20 for 2020 College Football Topics, No. 17: The letdown or sandwich game for every Power Five team.
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They’re the games that all fans blow off, but all coaching staffs lose sleep over.
For the most part, they’re supposed to be sure-thing wins, but they’re the ones that don’t always get the full and undivided attention of the supposedly superior team.
They’re the letdown games, or they’re the sandwiches – the games in between the two supposedly more important, bigger battles.
On each Power Five team’s slate, there’s at least one game that will be a moment to mail it in, but it could also be time to worry a bit.
More often than not there’s not a problem – they’re the easier games for a reason. However …
You’ve been warned.
ACC ATLANTIC
Boston College Eagles
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Holy Cross, Oct. 31
Game Before: at Virginia Tech
Game After: at NC State
Of course Boston College is going to roll past the Crusaders – it had better. With Clemson, Louisville and at Virginia Tech before, and road games at NC State and Florida State after, this is the only relative breather.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Clemson Tigers
Letdown/Sandwich Game: The Citadel, Nov. 14
Game Before: at Notre Dame
Game After: at Wake Forest
Here’s the problem – there aren’t enough tough games on the slate for this loaded team to make anything a true letdown game, but dealing with the Citadel option offense will be annoying coming off the showdown in South Bend.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Florida State Seminoles
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Pitt, Oct. 31
Game Before: at Louisville
Game After: at Miami
This is when the Noles are in the dog days of the season. They’ll have to deal with the likely shootout against Louisville on the road, and the showdown against Miami – the pivotal moment in the 2019 season for the program – is coming up. They have to take care of home against the Panthers.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Louisville Cardinals
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Wake Forest, Nov. 14
Game Before: at Virginia
Game After: at Notre Dame
UofL can’t take anyone lightly quite yet, but this should be a stronger Year Two under Scott Satterfield. It’ll have a fun few weeks including a date at Virginia before hosting Wake Forest, but one eye will likely be on the late-season showdown on the trip to South Bend.
– Full Schedule Analysis
NC State Wolfpack
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Duke, Oct. 10
Game Before: Florida State
Game After: at Clemson
Considering the Wolfpack start the season at Louisville, the pressure could be on in October. The Florida State game is a must after getting rocked in last year’s showdown, and going to Clemson is a likely loss. There can’t be a misfire against Duke.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Syracuse Orange
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Liberty, Oct. 17
Game Before: Louisville
Game After: at Clemson
There weren’t too many problems in last year’s opener at Liberty with a 24-0 win, but this time around it’s coming off a key first half game against Louisville followed by a week off. The Orange might be looking past the Flames with the trip to Clemson to follow.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Villanova, Sept. 19
Game Before: Appalachian State
Game After: Notre Dame (in Charlotte)
Be very, very, very careful with this. A whole lot will be made out of the battle with a loaded Appalachian State team the week before, and the battle with Notre Dame in Charlotte is right after. This is a prime moment for what should be a strong Villanova team to come up with something big.
– Full Schedule Analysis
ACC COASTAL
Duke Blue Devils
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Wake Forest, Oct. 3
Game Before: at Pitt
Game After: at NC State
The Blue Devils should be able to roll through the first part of the schedule, but the ACC season opens up at Pitt, and then comes the date against the Demon Deacons. There likely won’t be a lack of focus after losing 39-27 last year, but a trip to NC State is up next before dealing with North Carolina and Notre Dame.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Virginia, Oct. 17
Game Before: at Virginia Tech
Game After: at Pitt
It doesn’t get much more sandwichey than playing between Clemson and UCF – Georgia Tech gets Gardner-Webb – but the Virginia game is even more interesting. It’s a home date between two road games on the front end against North Carolina and Virginia Tech and two right after against Pitt and Syracuse.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Miami Hurricanes
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Georgia Tech, Nov. 21
Game Before: at Virginia Tech
Game After: Duke
Throw this in the letdown category, even though the Canes lost 28-21 to Georgia Tech last year. It comes right after a run of at Virginia, Florida State and at Virginia Tech, and it’s late in the year before closing out with Duke. The Canes can’t lose focus.
