SEC Teams Face Potential Loss in More Games Due to New Schedule Restrictions

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has announced a significant change in its scheduling format, moving from eight to nine conference games starting in 2026. This decision, which follows years of playing eight conference games while other top conferences have played nine, is expected to have a profound impact on the SEC, the Big Ten, and the College Football Playoff.

The increased competition within the SEC may strengthen the conference's case for being the toughest in the country. However, the change could make it more challenging for SEC teams to maintain quality records. This difficulty in maintaining quality records could make strength of schedule arguments more complex within the SEC.

Auburn University, one of the SEC's esteemed institutions, will be affected by this change. The Tigers will play three out-of-conference games in the 2025 season, including a Power 4 school, Baylor, and two lower-tier FBS teams, Ball State and South Alabama. The Tigers will also play an FCS team, Mercer, on November 22. The Auburn game against Mercer could replace an automatic win or a game with a high win expectancy against South Alabama.

The decision to shift to a nine-game conference schedule may have financial implications that will benefit the SEC. It could lead to more marquee matchups and increased ratings due to more frequent big-name team encounters, resulting in higher television revenue.

However, the increased number of conference games may not be fully realized by SEC fans in terms of its impact on regular season records. The SEC's Greg Sankey has stated that there is no rift between himself and the Big Ten's Tony Petitti, but the change may lead to more losses for its teams, as schools like Indiana, which have adopted an "SEC scheduling" philosophy, play nine games against Power 4 conferences.

The AFC (American Football Conference) has also announced for the year 2026 to increase the number of conference games from eight to nine, following a similar trend. This move marks a significant change for college football, potentially reshaping the landscape of the College Football Playoff and the overall competitive balance among conferences.