SEC Football 2026: New 9-Game Schedule and Annual Rivals Explained
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) just made a decision that’s been brewing for years. In 2026, the SEC will switch to a nine-game schedule, shaking up how college football looks in the South.
This move ends a long debate and brings a structure that keeps historic rivalries alive. At the same time, it aims for a fairer competition across the league.
So, what’s actually changing? Let’s take a closer look.
The New Nine-Game Format
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The new nine-game format is meant to boost competition and hold onto those classic rivalries. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Three games against annual opponents: Every team gets three set rivals each year, so those big matchups stick around.
- Six games against non-annual opponents: The rest rotate, and over four years, everyone faces everyone else twice—home and away.
This approach tries to balance tradition with fairness. Fans get the old favorites, but every team also gets a shot at everyone else.
Historical Rivalries Preserved
Keeping historic rivalries is one of the main goals here. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said, We’ll look at historical rivalries. That’s a really important component.
For example, Alabama will still play Auburn and Tennessee every year. Georgia keeps its games with Florida and Auburn.
There are a few tweaks, though. Georgia will now play Kentucky instead of Tennessee or South Carolina.
Potential Annual Rivals
The official list of annual rivals comes out in December, but there’s a working version that leans on tradition and geography. Here’s what it looks like so far:
- Alabama: Auburn, Tennessee, LSU
- Arkansas: Missouri, Texas, Kentucky
- Auburn: Alabama, Georgia, Florida
- Florida: Georgia, Auburn, South Carolina
- Georgia: Auburn, Florida, South Carolina
- Kentucky: Tennessee, Mississippi State, Arkansas
- LSU: Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M
- Mississippi State: Ole Miss, Kentucky, South Carolina
- Missouri: Oklahoma, Arkansas, Vanderbilt
- Oklahoma: Texas, Missouri, Texas A&M
- Ole Miss: Mississippi State, LSU, Vanderbilt
- South Carolina: Georgia, Florida, Mississippi State
- Tennessee: Vanderbilt, Alabama, Kentucky
- Texas: Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Arkansas
- Texas A&M: Texas, Oklahoma, LSU
- Vanderbilt: Tennessee, Ole Miss, Missouri
This isn’t final. Teams and matchups could shift, depending on what makes sense for competition and revenue.
Challenges and Considerations
Rolling out a nine-game schedule isn’t exactly easy. Balancing tradition, competition, and money takes some juggling.
Take Alabama, for example. Coach Nick Saban cooled on the idea after realizing the team would face Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU every year. That’s a brutal lineup, honestly.
Some old rivalries might get left out. Alabama and Mississippi State, just 90 miles apart, aren’t paired up in this plan.
Florida-LSU, a rivalry that really took off in the SEC East-West era, is also missing.
Television and Financial Impacts
TV rights and money definitely influenced this move. ESPN is expected to toss in another $5 million per school for the ninth game.
This extra cash matters, especially with the College Football Playoff expanding and maybe making regular-season games feel a bit less crucial.
The SEC wants to keep the regular season exciting and competitive. More conference games and more TV money help make that happen.
Future Flexibility and Adjustments
The new format isn’t set in stone forever. The SEC can revisit the annual rivalries and make changes as things shift—whether it’s for balance, rivalries, or money.
Commissioner Sankey put it this way: You’re never going to have a perfectly equal, competitive balance. But the more games you play, the more balanced it is across the league.
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With this four-year cycle, teams get plenty of different matchups. No one’s stuck with a lopsided schedule year after year, or at least, that’s the idea.
Conclusion
The SEC just moved to a nine-game schedule, and honestly, that’s a pretty big deal for college football fans. It shakes up the routine and brings a fresh edge to the season.
They’ve managed to keep those classic rivalries alive, which is a relief. At the same time, this setup should make the competition feel more balanced and, hopefully, more intense.
There are still a few wrinkles to iron out, no doubt. But the way they’ve built in some flexibility means they can tweak things as needed down the road.
If you want to dig into the details—like who might play who every year—check out the New York Times article.