SEC’s move to 9-game conference schedules pauses some rivalries and awakens others
Summary
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) in college football will start playing nine conference games each season from 2026. This change means some historic rivalries like Florida vs. Tennessee and Alabama vs. LSU will not happen every year. The conference also removed divisions, changing how teams compete for the championship.Key Facts
- The SEC expanded from 10 to 16 teams, prompting schedule changes.
- Starting in 2026, each SEC team will play nine conference games instead of eight.
- Some longstanding rivalries, like Florida vs. Tennessee and Alabama vs. LSU, will pause.
- Divisions within the SEC were eliminated to improve competition and playoff chances.
- Each team will keep three annual rivals, preserving classics like Alabama-Auburn and Florida-Georgia.
- New or revived rivalries, such as Arkansas vs. Texas and Missouri vs. Oklahoma, will become more common.
- The change aims to strengthen the schedule for the college football playoff selection.
- SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said this setup creates strong weekly competition across the conference.
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