Starting in 2026, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) will expand its football league schedule to nine regular-season conference games, ending years of speculation about the future of SEC matchups.
Under the new and improved model, each school will play three permanent rivals and rotate through six additional conference opponents each season. For decades, the SEC has played eight league games, but growing television revenue and playoff expansion reignited talks of a nine-game slate.
Adding a ninth SEC game underscores our universities’ commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.