Could the Clemson game be moved earlier in the season starting in 2024?

[18IsTheMan]

I heard that the SEC, after Texas and OU join next season, wants to create more competitive, interesting conference games at the end of the season. It was said that they want SEC vs SEC in the final game. It was specifically mentioned that such a decision could cause the Clemson/USC and FSU/Florida games to get bumped from their typical end-of-season spot to somewhere earlier in the season. I wonder how fans would take to that? We haven't always played them at the end of the season, of course. Through 1959, we played the Big Thursday game in Columbia. In 1960 and 1961 we played them 3rd or 4th to last game of the year. We started playing them the last game of the year in 1962. So, slightly more than half of our games with them have been played at the end of the season, but that's all that anyone under the age of 65 or so knows.

It's too meaningful of a game to just tuck randomly into the middle of the schedule somewhere. Neither team would want to open the season with that game.

I've always thought it would be fun to revive Big Thursday in some way, obviously not exactly how it used to be. Obviously, nothing is sacred to the SEC as they canceled our game with Clemson for no apparent reason during the Covid year. If it's ratings the SEC wants, I have to imagine that Clemson/USC would get better ratings than us playing anyone else in the SEC.

 

[Dod Rangerfield]

Carolina, UGa, KY, & Florida need to tell Sankey to kick rocks.

 

[18IsTheMan]

UGA might have the weight to throw around on it right now, but I don't know if the UGA/GaTech game is all that meaningful to folks. Do they Georgia folks care about it as much as Carolina folks care about USC/Clemson? I've never really gotten that vibe. I lived on both sides of the Georgia/Tennessee border at different times and that game was much more meaningful to folks than Georgia Tech.

Florida's stature in the conference is somewhat diminished from what it used to be, so I don't know that Sankey cares much what they think. We know the conference doesn't give a hoot about us.

 

[atl-cock]

I heard that the SEC, after Texas and OU join next season, wants to create more competitive, interesting conference games at the end of the season. It was said that they want SEC vs SEC in the final game. It was specifically mentioned that such a decision could cause the Clemson/USC and FSU/Florida games to get bumped from their typical end-of-season spot to somewhere earlier in the season. I wonder how fans would take to that? We haven't always played them at the end of the season, of course. Through 1959, we played the Big Thursday game in Columbia. In 1960 and 1961 we played them 3rd or 4th to last game of the year. We started playing them the last game of the year in 1962. So, slightly more than half of our games with them have been played at the end of the season, but that's all that anyone under the age of 65 or so knows.

It's too meaningful of a game to just tuck randomly into the middle of the schedule somewhere. Neither team would want to open the season with that game.

I've always thought it would be fun to revive Big Thursday in some way, obviously not exactly how it used to be. Obviously, nothing is sacred to the SEC as they canceled our game with Clemson for no apparent reason during the Covid year. If it's ratings the SEC wants, I have to imagine that Clemson/USC would get better ratings than us playing anyone else in the SEC.

For similar reasons, I object to the basketball games with the Taters being buried early in the season. We should be playing them in late January or early February each year.

 

[CockofEarle]

For similar reasons, I object to the basketball games with the Taters being buried early in the season. We should be playing them in late January or early February each year.

Ah, baseball esp.

 

[Prestonyte]

This year's season opener on ESPN is Tennessee vs Virginia.
What if it was South Carolina vs Clemson?

 

[Uscg1984]

Rivalries need to be played on Rivalry Weekend at the end of the season.

The idea that we must have SEC vs. SEC on the last week of the season seems arbitrary. I can't imagine there is any data that shows SC, FL, or KY vs another random SEC team generates more overall interest than a game between those teams vs their rivals.

I think I speak for a lot of Gamecock fans, probably most, when I say that the Carolina/Clemson football game is THE sporting event around which my entire sports year revolves. It is the climax of the season and needs to remain the final game of the season.

 

[Spinal Tap]

I'd like to maintain our scheduling with UPC as it's been. "It just means more" to me.

 

[Dod Rangerfield]

Rivalries need to be played on Rivalry Weekend at the end of the season.

The idea that we must have SEC vs. SEC on the last week of the season seems arbitrary. I can't imagine there is any data that shows SC, FL, or KY vs another random SEC team generates more overall interest than a game between those teams vs their rivals.

I think I speak for a lot of Gamecock fans, probably most, when I say that the Carolina/Clemson football game is THE sporting event around which my entire sports year revolves. It is the climax of the season and needs to remain the final game of the season.

Yeah, even though 2020 was abysmal & the Tillmanites would have destroyed us, the season felt kinda incomplete with the 2 schools not playing a football game. Thanks, China!

 

[TheByrdman]

For those who want and should it ever come to fruition, keep your mouth shut when they get to use the easy *** ACC schedule to be in the CFP playoff. Sure, they could still make it due to a sorry *** rule letting them in as a conference champion. However, the greatest thing about 2022 was the fact Carolina was the direct reason for them NOT making the playoff.

