Starting in 2025, the SEC will adjust its baseball scheduling format to accommodate a 16-team conference.
Each team will play a three-game series against two permanent opponents and eight rotating opponents for a 30-game conference schedule. Florida’s permanent opponents are Georgia and South Carolina, according to a release from the SEC office on Thursday.
The Bulldogs are an obvious pick given UGA’s heated rivalry with the Orange and Blue. The Gators typically field the better baseball team, but Florida has lost nine of its last 13 games against Georgia. Perhaps the new format will put a bigger emphasis on the series.
The Gamecocks might seem like an odd pick for Florida’s second permanent opponent, but South Carolina recruits well in the baseball realm and has a game on UF when it comes to the all-time series record.
The big loss is the Tennessee series here, which will no longer be annual. The Volunteers are one of the more exciting teams in college baseball and are one of the teams that can go toe-to-toe with Florida year in and year out. Hopefully, the powers that be in the SEC scheduling office are kind and get the rivalry somewhat regularly on the schedule.
Of course, Florida will face Oklahoma and Texas more often once theyl join the SEC. Florida baseball fans will remember it was the Sooner that knocked the Gators out of regionals in 2022.
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