THEY FINALLY DID IT
After a few immensely tedious years of debate, SEC football is officially moving to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026.
As prescribed, that will involve each team playing six rotating opponents and three annual rivalry games every season. Plus at least one non-cupcake from the ACC, the Big Ten, the Big 12 or … Notre Dame.
“The SEC has established itself as the leader in delivering the most compelling football schedule in college athletics,” Commissioner Greg Sankey said. “Fans will see traditional rivalries preserved, new matchups more frequently, and a level of competition unmatched across the nation.”
Blah, blah, blah. Fabulous. Happy for you.
Here’s the real question around these parts: Who are Georgia’s permanent rivals?
One can assume that the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry (Auburn) won’t disappear after 134 years. The Game Formerly Known As The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (Florida) ain’t ending either.
After that, things get a little harder to handicap.
Disagree? Shoot me an email with your own thoughts and we’ll chat.
Semi-related: No. 17 Kansas State and No. 22 Iowa State kick off college football’s otherwise uninspiring “Week 0″ slate on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland. Watch at noon on ESPN.
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| We love when they (sort of) point to the headline. |
| Credit: Rodolfo Gonzalez/AP |
As prescribed, that will involve each team playing six rotating opponents and three annual rivalry games every season. Plus at least one non-cupcake from the ACC, the Big Ten, the Big 12 or … Notre Dame.
“The SEC has established itself as the leader in delivering the most compelling football schedule in college athletics,” Commissioner Greg Sankey said. “Fans will see traditional rivalries preserved, new matchups more frequently, and a level of competition unmatched across the nation.”
Blah, blah, blah. Fabulous. Happy for you.
Here’s the real question around these parts: Who are Georgia’s permanent rivals?One can assume that the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry (Auburn) won’t disappear after 134 years. The Game Formerly Known As The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (Florida) ain’t ending either.
After that, things get a little harder to handicap.
- Tennessee? Lots of juice and hobnail boots here. But it’s “only” been an annual thing since 1992 — and with the Vols figuring to continue their annual Alabama hatefest, they probably wouldn’t mind not playing the Bulldogs every year too.
- South Carolina? The Carolina folks see Georgia as their biggest SEC rival, which I will refrain from joking about out of respect for AJC editor-in-chief and proud Gamecock Leroy Chapman. But every UGA fan has fond memories of early September games in Columbia’s 4,000% humidity, right?
- Alabama? LOL. No. Only kinda sorta a rivalry to begin with, and that mostly left with Nick Saban.
- Missouri? An SEC East opponent for a few short years. A couple close games. Let’s not be silly.
- Kentucky? Vanderbilt? Not particularly exciting. But hey, someone’s got to.
Disagree? Shoot me an email with your own thoughts and we’ll chat.
Semi-related: No. 17 Kansas State and No. 22 Iowa State kick off college football’s otherwise uninspiring “Week 0″ slate on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland. Watch at noon on ESPN.