We’ve known for almost two years that major football powers Texas and Oklahoma would join the Southeastern
Conference. We knew for eight months that the process would be expedited to begin with the 2024 season.
We knew it would make already tough conference football schedules even more difficult. We knew it would result in
a league in which only the strongest will survive.
The first conference football schedule, which will be played next fall, has been revealed, and reality has hit like a
sleekly muscled 245-pound linebacker with sprinter’s pace, which should be the league’s hallmark because there are
so many of them.
Despite knowing what was coming for two years, the announcement nevertheless took my breath away. Coaches will
earn tens of millions of dollars in this new SEC, but only for a short time unless they are exceptionally talented. They
can be excellent at their craft yet still failing to win enough games to keep their jobs.
Welcome to the SEC, Jeff Lebby of Mississippi State. Your first four conference games are against Florida, Texas,
Georgia, and Texas A&M. Good luck with it.
Don’t snicker over there, Ole Miss. During an October-November span, the Rebels will face LSU, Oklahoma,
Arkansas, Georgia, and Florida. Survivors will play the Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving night. Yes, the schedule says
they’ll play on Saturday, November 30, but that might change, and my sources suggest it very certainly will. Turkey
and dressing will remain a staple of Egg Bowl tailgating.
All throughout the league, extremely rich coaches must be wringing their heads and wondering, “Did I really sign up
for this?”
Consider Florida coach Billy Napier, who will coach to keep his job worth $51.8 million over seven years. The Gators,
who were 5-7 last season, will finish the 2024 season with five games: at Georgia, Texas, LSU at home, Ole Miss at
home, and then at Florida State. Might as well compete in the NFC South. Actually, the NFC South might be easier.
