Baton Rouge, Louisiana, August 22, 2025
News Summary
The SEC has announced a historic shift to a nine-game conference football schedule, set to begin in the upcoming season. This change aims to enhance competitiveness, preserve traditional rivalries, and boost revenue for member schools. Each team will have three permanent rivals and must schedule a non-conference game against a Power Four team. This alteration is the first major scheduling change since 1992 and emphasizes maintaining historic matchups while ensuring all teams compete against each other at least once every two years.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana — The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has officially announced a significant shift in its football scheduling, transitioning to a nine-game conference schedule starting with the 2026 season. This move marks the first change to the conference’s schedule format since 1992, when it began with an eight-game schedule. The alteration aims to enhance competitive balance, preserve traditional rivalries, and expand revenue opportunities for member universities.
The new nine-game structure will require each SEC team to play three permanent annual opponents, which will help maintain historic rivalries within the conference. However, the specific teams that will serve as Louisiana State University’s (LSU) annual rivals have yet to be determined. The SEC is also mandating that each school schedule a non-conference game against a team from a Power Four conference or Notre Dame, alongside two additional games that can be played against mid-major or FCS opponents.
In addition to an increased number of conference games, LSU is expected to host four SEC matchups in the years when it faces a Power Four conference opponent. This scheduling strategy aims to maximize fan engagement and revenue generation. The SEC’s decision to modify its schedule aligns with the College Football Playoff (CFP) organization, which has recently introduced new metrics rewarding teams for competing against stronger opponents, thereby enhancing overall competitiveness in the league.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has emphasized that the new scheduling format is designed to safeguard rivalries while fostering a more level playing field. The conference aims to boost its position in the College Football Playoff landscape and remain competitive with other major conferences such as the Big Ten and Big 12. This change comes after four years of discussions and was propelled by the anticipated increase in television revenue.
Under the new plan, each SEC team will rotate through six additional conference opponents every season, ensuring that all schools compete against each other at least once every two years. The SEC will continue with a no-division structure, allowing tiebreakers to determine which two teams will compete in the championship game, if necessary. This setup is expected to preserve high-stakes matchups, including notable contests such as Alabama vs. LSU, Alabama vs. Tennessee, and the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry between Auburn and Georgia.
The last major alteration to the SEC schedule occurred when Arkansas and South Carolina joined the conference in 1992. This recent shift to a nine-game schedule is seen as crucial for maintaining the SEC’s vitality in the changing landscape of college football, predominantly driven by upcoming modifications to the College Football Playoff structure.
Key Features of the New SEC Football Schedule
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Schedule Format | Nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026 |
| Annual Opponents | Each team will have three permanent rivals |
| Non-Conference Games | One game against a Power Four conference or Notre Dame, plus two additional games |
| Championship Structure | No-division format with tiebreakers for championships |
| Competitive Balance | All schools will play each other every two years |
| Rivalries | Preserved traditional matchups, including Alabama vs. LSU |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the SEC implementing a nine-game football schedule?
The SEC aims to enhance competitive balance, preserve traditional rivalries, and maximize revenue opportunities for member schools.
What will the annual opponent structure look like?
Each SEC team will play three permanent rivals each season, although specific teams for LSU have yet to be announced.
What are the requirements for non-conference scheduling?
SEC teams must schedule one non-conference game against a Power Four conference team or Notre Dame, along with two additional games.
How does this change affect rivalries within the SEC?
The new schedule format is designed to preserve traditional SEC rivalries, including notable matchups like Alabama vs. LSU and Auburn vs. Georgia.
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Additional Resources
- USA Today
- CBS Sports
- 247 Sports
- KXAN
- On3
- Wikipedia: Southeastern Conference
- Google Search: SEC football schedule
- Google Scholar: SEC football schedule
- Encyclopedia Britannica: College Football
- Google News: SEC football
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