An SEC 9-Game Schedule? Turn it up to nine! Greg Sankey and the SEC heard the haters. Curt Cignetti and the rest of the B1G spent a lot of time talking about the strength of their nine-game conference schedule. Starting in the 2026 season, Cignetti and the rest of college football will have to find something else to complain about. Sankey and the conference announced on Thursday the new SEC nine-game schedule coming in 2026. In the league where It Just Means More, we will be getting more conference games!
The SEC nine-game schedule is a dream come true. Not only does it mean a stronger strength of schedule, but it also means better home games for SEC fans. As well as the opportunity to continue distinguishing itself from the rest of college football. Sankey shared how the move not only strengthens the SEC among its peers but also benefits the teams in the conference.
“Adding a ninth conference game underscores our universities’ commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation. This format protects rivalries, increases competitive balance, and paried with our requirement to play an additional power oppoent, ensures SEC teams are well prepared to compete and succeed in the College Football Playoff.”
Let’s take a closer look at the details surrounding the SEC’s nine-game schedule.
What Will the SEC Nine-Game Schedule Look Like?
Single-Standings, No Divisions
The SEC will continue with a single-standings, non-division structure. The 2024 season marked the first time the SEC wasn’t divided into Eastern and Western divisions. The divisions were unbalanced and didn’t give fans and teams the opportunities to see and play teams throughout the conference. A 16-team league does pose problems when trying to decide who will play for a conference championship. The SEC went deep into last season trying to figure out what exactly the tie breakers would be to determine who was #1 and #2. The addition of a ninth game will provide an additional data point and more clarity in helping to determine who will be playing in the championship game.
Traditional Rivalries Maintained
Each school will play three annual opponents. The league will work to maintain as many traditional rivals as possible. This alleviates one of the biggest worries from SEC fans. With no divisions and a round-robin style conference schedule, what will become of the 3rd Saturday in October, Cocktail Party, the Iron Bowl, the Egg Bowl, or Red River?
The SEC is full of great traditions and rivalries. Each team in the conference has multiple teams it can consider its “rival.” With so much change occurring in college football, this is one that makes sense for both teams and fans.

Six Game Rotation
The remaining six games will rotate amongst the remaining conference schools. Each team will face every other SEC program at least once every two years, and every opponent, both home and away, within a four-year period. That’s a nice way to balance out the SEC’s nine-game schedule. There have been some weird scheduling quirks in the SEC. LSU has not traveled to Athens and played between the Hedges since 2013. Georgia and Texas A&M played their first SEC football game in October 2024, despite the Aggies being in the league since 2012.
The ability of teams to play every opponent at home and on the road in a four-year span is good for the league. It will not only help to balance schedules, but it will also help connect the greatest fan base in college football.
Turn It Up to 10: Additional Power Opponent
In addition to the nine conference games, the SEC will also add one more game against a Power 4 team. One more for the Cignetti or haters of the SEC schedule. Unlike Indiana, which will play four or five FCS teams out of conference over the next five years. While that may be a slight exaggeration, if the shoe fits, hopefully the Hoosiers can wear it.
The move to the additional Power 4 game helps protect some of the SEC’s biggest rivals. The Gamecocks can continue to “meet at the paw” when they upset Clemson. Georgia and Georgia Tech can still meet for some Clean Old Fashioned Hate; maybe they can go back to Bobby Dodd. The additional game will also help preserve games like Texas traveling to Ohio State. What will the haters have to say after this? Probably very little. It won’t matter, lions don’t mind themselves with the opinions of sheep.
Main Photo: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
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