 

[Uscg1984]

Yeah, even though 2020 was abysmal & the Tillmanites would have destroyed us, the season felt kinda incomplete with the 2 schools not playing a football game. Thanks, China!

As I said many times back then, I considered it an exhibition season.

Looking back, we could have had an actual college football season that year, but everybody lost their minds.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Rivalries need to be played on Rivalry Weekend at the end of the season.

The idea that we must have SEC vs. SEC on the last week of the season seems arbitrary. I can't imagine there is any data that shows SC, FL, or KY vs another random SEC team generates more overall interest than a game between those teams vs their rivals.

I think I speak for a lot of Gamecock fans, probably most, when I say that the Carolina/Clemson football game is THE sporting event around which my entire sports year revolves. It is the climax of the season and needs to remain the final game of the season.

We'll see. I hope it stays where it is. Seems the appropriate way to culminate the regular season. When whatever decision is finally made, however, I know the SEC won't give two hoots about what USC or its fans want.

 

[Uscg1984]

For those who want and should it ever come to fruition, keep your mouth shut when they get to use the easy *** ACC schedule to be in the CFP playoff. Sure, they could still make it due to a sorry *** rule letting them in as a conference champion. However, the greatest thing about 2022 was the fact Carolina was the direct reason for them NOT making the playoff.

And that we ended their hopes in the last game of the season. They were basically home free. That was so much sweeter than if that beating had been delivered in week 6 or 7.

 

[18IsTheMan]

We'll see. I hope it stays where it is. Seems the appropriate way to culminate the regular season. When whatever decision is finally made, however, I know the SEC won't give two hoots about what USC or its fans want.

SEC in 2020: "No, absolutely not. There's no way you can travel 140 miles to play a game at Clemson. Out of the question. The risk is too high!!!"

Also the SEC in 2020: "You're going to travel 740 miles to play a game in Louisana. Perfectly safe."

 

[atl-cock]

SEC in 2020: "No, absolutely not. There's no way you can travel 140 miles to play a game at Clemson. Out of the question. The risk is too high!!!"

Also the SEC in 2020: "You're going to travel 740 miles to play a game in Louisana. Perfectly safe."

For once, the ACC was thinking straight re: one OOC game to face an in-state rival.

 

[SSIGamecock]

UGA might have the weight to throw around on it right now, but I don't know if the UGA/GaTech game is all that meaningful to folks. Do they Georgia folks care about it as much as Carolina folks care about USC/Clemson? I've never really gotten that vibe. I lived on both sides of the Georgia/Tennessee border at different times and that game was much more meaningful to folks than Georgia Tech.

Florida's stature in the conference is somewhat diminished from what it used to be, so I don't know that Sankey cares much what they think. We know the conference doesn't give a hoot about us.

maybe it isn't quite that right now, but even 6-7 years ago, it was a pretty big deal. Florida/Ga is def #1 for them, and maybe Auburn is 2, but I think most UGA fans I know would put Tech in front of Tennessee.

Even if they don't, the way Tech is right now, they would want to keep it where it is. It's a warm up, get right game before SEC Champ week.

 

[atl-cock]

Ah, baseball esp.

I've stated this during baseball season at least once for the past few years.

It would be great if, like the ACC, the SEC started conference play with weekend 4 instead of 5, thus leaving 1 non-SEC weekend available late in the season. We could use it to play Clemron, Georgia to play Tech, UF to play F$U, and UK to play Louisville.

 

[Kill.Team6]

Why would the SEC agree to this. It makes no sense. Your conference championship is next week and you want to play an SEC team that might be an inner conference rival to beat up on you?

 

[atl-cock]

All these issues are ramifications of an athletic conference with too many members spread over too large of a geographic footprint.

Ideally, one's biggest rival should be a fellow conference member.

 

[Maxcy]

SEC in 2020: "No, absolutely not. There's no way you can travel 140 miles to play a game at Clemson. Out of the question. The risk is too high!!!"

Also the SEC in 2020: "You're going to travel 740 miles to play a game in Louisana. Perfectly safe."

To be fair, the SEC was the first conference to move forward with the 2020 season after the Big 10 and Pac 12 cancelled. Given the uncertainty of the total football landscape in August, the SEC had to schedule a conference only schedule. Travel distance wasn't the consideration when getting rid of the out of conference games.

 

[atl-cock]

Why would the SEC agree to this. It makes no sense. Your conference championship is next week and you want to play an SEC team that might be an inner conference rival to beat up on you?

The only thing the SEC requires is that all members play their last regular season football game Thanksgiving weekend, so that no team could have a "bye" heading into the SECCG. Yep, even Vandy.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Why would the SEC agree to this. It makes no sense. Your conference championship is next week and you want to play an SEC team that might be an inner conference rival to beat up on you?

