Gamecocks, Gators face toughest slates
The South Carolina and Florida football teams will face the toughest paths to a perfect 2017 season. The Gamecocks and Gators lead our list of toughest SEC nonconference schedule, ranked from toughest to easiest.
Sept. 2 NC State (in Charlotte, N.C.); Sept. 23 Louisiana Tech; Nov. 18 Wofford; Nov. 25 Clemson
South Carolina opens the season in Charlotte, N.C., against NC State. A showdown with Louisiana Tech three weeks later provides the Gamecocks with a chance to improve to 10-1 all-time against teams from Conference USA. South Carolina will later look to snap a three-game losing streak to defending national champion Clemson in a critical Thanksgiving weekend meeting.
Sept. 2 Michigan (in Arlington, Texas); Sept. 9 Northern Colorado; Nov. 18 UAB; Nov. 25 FSU
Florida opens the season away from the Swamp for the first time since 1987, traveling to AT&T Stadium in Texas to take on Michigan. The Gators are 0-3 all-time against the Wolverines, including a 41-7 loss in the 2016 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. After winnable games against Northern Colorado and UAB, Jim McElwain’s team looks to snap a four-game losing streak to rival FSU.
Sept. 2 BYU (in Houston); Sept. 9 Chattanooga; Sept. 23 Syracuse; Sept. 30 Troy
LSU is one of four teams in the SEC to face two Power 5 nonconference opponents, with the Tigers opening with a neutral-site showdown against BYU. The Tigers later host Syracuse and an improved Troy team.
Sept. 2 at Middle Tennessee; Sept. 9 Alabama A&M; Sept. 16 Kansas State; Nov. 4 Western Kentucky
The Commodores will try to improve on an 0-2 record against Power 5 teams under coach Derek Mason when the team hosts Kansas State.
Sept. 2 Appalachian State; Sept. 9 at Notre Dame; Sept. 16 Samford; Nov. 25 at Georgia Tech COMMENTARY
The Bulldogs’ toughest nonconference challenges will come on the road against Notre Dame and Georgia Tech.
Sept. 2 Georgia Southern; Sept. 9 at Clemson; Sept. 16 Mercer; Nov. 18 Louisiana-Monroe
Auburn travels to Death Valley in the second week of the season for a tough matchup with defending national champion Clemson.
Sept. 2 Charleston Southern; Sept. 9 at Louisiana Tech; Oct. 14 BYU; Nov. 4 UMass
Mississippi State’s toughest nonconference matchup will Oct. 14 against stout BYU.
Sept. 2 at Southern Miss; Sept 9 Eastern Kentucky; Sept. 30 Eastern Michigan; Nov. 25 Louisville
The Wildcats open with a true road test at Southern Miss, a team Kentucky lost to last season. Kentucky will later aim to snap a five-game losing streak to rival Louisville.
Sept. 2 FSU (in Atlanta); Sept 9 Fresno State; Sept. 16 Colorado State; Nov. 18 Mercer
Alabama’s no stranger to opening the season at a neutral-site venue against a top-ranked opponent. The Crimson Tide have done so the past five seasons and are a perfect 5-0 in such games. The Tide will be tested by Florida State in Atlanta, but the remainder of the Alabama’s nonconference slate features teams with a combined record of 14-22.
Sept. 3 at UCLA; Sept. 9 Nicholls State; Sept. 16 UL Lafayette; Nov. 11 New Mexico
The Texas A&M-UCLA matchup is one of two games featured on Sunday of the Labor Day weekend. The Aggies defeated the Bruins 31-24 last season.
Sept. 2 South Alabama; Sept. 9 UT Martin; Sept. 16 at California; Nov. 11 UL Lafayette
The Rebels’ showdown with California in the third week of the season will mark the first time the program has faced a team from the Pac-12.
Sept. 2 Florida A&M (At Little Rock); Sept. 9 TCU; Sept. 30 New Mexico State; Nov. 4 Coastal Carolina
Arkansas defeated TCU 41-38 last season and will likely be tested during the rematch.
Sept. 4 Georgia Tech (in Atlanta); Sept. 9 Indiana State; Sept. 23 UMass; Nov. 4 Southern Miss
Tennessee will open the 2017 campaign on Labor Day night at new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta against Georgia Tech. The Volunteers have won six consecutive games at neutral-site venues.
Sept. 2 Missouri State; Sept. 16 Purdue; Oct. 21 Idaho; Oct. 28 at UConn
The Tigers have the SEC’s weakest nonconference schedule. Idaho is Mizzou’s only opponent that posted a winning record in 2016.