– Full Schedule Analysis
North Carolina Tar Heels
Letdown/Sandwich Game: James Madison, Sept. 19
Game Before: Auburn (in Atlanta)
Game After: Georgia Tech
Oh sure, North Carolina types will say all of the right things about playing one of the stars of the FCS, but it’ll be too hard to take the lower-level team seriously after dealing with UCF and Auburn, and with the ACC season against Georgia Tech starting the week after.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Pitt Panthers
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Georgia Tech, Oct. 24
Game Before: Notre Dame
Game After: at Florida State
The Panthers struggled to get by Georgia Tech last year, but they did it. Now they have to get up for them right after dealing with Notre Dame the week before and with a trip to Florida State to follow. After this, the ACC season kicks in full force.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Virginia Cavaliers
Letdown/Sandwich Game: (tie) VMI Sept. 12, UConn Sept 19
Game Before: Georgia (in Atlanta)
Game After: at Clemson
A little creative license here – call this a double-decker sandwich. No, Virginia won’t lose to VMI or UConn, but it can be forgiven for not bringing the full intensity with the season opener in Atlanta to deal with Georgia and with the ACC opener at Clemson lurking.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Virginia Tech Hokies
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Duke, Nov. 21
Game Before: Miami
Game After: Virginia
Okay, okay, Virginia Tech isn’t going to overlook Duke after getting obliterated 45-10 last year, but it’s a late-season battle in the final road game of the season. The Miami game the week before should be a big deal in the Coastal race, and then comes Virginia. After losing last year, the Hokies will be a wee bit focused on taking back the rivalry.
– Full Schedule Analysis
NEXT: Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC
BIG TEN EAST
Indiana Hoosiers
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Illinois, Nov. 14
Game Before: at Ohio State
Game After: at Michigan
Not only is this the Illinois game one of the worst sandwiches possible – between road games at Ohio State and Michigan – but the showdown with Purdue comes after going to Ann Arbor, and Michigan State and Penn State come before going to Columbus.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Maryland Terrapins
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Rutgers, Oct. 31
Game Before: Wisconsin
Game After: at Michigan
There are must wins, and there’s Halloween for Maryland at home against Rutgers. It’s coming off a date against Wisconsin, and the finishing kick after playing the Scarlet Knights … at Michigan, Ohio State, at Penn State, Michigan State.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Michigan Wolverines
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Purdue, Oct. 24
Game Before: at Minnesota
Game After: Maryland
There’s no real sandwich game on the Michigan slate, but the Homecoming game against Purdue is a potentially massive letdown moment. It comes right before a week off, and after a run of Wisconsin, Penn State, at Michigan State and Minnesota.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Michigan State Spartans
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Indiana, Oct. 24
Game Before: Ohio State
Game After: Minnesota
Will the Spartans have anything left in the tank? They’ll have a run of Miami, at Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State before having to go to Bloomington. And after the trip? Minnesota, there’s a week off, and then at Penn State.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Ohio State Buckeyes
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Nebraska, Oct. 31
Game Before: at Penn State
Game After: Indiana
There’s no true sandwich game for the Buckeyes, but the home date against the Huskers could be letdown time coming off a run of Iowa, at Michigan State and at Penn State. The Huskers are going to bring plenty of national attention, but it’s a dog days game with a month still to go – OSU has to get up for it.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Penn State Nittany Lions
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Indiana, Oct. 31
Game Before: Ohio State
Game After: at Nebraska
Not only is this in late October of a long season, but it comes after at Michigan, Iowa and Ohio State, and before going to Nebraska and dealing with Michigan State. Fortunately, there’s a week off before dealing with Iowa.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Temple, Sept. 19
Game Before: Syracuse
Game After: at Ohio State
There’s no such thing as a letdown game yet for Rutgers, but the trip to Temple is dangerous. It might be early the year, but it comes after facing Syracuse at home and before kicking off the Big Ten season at Ohio State.
