Story perspectives

SEC Shifts to Nine-Game Schedule, Drops Divisions and Rivalries

7/22/2026

Summary

Story summary

SEC will adopt a nine-game league schedule in 2026, ending divisions and historic rivalries to boost the strength of schedule for the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Each team will keep three annual opponents, preserving Alabama-Auburn, Florida-Georgia and Auburn-Georgia while dropping Florida-Tennessee, Alabama-LSU, Florida-LSU and Georgia-Tennessee.
The SEC will require a tenth Power-Four opponent, creating games such as Kansas-Missouri, Oklahoma-Michigan and Clemson-LSU and moving Missouri-Arkansas to Week 8.

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Story summary

SEC will adopt a nine-game league schedule in 2026, ending divisions and historic rivalries to boost the strength of schedule for the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Each team will keep three annual opponents, preserving Alabama-Auburn, Florida-Georgia and Auburn-Georgia while dropping Florida-Tennessee, Alabama-LSU, Florida-LSU and Georgia-Tennessee.
The SEC will require a tenth Power-Four opponent, creating games such as Kansas-Missouri, Oklahoma-Michigan and Clemson-LSU and moving Missouri-Arkansas to Week 8.