That escalated quickly.
On the same day that Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported the SEC was moving closer to adopting a nine-game conference schedule, the league had made it official.
The SEC formally announced the move Thursday afternoon, which was approved by the Presidents and Chancellors. It will take effect beginning in 2026, with the new format including three permanent opponents, with six rotating in each year. The league joins the Big 10 and Big 12, which both already play nine-game league schedules. SEC teams will still be required to play one “high-quality” nonconference opponent from the ACC, Big 10 or Big 12 each season.