A number of SEC teams already play a conference game to end the regular season.

Maybe they see it as leveling the playing field if everyone has to play a league game the week prior to the SECCG.

 

[KingWard]

Carolina, UGa, KY, & Florida need to tell Sankey to kick rocks.

You're either in the SEC or you aren't.

 

[Dod Rangerfield]

You're either in the SEC or you aren't.

Game against Tillman means more than all the other SEC contests put together.

 

[Captain_Obvious]

Carolina, UGa, KY, & Florida need to tell Sankey to kick rocks.

You would think Oklahoma and Oklahoma state would like to keep their game at the end of the season too (assuming they try to continue an annual non conference game)

 

[atl-cock]

Game against Tillman means more than all the other SEC contests put together.

That's a legitimate argument for your biggest rival being a fellow conference member.

 

[atl-cock]

A number of SEC teams already play a conference game to end the regular season.

Maybe they see it as leveling the playing field if everyone has to play a league game the week prior to the SECCG.

Now I could see the SEC amending the rule by stating that not only must your last game of the season be a week prior to the SECCG, but the opponent must be a member of a P5 league or ND.

 

[Dod Rangerfield]

That's a legitimate argument for your biggest rival being a fellow conference member.

Hard pass.

 

[CockofEarle]

I've stated this during baseball season at least once for the past few years.

It would be great if, like the ACC, the SEC started conference play with weekend 4 instead of 5, thus leaving 1 non-SEC weekend available late in the season. We could use it to play Clemron, Georgia to play Tech, UF to play F$U, and UK to play Louisville.

College baseball should not be played in February….in fact oughta start mid March………hell MLB pitchers & catchers are just started drifting in.

 

[KingWard]

Game against Tillman means more than all the other SEC contests put together.

So, then, it really doesn't matter when we play. I can hate them any week of the year.

 

[atl-cock]

College baseball should not be played in February….in fact oughta start mid March………hell MLB pitchers & catchers are just started drifting in.

By the same token, college basketball should not be played in November. Overlapping seasons, etc.

 

[atl-cock]

Another reminder that we play Clemron on weekend three of the baseball season because it's the last mutually available weekend to schedule the series; this is a result of the ACC beginning conference play on weekend 4, and the SEC on weekend 5.

 

[Mauze1]

I heard that the SEC, after Texas and OU join next season, wants to create more competitive, interesting conference games at the end of the season. It was said that they want SEC vs SEC in the final game. It was specifically mentioned that such a decision could cause the Clemson/USC and FSU/Florida games to get bumped from their typical end-of-season spot to somewhere earlier in the season. I wonder how fans would take to that? We haven't always played them at the end of the season, of course. Through 1959, we played the Big Thursday game in Columbia. In 1960 and 1961 we played them 3rd or 4th to last game of the year. We started playing them the last game of the year in 1962. So, slightly more than half of our games with them have been played at the end of the season, but that's all that anyone under the age of 65 or so knows.

It's too meaningful of a game to just tuck randomly into the middle of the schedule somewhere. Neither team would want to open the season with that game.

I've always thought it would be fun to revive Big Thursday in some way, obviously not exactly how it used to be. Obviously, nothing is sacred to the SEC as they canceled our game with Clemson for no apparent reason during the Covid year. If it's ratings the SEC wants, I have to imagine that Clemson/USC would get better ratings than us playing anyone else in the SEC.

Big Thursday could be a big deal again. It would have good TV coverag. Home and home, around State Fair time and USD Fair in Easley. Maybe another location for that fair. Still Palmetto Bowl . End the season with Oklahoma,Mizzou or Kentucky, play GA early.

 

[Dod Rangerfield]

Big Thursday could be a big deal again. It would have good TV coverag. Home and home, around State Fair time and USD Fair in Easley. Maybe another location for that fair. Still Palmetto Bowl . End the season with Oklahoma,Mizzou or Kentucky, play GA early.

One of the worst posts in the history of FGF.

 

[Uscg1984]

That's a legitimate argument for your biggest rival being a fellow conference member.

It is what it is. The conference can't just wish a new rivalry into existence. The SEC accepted us knowing Clemson was our arch-rival, similar to the way three other conference members had, arguably, an out-of-conference primary rival. You'd think the SEC would welcome the opportunity to demonstrate its superiority over the ACC at the end of every season.

Presumably, the SEC is doing this to create more interest in the conference race, hoping to extend it into the last week of the season. But that strikes me as confusing timing heading into the expanded playoff era where the conference championship means less and less. In an era where the SEC will likely get 3 or 4 teams into the playoff most years, it's easy to imagine the #2 team in the conference playing their way OUT of the playoffs by losing the SECCG.