Missouri to open 2016 SEC football schedule against Georgia

By TOD PALMER

October 29, 2015 8:19 PM

Missouri safety Ian Simon intercepted Georgia quarterback Greyson Lambert on his first pass attempt of the game and returned it to the 1-yard line. The Tigers’ offense settled for a field goal. Curtis Compton The Associated Press

Much like its first season in the SEC, Missouri opens the 2016 conference schedule with a September home game against Georgia.

The Tigers also play at LSU for the first time on Oct. 1 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., the season’s first road conference game, according to the schedule released Thursday by the SEC.

Kickoff times and broadcast information won’t be decided until next fall.

Missouri plays back-to-back road games only once next season, at LSU followed by a game at Florida on Oct. 15, but there is a bye week sandwiched in between those games.

The Tigers wrap up the season with five straight conference games that alternate home and away, beginning with a home game Oct. 29 against Kentucky.

From there, Missouri is at South Carolina (Nov. 5), is host to Vanderbilt (Nov. 12), travels to Tennessee (Nov. 19) and wraps up the season against Arkansas (Nov. 26) with the Battle Line Rivalry game.

The Tigers’ game against the Razorbacks has been moved to the Friday after Thanksgiving by CBS the last seasons, but it is currently scheduled for Saturday instead.

Currently, there is no SEC game scheduled for Nov. 25, so it’s possible that game will be moved once again.

Missouri’s nonconference schedule already is set.

The Tigers open on the road Sept. 3 at West Virginia and host three games against small-school competition at Memorial Stadium — Eastern Michigan on Sept. 10, Delaware State on Sept. 24 and Middle Tennessee on Oct. 22

Next season is the first the SEC mandates a game against a Power Five or major independent opponent (Notre Dame, BYU, etc.).

The Tigers’ opener at the Mountaineers satisfies that requirement.

2016 MISSOURI FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 3 at West Virginia

Sept. 10 Eastern Michigan

Sept. 17 Georgia

Sept. 24 Delaware State

Oct. 1 at LSU

Oct. 15 at Florida

Oct. 22 Middle Tennessee

Oct. 29 Kentucky

Nov. 5 at South Carolina

Nov. 12 Vanderbilt

Nov. 19 at Tennessee

Nov. 26 Arkansas

Tod Palmer: 816-234-4389, @todpalmer

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 8:19 PM with the headline "Missouri to open 2016 SEC football schedule against Georgia."

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