2026 SEC 9 Game Conference Schedule

[OTFBrandon]

Now that next year the SEC is moving to the nine game schedule, I would like to believe they’re going to have three permanent opponents and six rotating every year. If that’s the case, who should our three main opponents be? The obvious answer is, A&M, OU, and Arky. Is there a world though that we decide to schedule someone other than the obvious least fiery rivalry “arkansas” with maybe LSU, Georgia, or Bama? Not to make Texas and Arkansas’s rivalry seem less then it is but could you imagine going to Athens, Tuscaloosa, or Death Valley every other year?

[Jeff Howe]

If it’s three permanent opponents, I would be willing to bet one is Arkansas. If the SEC takes input from schools seriously, there’s a decent chance it’ll happen because Arkansas really wants that game.

[Migas & Fajitas]

How could it not be A&M, OU, and Arky? I’d be disappointed and upset if it isn’t. I wouldn’t mind it going to 4 permanent. LSU or Mizzou with LSU as preference. 

[OTFBrandon]

2 hours ago, Migas & Fajitas said:

How could it not be A&M, OU, and Arky? I’d be disappointed and upset if it isn’t. I wouldn’t mind it going to 4 permanent. LSU or Mizzou with LSU as preference. 

i would be pretty disappointed too because i actually really enjoy the intensity from Arkansas, but if it is 4 permanent then LSU for sure

[ArizonaLonghorn]

2 hours ago, Migas & Fajitas said:

I wouldn’t mind it going to 4 permanent.

The numbers wouldn't work out as cleanly for a 9 game conference schedule with 4 permanent.

You'd have 4 permanent + 5 rotating but there would be 11 alternate year teams so you wouldn't get to play every team home/away every four years.

Three permanent + 6 rotating among the 12 remaining teams would be symmetrical - perfect.

[Bobby Burton]

Don’t you think they have to go on the road to Ole Miss and Tennessee?

[Migas & Fajitas]

47 minutes ago, ArizonaLonghorn said:

The numbers wouldn't work out as cleanly for a 9 game conference schedule with 4 permanent.

You'd have 4 permanent + 5 rotating but there would be 11 alternate year teams so you wouldn't get to play every team home/away every four years.

Three permanent + 6 rotating among the 12 remaining teams would be symmetrical - perfect.

Meh; every school can rotate two “11th” teams every 4 years; South Carolina and Kentucky. 

[Migas & Fajitas]

6 minutes ago, Bobby Burton said:

Don’t you think they have to go on the road to Ole Miss and Tennessee?

Heck yeah! Why wouldn’t we?

[LonghornFan4Ever]

2026 SEC Home Games:

- South Carolina

- Missouri

- Auburn

- Tennessee or LSU

 

2026 SEC Away Games:

- Arkansas

- Texas A&M

- Mississippi

- Tennessee or LSU

 

2026 SEC Neutral Game:

- Oklahoma (OU would be considered the "home" team in Dallas since it's an even year)

 

That would mean Texas would not play Alabama in the regular season in their first three seasons in the SEC, but it makes sense since they had the home and home in '22 and '23.

 

[genevalonghorn]

4 hours ago, OTFBrandon said:

Now that next year the SEC is moving to the nine game schedule, I would like to believe they’re going to have three permanent opponents and six rotating every year. If that’s the case, who should our three main opponents be? The obvious answer is, A&M, OU, and Arky. Is there a world though that we decide to schedule someone other than the obvious least fiery rivalry “arkansas” with maybe LSU, Georgia, or Bama? Not to make Texas and Arkansas’s rivalry seem less then it is but could you imagine going to Athens, Tuscaloosa, or Death Valley every other year?

Good question/topic.  I think the problem you run into once you lock in so many permanent games is you end up with the same scheduling imbalances the SEC has had for years.  

Take Slurp as an example.  Their top permanent game would be against us over the Thanksgiving weekend (and preferably, Thanksgiving).  The next likely candidate is LSU, maybe, who, in turn, would also be a likely opponent of Alabama.  
 

Our three would not be a picnic either.  The RRR is a rivalry game/tossup no matter the talent differential.  And OU won’t be “down” for more than a few years.  And Slrup/Arky are tough road environments and rivalries in their own right.

[ArizonaLonghorn]

1 minute ago, genevalonghorn said:

Good question/topic.  I think the problem you run into once you lock in so many permanent games is you end up with the same scheduling imbalances the SEC has had for years.  

When they discussed this earlier it was mentioned the league would revisit the "permanent three" every four years (after the home/away is done with the rotating 12) and adjust if someone ended up with too brutal a grouping.  The goal would be to try to keep it fairly even SOS wise.

This was from an article in The Athletic - so the league is aware of the potential problem.