Ole Miss and Mississippi State will soon have to adhere to a new football schedule. The SEC announced Thursday it will be joining its peers in the Big Ten and Big 12 in playing nine games against conference opponents beginning in 2026. SEC teams currently play eight games against conference foes.
The SEC’s decision was approved by the member-school presidents and chancellors following a recommendation by the league’s athletic directors. Commissioner Greg Sankey, who did not appear gung-ho over the prospect of moving to a nine-game format during SEC Media Days in July, made the announcement.
“Adding a ninth SEC game underscores our universities’ commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation,” Sankey said. “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 format, the SEC will continue with a single-standings, non-divisional structure, meaning the old East and West divisions are not returning. Each school will play three annual opponents, focused on maintaining many traditional rivalries, so the Egg Bowl will likely remain intact.
Each team’s remaining six games will rotate among the remaining conference schools, and all 16 SEC teams will face every other conference program at least once every two years and every opponent home and away in four years.
Another major update to the upcoming schedules for SEC teams includes a stipulation that programs will be required to schedule at least one additional “high-quality non-conference” opponent from the ACC, Big Ten, or Big 12 each season. Notre Dame, an independent school, will also suffice as a viable opponent.
“The SEC has established itself as the leader in delivering the most compelling football schedule in college athletics,” Sankey added. “Fans will see traditional rivalries preserved, new matchups more frequently, and a level of competition unmatched across the nation.”
The SEC has played eight conference games each season since 1992, when the conference first expanded from 10 to 12 teams with the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina. The SEC played seven conference games per year from 1988-91 and six games from 1974-1987. Prior to 1974, there was no requirement for the number of conference games to be played by each school, with most schools playing six or seven league contests per year.
As for the upcoming campaign, Ole Miss and Mississippi State will kick things off on August 30.
