The SEC's football schedules are going to look a bit different in 2026.
The conference announced Thursday that its presidents have voted to adopt a nine-game conference schedule beginning in 2026, a long-awaited move that will bring it even with the Big Ten and Big 12. ACC leaders have also said it would likely follow suit if the SEC went to nine games.
Under the new format, SEC teams will play three annual opponents each year while its remaining six games rotate among the rest of the conference's schools. Each team will fave every other program at least once every two years with a home and away across four years.
SEC teams are also required to schedule at least one "high quality non-conference" opponent each year, meaning a Big Ten, Big 12 or ACC school or Notre Dame.
From the conference:
“Adding a ninth SEC game underscores our universities’ commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “This format protects rivalries, increases competitive balance, and paired with our requirement to play an additional Power opponent, ensures SEC teams are well prepared to compete and succeed in the College Football Playoff.”
Per CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello, the move will net each SEC school an average of about $5 million per year.
The possibility of the SEC moving to nine conference games has loomed for years, but came to pass this year amid debates over the future format of the College Football Playoff, which could expand to 16 games in 2026.
The SEC's eight-game schedules have been a major sticking point for Big Ten president Tony Petitti, who has been pushing for the CFP to adopt a "4-4-2-2-1" model, in which each CFP would feature the top four Big Ten and SEC teams, the top two ACC and Big 12 teams, the top-ranked Group of Six champion and three at-large berths.
The other possible format, which the ACC and Big 12 support, is "5+11," where the five highest-ranked conference champions and 11 at-large teams compete for the title. At Big Ten Media Days, Petitti complained about a potential advantage for conferences with eight-game schedules in the competition for at-large berths. It's unclear if the SEC and ACC both making the leap will change his position.
The conference schedule announcement also comes a day after the CFP announced it will adjust its schedule strength metrics to "apply greater weight to games against strong opponents." That could reduce the risk of a ninth game to a team's at-large chances, making the change easier for the SEC.
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