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SEC rivalry games created with football schedule expansion to nine games
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- SEC rivalry games created with football schedule expansion to nine games
The SEC will play a nine-game schedule beginning in 2026, the league announced on Thursday, bringing the conference in line with the Big Ten as the two heavyweights battle for Bowl Subdivision supremacy.
The long-debated, long-awaited decision will lead to a dramatic overhaul of the annual SEC schedule, creating the possibility for deeper rivalries and, in some cases, new rivalries born out of recent expansion.
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"The SEC has established itself as the leader in delivering the most compelling football schedule in college athletics," commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. "Fans will see traditional rivalries preserved, new matchups more frequently, and a level of competition unmatched across the nation."
Under the new arrangement, the SEC will retain a division-free alignment while playing three annual opponents. The format is "focused on maintaining many traditional rivalries," the league said.
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The remaining six games on each team's schedule will rotate through the non-rival portion of the SEC. Every team will play at least once every two years and every opponent home and away every four seasons.
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With these details complete, here's how the league should address each member's three permanent rivalries:
Alabama
Three opponents: Auburn, LSU, Tennessee
Alabama already plays all three rivals every year under the eight-game model, so not much would change for the Crimson Tide, though it will be one of the most-difficult trio of games.
Arkansas
Three opponents: Missouri, Texas, Texas A&M
This would rekindle the former Southwest Conference rivalry against Texas, known best for memorable matchups in 1964 and 1969 that decided national championships. The Razorbacks and A&M have met every year since 2009, predating the Aggies' move to the SEC, while Missouri has gone 9-2 in the series since becoming Arkansas' annual crossover opponent in 2014.
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Auburn
Three opponents: Alabama, Georgia, Vanderbilt
Auburn can't avoid Alabama and Georgia as annual rivals. Honestly, rounding things out with the Commodores would be the only fair thing to do.
Florida
Three opponents: Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee
The Gators' dance card should include rivals Georgia and Tennessee. While LSU would be a more fitting permanent rival than Kentucky, facing the Bulldogs, Volunteers and Tigers every season would be an unfair burden for Florida to carry. (The Gators' schedules the past few seasons have been hard enough.)
Georgia
Three opponents: Auburn, Florida, Mississippi
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As much as everyone would like to see Alabama and Georgia meet every year during the regular season, that's a matchup better left for the SEC championship game or expanded playoff.
Ken tucky
Three opponents: Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee
Kentucky absolutely has to play Tennessee, its biggest SEC rival and fiercest annual rival altogether this side of Louisville. The Wildcats have also split the last eight games against Florida, a rivalry that was once one of the most lopsided in the Power Four.
LSU
Three opponents: Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma
The matchup with Alabama would remain one of marquee games of the regular season across the FBS. The Rebels would give LSU a nearby rival and allow the Tigers to continue planting their recruiting flag in that talent-rich neighboring state. Oklahoma rounds out the Tigers' permanent opponents; making that a game could create a new SEC rivalry out of whole cloth.
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Mississippi
Three opponents: Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State
The Rebels wouldn't have it easy. In addition to the Egg Bowl on rivalry weekend, there'd be annual dates with LSU and the Georgia. But these rivals would present an opportunity — getting the Bulldogs and Tigers every year gives the Rebels the chance to earn wins that would resonate with the playoff committee and offset what has recently been a pretty paltry non-conference slate.
Mis sissippi State
Three opponents: Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina
Mississippi State is one SEC program that would benefit from a more varied conference schedule. Beyond the Egg Bowl, the Bulldogs would take on a very even series against South Carolina that has the Gamecocks holding a 10-7 advantage since joining the conference in the early 1990s.
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Missouri
Three opponents: Arkansas, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt
Arkansas and Missouri have attempted to kickstart a rivalry this past decade, though the Tigers have owned the series, as noted. Missouri took five of six from the Aggies as members of the Big 12 but are 2-3 in the SEC, including two losses in a row by a combined 52 points.
Oklahoma
Three opponents: Mississippi State, LSU, Texas
Mississippi State is one of five Power Five schools the Sooners have never played, along with Georgia Tech, Michigan State, Purdue and Rutgers. Oklahoma and Texas will continue to play the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl through at least 2036.
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South Carolina
Three opponents: Kentucky, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt
Clemson is the rival to end all rivals for South Carolina, which has struggled to find a similar foil in the SEC. The Gamecocks have done well against Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. Kentucky grabbed control of the series by taking seven of eight from 2014-21 but the Gamecocks have recently evened the score by taking three in a row.
Tennessee
Three opponents: Alabama, Florida, Kentucky
Alabama and Florida would be locked in for Tennessee, but there might be a temptation to sub out Kentucky for Vanderbilt, for example, to give the Volunteers more of a breather.
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Texas
Three opponents: Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M
Oklahoma, of course. As mentioned, Arkansas is an old-school rival. And then there's the series with Texas A&M, which was gloriously renewed this past season. If not great for the bottom line of wins, losses and national championships, these permanent games would make a good chunk of the Longhorns ' SEC schedule appointment viewing.
Texas A&M
Three opponents: Arkansas, Missouri, Texas
The Razorbacks and Tigers have become the Aggies' top SEC rivals, so it would make sense to maintain these matchups while adding in Texas.
Vanderbilt
Three opponents: Auburn, Missouri, South Carolina
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Vanderbilt is turning into a much more competitive opponent under coach Clark Lea, making what most opponents pencil in as an easy win into anything but. (Just ask Alabama about that.) These are three solid rivals for the Commodores, though the SEC might throw them into the mix with the Tide, Georgia or another favorite as a way to make thing a little easier for the league's best.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SEC football schedule expansion rivalry games projection
