It's Only SEC (but I like it....)
GEORGE SOMERVILLE – THE TOUCHDOWN SEC CORRESPONDENT
In August, the SEC announced that it would adopt a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026.
Going forward, the schedule will comprise nine conference games plus one other game played against a Power 4 opponent. Teams then have the freedom to schedule the two other teams as they see fit.
nine conference games
Of primary concern when restructuring the schedule is the protection of rivalry games, which in some cases stretch back over 100 years.
So, to do this, the SEC announced Tuesday this week, three teams that each opponent will play annually for the next four years.
To form the nine-game conference schedule, the remaining six SEC opponents will be determined by rotating the remaining SEC teams. This means that each school will play the other SEC schools at least once every two years, and every opponent will be played home and away over a four-year period.
In establishing the three schools which will play annually, the SEC prioritised “protecting traditional rivalries, competitive fairness, rotational frequency, and ensuring a home and away balance with a Power 4 non-conference opponent for the 2026 season”.
Who plays Who?
So, how did the matchups come out? Is everyone happy? Do they make sense?
Here are the matchups as per SEC press release.
Alabama – Auburn, Tennessee, Mississippi State
Arkansas – Missouri, Texas, LSU
Auburn – Georgia, Alabama, Vanderbilt
Florida – Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky
Georgia – Auburn, Florida, South Carolina
Kentucky – South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida
LSU – Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas A&M
Mississippi State – Ole Miss, Alabama, Vanderbilt
Missouri – Arkansas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma
Oklahoma – Texas, Ole Miss, Missouri
Ole Miss – Mississippi State, LSU, Oklahoma
South Carolina – Georgia, Kentucky, Florida
Tennessee – Alabama, Vanderbilt, Kentucky
Texas – Texas A&M, Arkansas, Oklahoma
Texas A&M – Texas, LSU, Missouri
Vanderbilt – Tennessee, Mississippi State, Auburn
You can view the full 2026-2029 Conference by schedule at the SEC website by clicking here.
Good news!
So let’s start with the good news!
It’s the SEC, so we know there are going to be some awesome games, but let’s start with the protection of those classic rivalry games.
Ok folks, let’s all relax and stand down on the craziness.
Of course, we still have the Iron Bowl and Egg Bowl, phew!
The World’s largest outdoor cocktail party remains, which is excellent news for alcohol sellers in the Jacksonville area. Of course, Red River is still a feature on the schedule – I mean, the SEC isn’t stupid! As will the recently revived “Texas Derby” between the Longhorns and the Aggies.
Alabama will still play the Vols on the third Saturday in October, keeping cigar manufacturers delighted.
The SEC’s oldest rivalry, the matchup between Georgia and Auburn, is also retained.
So far, so good.
The bad news
With all the good news, there must sadly be some bad news – some games have to be left out.
Well, perhaps the highest-profile game is Alabama vs. LSU. This is the game on the fixture list that both Schools look forward to. It’s also one of the biggest games on the schedule – so why has this game been dropped?
Keeping Tennessee and Auburn on the schedule was vital to maintaining those key rivalry games. However, the third team Alabama will face is Mississippi State.
90 Mile drive
For those outside the SEC, omitting the LSU game might seem like a faux pas, as it is one of the biggest games in the conference. However, Alabama’s game with Mississippi State is also one of the Conference’s oldest rivalry games.
Called the 90 Mile Drive, it is a rivalry between two teams that are the closest to each other in proximity. As a result, Mississippi State is the team that Alabama has faced up to more times than any other team in its history. The series dates back to 1896, and while it might not be as headline-grabbing as Tide v Tigers, it is one of the conference’s oldest rivalries.
Neither Georgia nor Florida has Tennessee on the three-game schedule.
However, this does not mean that these games disappear from the schedule. Far from it. It only means that these games won’t be played annually. As we already know, the schedule now means that the other games are on a rotation basis. Instead of an annual game, these will be played at least every other year.
you can’t please all of the people…
Of course, you can’t please everyone, and a fair share of criticism has already been dished out this week.
On the SEC Head coaches weekly teleconference this week, the Coaches were asked their view on the fixtures. Of course, most declined to comment or said they were too busy to focus on games that are a year away.
Except Lane Kiffin. Of course. Lane wasn’t happy with Oklahoma becoming an annual fixture on their schedule.
“Yeah, Oklahoma is really disappointing. We don’t have anything in common with them or our fans, so that doesn’t make any sense at all. And so that’s unfortunate with so many great teams that we’ve played for a long time here, especially from our SEC West years. So that’s unfortunate.”
As I say, not everyone is happy.
But for the rest of the schedule? It continues to serve up some of the best games in all of College football.
Worth the wait? You betcha!
GEORGE SOMERVILLE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WRITER
GEORGE IS A LONG STANDING FANATIC OF LIFE AND FOOTBALL IN THE DEEP SOUTH AND WRITES HIS WEEKLY COLUMN CALLED “IT’S ONLY SEC” FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. HE IS ALSO CO-HOST AND ONE THIRD OF THE COLLEGE CHAPS PODCAST, THE UK’S FIRST PODCAST DEDICATED TO THE COLLEGE GAME.