Off to a roaring start

Well, heavens to Betsy, I’m old enough to remember just *** checks notes *** three days ago that Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel were warning all of us that scheduling hell was about to be unleashed on the poor ol’ SEC.

The new scheduling should create additional marquee games and perhaps increased television money, while potentially squeezing the SEC in non-conference scheduling.

Four ACC teams have annual games with in-state SEC rivals — Clemson-South Carolina, Georgia Tech-Georgia, Florida State-Florida and Louisville-Kentucky. Those games would continue, but there would be a decided lack of available non-conference dates for other SEC teams seeking major opponents.

You mean like this, fellas?

#LSU & USC will meet to open the 2024 season on Labor Day weekend at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, source tells @SINow.

One day after “The Alliance” announcement, the Pac-12’s historic football power finalizes a deal to play an SEC team on ESPN/ABC in Vegas.

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 25, 2021

The cherry on top of that particular sundae is putting the game on ESPN.  That’ll show ’em the Alliance means business!

Sankey: “One of the more curious statements was, ‘The ability to talk to TV partners about reducing conf games & providing more compelling matchups through the alliance.' The great thing about the SEC is every week’s a compelling matchup when we’re playing conf matchups.” https://t.co/eLYLoWtnBE

— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) August 25, 2021

And even when they’re not, it appears.  Curious, indeed.