TENNESSEE (5)
- Sept. 12 vs. No. 19 Oklahoma
- Oct. 3 vs. No. 18 Arkansas
- Oct. 10 vs. No. 9 Georgia
- Oct. 24 at No. 3 Alabama
- Nov. 21 at No. 24 Missouri
TEXAS A&M (6)
- Sept. 5 vs. No. 15 Arizona State in Houston
- Sept. 26 vs. No. 18 Arkansas in Arlington
- Oct. 17 vs. No. 3 Alabama
- Oct. 24 at No. 17 Ole Miss
- Nov. 7 vs. No. 6 Auburn
- Nov. 28 at No. 14 LSU
VANDERBILT (4)
- Sept. 12 vs. No. 9 Georgia
- Sept. 26 at No. 17 Ole Miss
- Oct. 24 vs. No. 24 Missouri
- Nov. 28 at No. 25 Tennessee
So Alabama draws the short straw with the most games vs. ranked foes. In the last 10 years, the Tide are 33-19 (.635) vs. ranked teams. Missouri has the most beneficial schedule when it comes to Top 25 teams. The Tigers are 15-25 (.375) since 2005 against ranked clubs.
Matt Severance is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina.
