The Southeastern Conference announced its parings for the 2024 football season on Wednesday night. The intrigue, besides our nation's fervor for all things football, comes in the addition of Oklahoma and Texas into the SEC for the first time, the elimination of divisions and a new 12-team playoff on the horizon.

At first glance the Alabama Crimson Tide schedule is tough. Upon examination, it's brutal.

The Crimson Tide hits the road for trips to Oklahoma, Tennessee, LSU and Vanderbilt. As for home games, Alabama will host Georgia, Missouri, Auburn and South Carolina. 

Throw in a road slate that includes a road trip to Wisconsin and home games with Western Kentucky and South Florida and you have the juiciest schedule since 2020 when Alabama dominated an all-SEC schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the first time since 1947 the Alabama Crimson Tide won't play the Mississippi State Bulldogs. In fact, the Tide drew neither of the Mississippi schools, avoiding the Ole Miss Rebels for the first time since 1991. 

Strangely, the Tide doesn't draw SEC West foes Arkansas or Texas A&M but the schedule presents plenty of challenges.

In 2024 the top-two teams in the SEC standings will play for the SEC Championship and expansion of the playoffs to 12 teams will only add to drama of the season. 

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