This is what all the fuss was about.

Alabama at Oklahoma. Oklahoma at Auburn.

Georgia at Texas. Texas at Texas A&M.

Etc., etc., etc. Load up the RV, this is must-see SEC. Come the fall of 2024, it will just mean more to the max because these will be regular-season football games in the Southeastern Conference.

Turns out, as the college football world parked in front of the SEC Network for the conference’s first 16-team football schedule reveal, 8 vs. 9 didn’t matter as much as Big Al vs. the Sooner Schooner and Uga meets Bevo. Two more marquee names in the league just means more marquee league games no matter how long they stubbornly stick with only eight conference meetings each.

Have to admit, it was exciting to witness the unveiling and look forward to the fresh matchups and tailgate trips. Maybe not “one of the most exciting moments in Southeastern Conference history,” as Paul Finebaum put it – Kick 6 on line one, Paul; 2nd and 26 on line 2 – but the anticipation for 2024 has overshadowed the impending reality of 2023.