SEC adopts nine‑game conference schedule, suspending historic rivalries

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) will shift to a nine‑game conference slate beginning this season, a format that will remain in place through 2029. The change follows the league’s expansion to 16 members and is intended to strengthen each team’s schedule for the college‑football playoff system.

Under the new model each school will retain three “annual” opponents. Long‑standing matchups such as Alabama‑Auburn, Florida‑Georgia and Auburn‑Georgia are preserved, while others will be skipped for the first time in decades, including Florida‑Tennessee (absent since 1989), Alabama‑LSU (missing since 1963), Florida‑LSU (absent since 1970) and Georgia‑Tennessee (unplayed since 1992). The SEC also reinstated the Arkansas‑Texas game as an annual contest.

Commissioner Greg Sankey said the nine‑game schedule is meant to create stronger weekly competition and improve the conference’s résumé for the twelve‑team playoff field.