– Full Schedule Analysis
BIG TEN WEST
Illinois Fighting Illini
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Rutgers, Oct. 3
Game Before: Bowling Green
Game After: at Nebraska
Illinois isn’t strong enough to have a true sandwich game on the date against an inferior team, but it does have a dangerous letdown moment with a week off before starting the Big Ten season with a road game at Rutgers. The Nebraska game the following week will feel bigger.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Iowa Hawkeyes
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Northern Illinois, Sept. 26
Game Before: at Minnesota
Game After: Michigan State
Northern Illinois has a way over the years of coming up with a non-conference shockers – ask 2013 Iowa, who lost 30-27 in the opener. Iowa has the Big Ten opener at Minnesota the week before, and then it’s Michigan State, at Ohio State, at Penn State.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Illinois, Oct. 24
Game Before: Michigan
Game After: at Michigan State
The Golden Gophers don’t get their week off until mid-November. Before that, they have a midseason grind with four road games in five weeks, going to Maryland and Wisconsin before hosting Michigan. Right after that comes a trip to Illinois, followed up by a date at Michigan State.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Penn State, Nov. 7
Game Before: at Ohio State
Game After: at Iowa
Of course Penn State is hardly a letdown game, but it’s a brutal sandwich date for the Huskers who have to deal with a rough second half run. Before the Nittany Lions come to town, Nebraska goes to Rutgers and Ohio State, and follows it up with dates at Iowa and Wisconsin. It’s the only home game between October 10th and November 27th.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Northwestern Wildcats
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Central Michigan, Sept. 19
Game Before: Tulane
Game After: at Penn State
Akron in 2018, Illinois State in 2016, Northern Illinois in 2014, Army in 2011 … there’s nothing more Northwestern than losing at home in September against a mediocre team. It starts the year at Michigan State, has a tough home game against Tulane, and has to go to Penn State after dealing with the Chippewas.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Purdue Boilermakers
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Northwestern, Oct. 31
Game Before: at Michigan
Game After: at Minnesota
It’s Homecoming – for whatever that means anymore – it’s a likely must-win to have any hopes of going bowling, and it’s a dangerous sandwich game after road games at Illinois and Michigan and before going to Minnesota and dealing with Wisconsin and Iowa.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Wisconsin Badgers
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Maryland, Oct. 24
Game Before: Minnesota
Game After: Illinois
There isn’t a true sandwich game for the Badgers, but there’s a possible letdown against the Terps. It’s a road game coming off a break, which comes after at Michigan, Notre Dame in Lambeau Field, and the Paul Bunyan Axe game against Minnesota. Up next, the revenge game against Illinois for last year’s loss.
– Full Schedule Analysis
NEXT: Big 12, Pac-12, SEC
BIG 12
Baylor Bears
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Louisiana Tech, Sept. 26
Game Before: Incarnate Word
Game After: at Oklahoma
Call this a lookahead game more than any sort of a sandwich or letdown. The Bears shouldn’t have any problems with UIW the week before, and against a dangerous Louisiana Tech team, there might be a bit of a lull before opening up the Big 12 season at Oklahoma.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Iowa State Cyclones
Letdown/Sandwich Game: UNLV, Sept. 19
Game Before: at Iowa
Game After: Texas Tech
A sneaky-interesting sandwich game, UNLV should have a renewed energy under new head coach Marcus Arroyo. The Cyclones have the always-interesting rivalry date at Iowa the week before, and follow up the date with the Rebels with the Big 12 opener against Texas Tech.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Kansas Jayhawks
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Texas Tech, Nov. 14
Game Before: Texas
Game After: at Oklahoma
Kansas can’t afford a letdown in any game – it beat Texas Tech 37-34 last year for its only Big 12 victory – but any game coming after Texas and before a trip to Oklahoma is rough.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Kansas State Wildcats
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Texas Tech, Nov. 7
Game Before: at Iowa State
Game After: at Oklahoma
The date with Texas Tech comes just when the team might be ready for a bit of a letdown. Before hosting the Red Raiders, K-State has a road game at TCU, a week off, and a trip to Iowa State. Right after is the date at Oklahoma.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Oklahoma Sooners
