The Southeastern Conference announces that starting in 2026, the league will have a nine-game conference schedule in football. The SEC has been playing eight conference games since 1992. LSU Executive Deputy Director of Athletics Verge Ausberry says a ninth conference game will help generate revenue for the SEC and LSU.
“I think now in the new age that we are in with the revenue sharing and things of that nature, these are ways we can generate more income for our programs, and it gives us one more quality game, which a lot of fans want to see, let’s be honest,” Ausberry said.
The SEC says each school will play three annual opponents focused on maintaining traditional rivalries. Ausberry says LSU does not know the three schools that the Tigers will play every year.
“We don’t know the exact format yet, how that’s going to look and who those opponents are going to be, but I think it fits well with what we’ve been trying to do as a conference,” said Ausberry.
The league is also requiring each team to play a non-conference game against a school from another Power Four conference or Notre Dame each season.
That leaves just two games on the schedule against a mid-major or an FCS school.
Expect the years that LSU hosts four SEC games that they will also host a school from a Power 4 conference.
With LSU set to host Clemson next season, it’s likely LSU will play four SEC home games next year and five on the road.
Ausberry says the SEC’s TV partners will appreciate having more compelling matchups.
“Just the value of the conference, the value of what it is for ESPN and ABC,” said Ausberry.
The SEC’s decision to move to a nine-game schedule comes one day after the College Football Playoff announced its selection committee will use new computerized metrics that will reward teams for playing good opponents.
