SEC Releases A 9-Game Conference Schedule For 2026

Ellie Williamson
5 days ago
2 min read

Knoxville, TN - Starting with the 2026 season, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) will transition from an eight-game conference schedule to a nine-game SEC slate for all 16 teams.

This is one of the most significant changes in SEC football scheduling in decades. The new format was approved by the league and is designed to balance competitiveness, protect rivalries, and provide more frequent cross-conference matchups.

The additional SEC game ensures that teams play more meaningful conference games to improve strength-of-schedule and help with College Football Playoff considerations.

Structure Of The New Format

3 Annual Opponents: These are “set” conference rivals that every team will play each year. Each team’s nine conference games include these (permanent) opponents to preserve traditional rivalries,
6 Rotating Opponents: These rotate annually to ensure variety and fairness; every SEC team will play every other SEC team at least once every two years and both home and away within four years.
Non-Conference Requirements: SEC teams will also continue to schedule quality non-conference games, including at least one Power Four opponent (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12) or Notre Dame, to bolster out-of-conference strength of schedule.
The league will still maintain a single standings format (no divisions), but every team will now play nine SEC games instead of eight.

The Tennessee Volunteers’ 2026 SEC schedule was unveiled as part of the league’s nine-game rollout.

The conference schedule will include one bye week for each team, which helps with player rest and preparation during the long season.

The Bye Week is listed for the Vols as Oct.31. Not a treat for Vols fans, but more like a trick. They will be on the road to play South Carolina the week before.

Tennessee’s 2026 SEC Games

at Vanderbilt
vs. Alabama
vs. Kentucky
vs. Auburn
vs. LSU
vs. Texas
at Arkansas
at South Carolina
at Texas A&M

Notable Matchups

Alabama - A perennial top-tier opponent and one of the Volunteers’ biggest rivals.
Texas - A marquee matchup against one of college football’s marquee programs and a welcome to Tennessee moment for another “Manning”. The Vols and Longhorns will meet in the regular season for the first time ever. All three previous meetings occurred in Cotton Bowls 1951, 1953 and 1969.
LSU - The return of Lane Kiffin to Knoxville. It will be senior day. Enough said. It will be the first time the two teams have met since 2017.
Auburn - beloved former Vols OC Alex Golseh and former Vols DC Tim Banks will be a competitive force. Auburn comes to Knoxville for the first time since Nov. 9, 2013.