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The Tuscaloosa News
In new SEC 9-game schedule, what could Alabama football protected rivalries be?
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- In new SEC 9-game schedule, what could Alabama football protected rivalries be?
The SEC football landscape is about to change.
Starting in 2026, SEC football teams will face a nine-game conference schedule , releasing a format SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said would protect rivalries, increase competitive balance and ensure SEC teams are "well prepared to compete and succeed in the College Football Playoff."
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Alabama football , like the rest of the SEC, will face three conference opponents annually, while playing its final six conference games against a rotation of the rest of the conference teams.
Who are the three opponents Alabama would likely see each season in its nine-game SEC schedule?
Alabama football vs. Auburn
The Iron Bowl has become a staple of Alabama 's yearly schedule, a game that has been played each season since 1948 and began in 1893.
Alabama currently holds a five-game win streak against Auburn , last falling to the Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2019.
Alabama holds a 51-37-1 advantage over Auburn, per Winsipedia.
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Alabama vs. Tennessee
Known as the "Third Saturday in October," Alabama has not missed its yearly date against Tennessee since 1928.
Alabama and Tennessee have split their past four meetings with the Volunteers taking wins against the Crimson Tide in each of the past two editions of the game in Knoxville.
Alabama holds a 60-39-8 advantage in its rivalry over Tennessee, per Winsipedia.
Alabama vs. LSU
A 1964 win for Alabama in Birmingham set up its yearly tradition against LSU. The Crimson Tide and Tigers have met uninterrupted in each season since, becoming affectionately known as either the "First Saturday in November" game or the "Saban Bowl."
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Alabama has taken four of its past five meetings against LSU, and holds a 57-27-5 advantage in the rivalry, per Winsipedia.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Predicting Alabama football protected rivalries in new SEC 9-game schedule
