The SEC football schedule will start featuring nine games, the conference announced on Thursday, Aug. 21.

Starting in the 2026 college football season, the conference will adopt a nine-game conference schedule. This follows in the format of the Big Ten and Big 12 conferences. The SEC had played an eight-game schedule since 1992, but will now expand due to conference realignment over the last several seasons.

"Adding a ninth SEC game underscores our universities’ commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said 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

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