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at West Virginia, Nov. 7
Game Before: at TCU
Game After: Kansas State
It’s letdown alert time for the Sooners in early November against a West Virginia team that should be far better in Year Two under Neal Brown. OU has the rivalry date with Oklahoma State, follow up by a trip to TCU. The date at Morgantown in the end of a run of four games away from home in five weeks.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Texas Tech, Oct. 31
Game Before: at Oklahoma
Game After: at Baylor
The Cowboys lost by ten to the Red Raiders last season, but they still might be a wee bit unfocused on Halloween. This comes after the Oklahoma game – and after two weeks on the road – and before dealing with a road trip to Baylor.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Texas Longhorns
Letdown/Sandwich Game: UTEP, Sept. 19
Game Before: at LSU
Game After: at Kansas State
It would take something epic for the Longhorns to not be at least a 30-point favorite over the Miners, but it comes right after dealing with a trip to LSU, and before an off week to get ready for the Big 12 opener at Kansas State, followed up by Oklahoma.
– Full Schedule Analysis
TCU Horned Frogs
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Iowa State, Nov. 7
Game Before: Oklahoma
Game After: at Texas
After getting rocked by Iowa State 49-24 last year, of course TCU is going to care about the early November game. However, it’s going to care more about the date down the road to Baylor a few weeks before, and then the Oklahoma showdown. There’s a trip to Texas right after facing the Cyclones.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Kansas, Nov. 14
Game Before: at Kansas State
Game After: at TCU
Texas Tech will care about Kansas after losing last year in Lawrence, but this year the game is sandwiched between road trips to Kansas State and TCU. It’s a home oasis in a run of three road games in four weeks.
– Full Schedule Analysis
West Virginia Mountaineers
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Kansas, Oct. 24
Game Before: at Texas
Game After: Oklahoma
There’s a week off after hosing the Jayhawks, but it’s the ultimate Big 12 sandwich date. WVU gets Kansas after going to Texas and before hosting Oklahoma.
– Full Schedule Analysis
NEXT: Pac-12, SEC
PAC-12 NORTH
California Golden Bears
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Oregon State, Oct. 24
Game Before: Oregon
Game After: Washington
It’s the ultimate Pac-12 North sandwich game coming in between dates against Oregon and Washington. The Bears lost to the Beavers 21-17 last year, but it comes at the end of a run of three road games in four weeks.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Oregon Ducks
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Arizona, Oct. 31
Game Before: Stanford
Game After: USC
You know what’s coming. It’s the second half of the season, it’s on the road, and it’s before a big game – a showdown against USC. Last year, the Ducks ruined their CFP hopes at Arizona State. In 2018, it lost at Arizona 44-15. The last win in Arizona against the Wildcats or ASU? 2011.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Oregon State Beavers
Letdown/Sandwich Game: UCLA, Nov. 7
Game Before: at Stanford
Game After: at Utah
Oregon State has a strange schedule. It plays four road games in six midseason dates, and it has just one home game between late September and the first week of November. This comes between road trips to Stanford and Utah, and UCLA will be looking for revenge after last year’s loss to the Beavers.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Stanford Cardinal
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Washington State, Oct. 17
Game Before: at Notre Dame
Game After: at Oregon
Wazzu walloped Stanford 49-22 last year. This time around, the game is in Palo Alto, but it comes for the Cardinal between huge showdowns against Notre Dame and Oregon on the road.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Washington Huskies
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Oregon State, Oct. 10
Game Before: at Oregon
Game After: at Utah
There are a whole lot of big games on the the Husky slate, and it might be hard to get up for the date with Oregon State as a sandwich game between Oregon and Utah on the road. Lose this, and there’s a huge problem for UW.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Washington State Cougars
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Colorado, Nov. 7
Game Before: Arizona State
Game After: at UCLA
It’s not like going to Colorado is that bad, and it’s not like being sandwiched in between Arizona State and UCLA is a big problem, but it’s a focus date. It’s in early November with a trip to UCLA the final road game to follow.
