Georgia Game Moved, LSU Added in 2012

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — The 2012 SEC football schedule is not expected to be released for a few more weeks. But today, ESPN has reported some key moments of the upcoming schedule which include quite a few changes for South Carolina. For the first time since the Gamecocks joined the SEC, South Carolina will not play Georgia in the month of September. That game is tentatively scheduled to be played in October next season. The Gamecocks also look like they are opening the season on a Thursday night at Vanderbilt. Added to the Gamecocks schedule that was not originally part of the 2012 schedule before Missouri and Texas A&M joined the conference, is a trip to Baton Rouge to take on LSU. Western division opponents for the Gamecocks in 2012 are expected to be LSU and Arkansas. Due to the schedule shake-up, the SEC dropped Alabama from Georgia’s 2012 schedule. The Bulldogs will avoid playing LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas for the second year in a row. SEC Commissioner Mike Slive has said the scheduling next year is just a one year deal. Long term scheduling with the fixture of cross-divisional common opponents is expected to be in place by 2013.