By the end of Wednesday, COVID-19 cases and precautions had taken out three SEC games.
The Auburn - Mississippi State was immediately moved to December 12th, where it will partner with LSU's clash with Alabama and Vanderbilt's trip to Missouri.
But then comes the problem: Where do you stick the LSU vs Alabama and the lower-profile-but-actually-bigger game that is Texas A&M vs Tennessee games?
Both Alabama and LSU do not have an off-weeks for the rest of the season. Nor do Texas A&M vs Tennessee.
The SEC Championship Game is on December 19th, and it's Christmas Day on the 25th. The SEC's not about to move the SEC Championship Game to Christmas Day, and give his team(s) less preparation for the College Football Play-Off semi finals.
So what in the hell should he do?
He has to factor in:
- LSU's season is to all intents and purposes over, but the Tigers have ZERO off weeks until the SEC Championship Game.
- Alabama's season is not, and it has one off week.
- Florida's isn't, and the Gators - through their own doing - have zero off weeks.
- Texas A&M will still be in the shout for a play-off spot if Florida beats Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
- Tennessee's season might be over, but could play it could play spoiler by ruining Texas A&Ms.
MOVING THE TENNESSEE GAME WILL BE EASIER
The SEC will very probably do what they did to the Auburn vs Mississippi State game on Monday, and move Texas A&M vs Tennessee to December 12th. The 12th was created as a 'lay away' week for SEC COVID games to go to.
But then, things get difficult. While Greg Sankey would love to please everybody and make LSU play two games in one week, this is probably not going to happen. Both LSU and Alabama will claim exhaustion if things get screwed up.
So our alternative is that Sankey sticks it to the SEC's Enemy No.1 - Lane Kiffin, but taking away a game he could quite easily win (LSU is terrible), and give him a shortened season, or else throw him a bone with another SEC East team to fill up the schedule, or simply say: "Tough luck, Lane".
SO HERE'S HOW YOU SACRIFICE OLE MISS FOR THE GREATER PURPOSE.
On December 5th Ole Miss is meant to be travelling to LSU. For Big 12 or Pac-12 fans, it would be a riveting game, with very little defense and touchdowns in the plenty. But in case of the bigger SEC picture, it's not worth a damn.
Ole Miss might argue that the Arkansas' game with LSU on November 21st could easily have been cancelled, but that would mean saying 'sianora' to Kentucky vs Alabama.....and there's no way that the SEC would do Kentucky vs Ole Miss II.
The only week that Alabama has off is on December 5th. Sankey could sacrifice Little Lane's feelings to the altar of Saban, and put the LSU game in then. And yes, while it will lead to Ole Miss playing one less game than everyone else, COVID-19 has been a weird year for college football.
If Lane Kiffin's really, really pissed, then Sankey can give him a date with Georgia on December 12th, or give him the option to schedule another non-conference team. Greg Sankey might want to consider an unbeaten team in Provo, Utah who will be drooling at the mouth to show how it can do against Power-5 opposition. Oh, and Zach Wilson vs Ole Miss' defense would be pretty fun to watch, too.
WHY NOT CANCEL FLORIDA VS LSU INSTEAD?
This one's pretty simple: College Football Play-Off. As mentioned, Sankey will want to shoehorn two teams into the SEC Championship Game. An idea 'eyeball test' on December 12th will be LSU trip to Gainseville and Texas A&M's trip to Tennessee. It'll get the chins wagging, and may force the College Football Play-Off to push either Notre Dame or Clemson out of the No.4 spot going into Championship Weekend. And if Florida stunningly upsets Alabama on December 14th Florida would be the second SEC team in there, because you can't argue with Alabama not being a Top 4.
