ESPN names five must-see games on the 2022 SEC slate

ESPN is getting ready for the 2022 season by releasing their lists and power rankings. That includes naming the five games on the SEC’s schedule that they’ve now labeled as must-see games.

The list, which was compiled by Chris Lowe and Alex Scarborough of ESPN, looks at which games, for various reasons are going to be exciting to watch. There are, of course, different things that can make a game a must-see, and everything is subjective. Are games that should be key to winning the conference what’s most important, or do you put more stock in storylines?

One interesting note is that only one SEC team makes ESPN’s list twice, Tennessee. The Volunteers are one of the more intriguing teams, with an explosive offense and lots of excitement surrounding the program. This makes them one of the best teams for casual fans to watch.

The SEC has been the dominant conference in college football in recent memory. There’s no reason to think that will change anytime soon, which makes winning these conference matchups even more important. Here are those top five must-see games in 2022, according to ESPN:

5 must-see SEC games in 2022

1. Florida at Tennessee

One of the great SEC East rivalries, Florida and Tennessee will meet in Knoxville this season. It pits an exciting Tennessee team against a rebuilding Florida one, which should also open up an opportunity for the Volunteers to win a game they’ve struggled with in recent seasons.

2. Texas A&M at Alabama

Obviously, Texas A&M at Alabama is a must-see game. On the one hand, it should be an important game in deciding the SEC West. On the other hand, the offseason feud between Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher over NIL and recruiting dominated the headlines. Now, they get to decide it on the field.

3. LSU at Auburn

Brian Kelly took over at LSU, while Auburn tried to find a reason to fire Bryan Harsin but failed to do so, this offseason. With the transition and challenges that both teams are facing this offseason, this could become an interesting matchup in the SEC West.

4. Kentucky at Tennessee

Kentucky has become one of the better SEC East programs. Now, they bring back Will Levis, who many people expect to be a breakout star. Tennessee, on the other hand, wants to push its way back into the upper tier of the conference. Win this game, and there’s a good chance Georgia is the only one ahead of you in the SEC East.

5. Ole Miss at Arkansas

Ole Miss and Arkansas are two of the more interesting teams in the SEC West. They both want to take the next step and compete for the conference, but that’s difficult to do in a crowded field. On top of that, these two played one of college football’s best games of the 2021 season, when Ole Miss beat Arkansas 52-51. The Razorbacks came short on a two-point conversion try at the end of the game.