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Bama News
What this new SEC schedule means for Alabama
Alabama now knows the two extra SEC teams added to its 2020 football schedule.
The Friday news dump arrived live on the SEC’s television network and everyone -- or at least Missouri -- is probably mad.
Two new opponents for everybody and Alabama was the first to learn its new dates just after 5 p.m.
At Missouri.
Home vs. Kentucky.
The complaints aren’t likely coming from Tuscaloosa since the Crimson Tide dodged preseason No. 8 Florida.
And that shouldn’t have been a big surprise.
Alabama already had games scheduled against East Division teams Georgia and Tennessee. The Bulldogs were No. 4 in the preseason coaches poll, one spot behind Alabama. And the Vols were 27th in the voting after finishing last season with momentum.
What we don’t know is the order of these 10 games.
The SEC Network confirmed the previously announced schedules are out the window in terms of dates for games. So, that Alabama-Georgia opener is still possible but not assured under this new format.
What we learned Friday was just hello Missouri and Kentucky.
Missouri had the bad fortune of not only gaining Alabama on the schedule but also defending national champion LSU. Welcome to the SEC, new coach Eli Drinkwitz.
His new Missouri team won’t strike much fear into Alabama since the Tigers haven’t had double-digit wins since 2014. It lost to the Tide in the SEC title game that December and this group isn’t planning on another trip to Atlanta in December. There’s a new head coach, uncertainty at quarterback and not much momentum after a 6-6 season. That included losses to Wyoming and Vanderbilt.
Kentucky is more of a sneaky challenge.
The Wildcats received enough votes to be 29th in the preseason coaches poll. Mark Stoops built momentum with a 10-3 season in 2018 followed by an 8-5 run a year ago. He gets starting quarterback Terry Wilson back from a torn ACL while former Auburn backup Joey Gatewood could challenge for the job if the NCAA grants his transfer eligibility waiver.
Kentucky returns considerable experience but lost five-tool star Lynn Bowden Jr. to graduation.
Of note, Alabama quarterback Mac Jones was once a Kentucky commit before flipping to Alabama. So, there’s that storyline in play.
