In addition to likely improving each team's schedule strength by requiring 10 games against Power 4 competition, the format change will protect some longstanding rivalries on an annual basis. Each SEC team will play 3 conference opponents annually, with games against the other 12 teams in the league on a rotating basis.

The SEC's football schedules are going to look a bit different in 2026. The conference announced Thursday that its presidents have voted to adopt a nine-game conference schedule beginning in 2026, a long-awaited move that will bring it even with the Big Ten and Big 12.