SEC to drop late-season non-conference games in 2027

The Southeastern Conference has voted to end the longstanding practice of scheduling non-conference games against lesser opponents in the final weeks of the regular season, a tradition colloquially known as "cupcake weekend." The decision was made by the league's athletic directors at their annual spring meetings in Destin, Florida.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey confirmed the change, stating that beginning in 2027, all teams will play a conference game on the second-to-last weekend of the season. This move aligns with the conference's shift to a nine-game league schedule starting in 2026. Sankey explained the scheduling necessity, noting that with more conference games, it becomes difficult to manage open dates late in the season without creating a domino effect on the placement of games earlier in the calendar.

For decades, SEC teams used this late-season weekend to schedule opponents from the Football Championship Subdivision or lower-tier Football Bowl Subdivision. These games served multiple purposes: they allowed coaches to rest starters nursing injuries, provided young players and walk-ons with meaningful playing time in a stadium environment, and offered fans a more...