SEC to nine-game schedule from 2026 with three annual rivals

The Southeastern Conference announced on Thursday that it will shift to a nine-game conference schedule beginning in 2026, aligning with the Big Ten and the Big 12. Each team will maintain three annual opponents—designed to protect enduring rivalries—while the remaining six games will rotate among the other conference programs. The plan also includes a requirement that SEC schools play at least one high-quality nonconference opponent from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 or Notre Dame each season. The decision, approved by the conference’s presidents, is intended to strengthen the league’s postseason preparedness and competition while preserving traditional matchups.

Under the new format, teams will face their three annual rivals each season and rotate the other six opponents so that every SEC program meets every other member at least once every two years, with home-and-away games occurring within a four-year cycle. The conference emphasized that the schedule is designed to honor historical rivalries and geographic ties, while providing a more balanced, higher-stakes regular season as college football moves toward broader playoff expansion.

The move comes after years of discussion among...