– Full Schedule Analysis
PAC-12 SOUTH
Arizona Wildcats
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Colorado, Oct. 9
Game Before: at UCLA
Game After: USC
Beating Colorado 35-20 was one of the few highlights of the Arizona season, and now it’s a sandwich between Pac-12 South games against the two LA teams. The Cats go to UCLA six games before, and host USC the week after. It gets nastier after the Trojans, by the way, with at Washington, Oregon and at Utah.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Arizona State Sun Devils
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Cal, Nov. 7
Game Before: at Washington State
Game After: at Oregon
It’s the home oasis in the second half of the season, and the Sun Devils can’t blow it. They beat Cal last year in Berkeley, and this year if comes after going on the road to face Colorado and Washington State and before going to Oregon in a revenge game.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Colorado Buffaloes
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Washington State, Nov. 7
Game Before: at USC
Game After: at Stanford
Karl Dorrell”s first season has a whole slew of problems and issues on the slate. In the second half of the year, it has a run of three road games in four weeks, with its date with Wazzu coming after a trip to USC and with road games at Stanford and Washington to follow.
– Full Schedule Analysis
UCLA Bruins
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Oregon State, Nov. 7
Game Before: Utah
Game After: Washington State
It’s a sandwich game for Oregon State, too. The difference for UCLA – beyond losing 48-31 to the Beavers last year – is that it’s on the road late in the season. Dealing with Utah before is rough, but Washington State after isn’t bad. However, USC comes right after that.
– Full Schedule Analysis
USC Trojans
Letdown/Sandwich Game: New Mexico, Sept. 12
Game Before: Alabama
Game After: at Stanford
Beating New Mexico shouldn’t and can’t be any sort of a problem. It’s also one of the few down games on a brutal slate, coming after dealing with Alabama in Arlington, Texas and before kicking off the Pac-12 season at Stanford.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Utah Utes
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Washington State, Oct. 10
Game Before: USC
Game After: Washington
Utah didn’t have too many problems with Washington State last season in a 38-13 win, but this time around it has to go on the road, and do it after a huge Pac-12 South showdown against USC and before hosting Washington.
– Full Schedule Analysis
NEXT: SEC
SEC EAST
Florida Gators
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Ole Miss, Oct. 17
Game Before: LSU
Game After: Georgia (in Jacksonville)
There’s a week off before the annual date with the Dawgs in Jacksonville, but good luck keeping the Gators from looking past Lane Kiffin’s Rebels. It’s not just what’s ahead, or facing LSU the week before. This is the slight breather after an interesting first half of the season.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Georgia Bulldogs
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Missouri, Oct. 17
Game Before: Auburn
Game After: Florida (in Jacksonville)
Like Florida, Georgia gets a week off before the battle in Jacksonville. Also like Florida, it has to keep its focus on the road, only it has to go to Missouri right after it has to deal with a fun show down against Auburn.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Kentucky Wildcats
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Mississippi State, Nov. 14
Game Before: at Tennessee
Game After: Georgia
It’s one of those late-season dog days games. The Cats are coming off of road games at Missouri and Tennessee and close out with Georgia and the rivalry date at Louisville. In between all that is Mike Leach’s team. By this point in the season, Mississippi State’s passing game should be working.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Missouri Tigers
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Eastern Michigan, Sept. 26
Game Before: at South Carolina
Game After: at Tennessee
Right in the middle of the start of the SEC season is the supposed layup game against Eastern Michigan – the program that pushed Duke in the Quick Lane Bowl and beat Illinois last season. Mizzou gets the Eagles between SEC road games at South Carolina at Tennessee.
