With an additional conference game, SEC schools might look to cancel future matchups against Big 12 opponents.

A 247Sports survey ranked the University of Georgia third for best college football tailgate experiences, with the rest of the top ten largely dominated by SEC teams. That passion for pregame rituals runs deep and tailgating has a long history, stretching back more than a century.

Now that the SEC has adopted a new scheduling model, teams in the league will play at least 10 Power 4 opponents each year. Purdue will play 11 from 2026-28.

Sure, Texas is loaded to the gills with talent, has the hotshot big-name QB, and made consecutive Final Four appearances in the College Football Playoff. Aaron Murray merely wants to see some Ws in those games before officially stamping Texas as the class of the conference.

The SEC has been loud about its desire to adjust the criteria of the CFP after 9-3 Alabama was left out of the field for 11-2 SMU last season. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has spoken on multiple occasions about the desire to further emphasize strength of schedule, a move that he believes would help his conference.

SEC football fans who preferred staying at eight conference games never stood a chance of getting their way. Not with the money at stake to play nine.

If Doering is right, LSU could seize both the SEC crown and a national title in the same year. The No. 9 Tigers open with high hopes in a road opener against the No. 4 Clemson Tigers on Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The baton for the top conference in the country has been passed begrudgingly to the Big Ten. Sorry, SEC, you can't boast two consecutive national champions without getting that honor, and that's what your northern rivals currently boast.