The SEC announced on Thursday that it will implement a 9-game conference football schedule beginning in 2026. What does it mean for the rest of college football?
SEC Moves To 9-Game Conference Schedule
🚨 @SEC to implement nine-game conference football schedule beginning in 2026, reinforcing the SEC’s position as the nation’s leader in competitive excellence and fan excitement.
🔗 https://t.co/pMhRTuZGu0#SECFB x #ItJustMeansMore pic.twitter.com/NqzseBDd4E
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) August 21, 2025
The SEC has played eight conference games since 1992. Their insistence on playing eight conference games in the College Football Playoff era has been a controversial decision, especially because the Big Ten plays nine.
Starting in 2026, the eight-game schedule becomes a 9-game schedule.
Under the new format, the SEC will continue to play without divisions. The top two teams in the SEC at the end of the regular season will play in the conference championship game.
Each SEC school will play three annual opponents focused on traditional rivalries.
The remaining six conference games will rotate every year. Every school will face every other SEC program at least once every two years. From there, every SEC school will play every opponent home and away in four years.
Plus, every SEC school must schedule at least one additional “high-quality non-conference” game from the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, or Notre Dame.
“Adding a ninth SEC game underscores our universities’ commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey in a statement. “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.”
What Does This Change Mean For College Football?
If the SEC decides to move to a 9-game schedule, ACC leaders have said that they would likely follow suit – a move that puts all four power conferences at 9-game league schedules.
This may expedited discussions around future CFP formats.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 21, 2025
The SEC’s move to a nine-conference schedule could have a seismic effect on college football.
Per Ross Dellenger, the ACC will likely move to a 9-game conference schedule. If the ACC follows suit, the Power 4 conferences will all have 9-game conference schedules.
The SEC’s scheduling change will have its greatest impact on expansion in the College Football Playoff.
The 2025 season will have a 12-game playoff. However, the 2026 format is subject to change.
Conference commissioners have until Dec. 1 to agree on a new playoff format for the 2026 season. If they can’t come to a vote, it will remain at 12 teams.
The consensus is that every conference wants a bigger playoff. A 16-team playoff is the leading candidate. The SEC wants the 5+11 model, where the five highest-ranked conference champions automatically qualify for the playoff.
The remaining 11 teams will qualify via an at-large berth. In this model, there is no limit on the number of at-large berths a conference can receive.
The Big Ten initially favored a CFP that relied on automatic bids: 4 for the Big Ten, 4 for the SEC, 2 for the Big 12, 2 for the ACC, 1 for the highest-ranked Group of 6, and 3 at-large berths.
However, the Big 10 recently proposed a supersized 24- or 28-team playoff.
Regardless of the size, expansion will eventually hit the CFP again.