– Full Schedule Analysis
South Carolina Gamecocks
Letdown/Sandwich Game: at Vanderbilt, Oct. 31
Game Before: Texas A&M
Game After: Georgia
The Gamecocks have an interesting run of SEC games through the first part of the season, and then they get a key week off right in the middle of the fun. Right after is a date with Texas A&M, and coming up in November is the home showdown against a Georgia team seeking revenge. In between is the trip to Vanderbilt.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Tennessee Volunteers
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Furman, Sept. 19
Game Before: at Oklahoma
Game After: Florida
Furman was able to push Virginia Tech last year in a 24-17 loss. This year, it’s supposedly the early season layup for Tennessee to fatten up on between a trip to Oklahoma and the SEC opener in a showdown against Florida.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Vanderbilt Commodores
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Colorado State, Sept. 26
Game Before: at Kansas State
Game After: at Georgia
The Commodores have three road games in four weeks after opening up against Mercer. They go to Missouri and Kansas State, and then get a Colorado State team that should be stronger and more dangerous under new head coach Steve Addazio. There can’t be any looking ahead to the trip to Georgia.
– Full Schedule Analysis
SEC WEST
Alabama Crimson Tide
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Georgia State, Sept. 12
Game Before: USC (in Dallas)
Game After: Georgia
The date with UT Martin in mid-November is the real sandwich game, coming in between the trip to LSU and before dealing with Texas A&M and Auburn, but Georgia State – the program that beat Tennessee last season – early on is slightly more dangerous. Bama plays the Panthers after starting with USC and before Georgia.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Arkansas Razorbacks
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Kent State, Sept. 5
Game Before: None
Game After: at Notre Dame
Remember, Arkansas needed everything in the bag to get by Portland State to start last season. This time around, it’ll be all fired up to start out the Sam Pittman era with a bang before going to Notre Dame, Mississippi State, Arlington to play Texas A&M, and with Alabama and LSU soon to follow. Kent State is going to have just enough to pull off the shocker in the opener.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Auburn Tigers
Letdown/Sandwich Game: UMass, Nov. 14
Game Before: Arkansas
Game After: LSU
UMass shouldn’t be any sort of a problem, and it’s not even that much of a sandwich date with a shouldn’t-be-an-issue game with Arkansas the week before. However, when it comes to focus and letdown, what comes after is devastating – LSU, at Alabama.
– Full Schedule Analysis
LSU Tigers
Letdown/Sandwich Game: South Carolina, Nov. 14
Game Before: Alabama
Game After: at Auburn
The defending national champs have a few rough games early – Texas, at Florida – but it’s the finishing kick that’s the problem. There can’t be any letting down against South Carolina after facing Alabama the week before and with road dates at Auburn and Texas A&M to close things out.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Ole Miss Rebels
Letdown/Sandwich Game: SE Missouri State, Sept. 12
Game Before: Baylor (in Houston)
Game After: Auburn
SE Missouri State – even after going 9-4 last year and making the FCS playoffs – shouldn’t be too much of a problem for Lane Kiffin’s team. However, before dealing with the Redhawks, the Rebels start out against Baylor in Houston, and after comes a run of Auburn, at LSU and Alabama.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Missouri, Nov. 7
Game Before: Auburn
Game After: at Kentucky
It’s not just having to deal with Missouri in early November with a trip to Kentucky up next and after hosting Auburn. It’s playing Auburn after going on the road to play Alabama and LSU, too. MSU is going to need a breather, and it might not get it.
– Full Schedule Analysis
Texas A&M Aggies
Letdown/Sandwich Game: Vanderbilt, Nov. 14
Game Before: Ole Miss
Game After: at Alabama
A&M has several letdown possibilities throughout the year, but dealing with what should be a mediocre Vanderbilt team in mid-November is going to be one of the biggest focus concerns. It comes after the fun of playing Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss squad, and before going to Alabama and closing things out against LSU.
– Full Schedule Analysis
