Vanderbilt explains Ohio State, Northwestern series cancellations

A Vanderbilt official told SB Nation's Steven Godfrey why the Commodores cancelled upcoming non-conference games against the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Northwestern Wildcats.

As the league added the Missouri Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies to the SEC, it altered the conference schedule for Vanderbilt and created a scheduling conflict for both non-conference games.

The scheduling conflicts forced Vanderbilt to cancel their home-and-home series against Northwestern in 2013 and 2014, as well as their game against Ohio State in 2013.

The university had the following to say about why the two series were cancelled:

"With the addition of the two new league members, existing football schedules were essentially erased and a new schedule was created. This was a long and complicated process for the conference and when it was complete, Vanderbilt was playing Ole Miss on August 31 when our Ohio State game had previously been planned and is traveling to South Carolina on Sept. 14, 2013 when we had expected to play Northwestern. We understand this development comes as unwelcome news to both fine institutions and regret any inconvenience it creates."

Vanderbilt will pay a buyout fee to both Northwestern and Ohio State for the series cancellations.