BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WDNews) — The Southeastern Conference will move to a nine-game conference football schedule beginning in 2026, league officials announced Thursday.
The change comes after decades of the SEC playing eight conference games, a format adopted in 1992 when the league expanded from 10 to 12 teams and introduced a championship game. The SEC now includes 16 teams.
“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.”
Under the new model, each SEC team will face every other program at least once every two years and will play home-and-home against every opponent every four years. The requirement that each team schedule at least one non-conference game against an ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, or Notre Dame opponent remains in place.
The SEC will also continue using its divisionless format, with the top two teams in the standings meeting in the conference championship game. Divisions were eliminated last season, though the eight-game conference schedule was retained at that time.
