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The SEC has just announced a major transformation of its schedule as of the 2026 season. Each team will play nine intra-conference games instead of the current eight.
This decision, adopted by the conference's leaders, is in line with a logic of reinforcing competitiveness and tradition, and is a major issue in view of the playoffs. This decision will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the famous Strength Of Schedule.The playoff committee places increasing importance on the opponents encountered and their performance against them. An additional intra-conference match increases this “difficulty” of the schedule. With a possible 14- or 16-team playoff format, performance against strong opponents could carry a lot of weight. Each university will now have three fixed, annual opponents to retain its great rivalries such as: Texas vs Texas A&M, Alabama vs Auburn. The remaining six games will be allocated among the other teams in the conference, and a rotation will be established, ensuring that each team plays the others at least once every two years, both at home and on the road over four years. With this decision, the SEC joins the Big Ten and Big 12, who already play nine conference games. The ACC remains the only major conference to retain an eight-game format. Of course, a direct consequence of this decision will be increased conference revenues, with ESPN reportedly considering allocating an additional $50-80 million per year to broadcast the extra game. Commissioner Greg Sankey has stated that the 2026 schedule protects rivalries, strengthens competitiveness and prepares teams for success against the playoff selection committee. Another VERY positive impact of this decision is the removal of one Cupcake game for each team. Although it is an important source of revenue for lower-division teams. In week #11, I'll be more excited to watch Ole Miss than Mercer
Article by Patrick Thouin: regular contributor and College Football enthusiast
This content was created with the help of AI.
