SEC athletic directors are inching towards a nine-game conference football schedule, as sources revealed to CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello. This change comes as the College Football Playoff is set to implement new metrics in 2025 that prioritize schedule strength, potentially benefiting SEC teams.

The proposed move signifies a major shift for the SEC, where traditionally, teams play eight conference games each season. Conference presidents are expected to convene soon for a final decision, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger. The league has been discussing this idea for over four years, but increased television revenue and playoff positioning advantages have reignited interest.

In the suggested nine-game format, each SEC team would face three permanent conference opponents while rotating through six others each season.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey addressed the scheduling debate earlier this summer. Although he refrained from confirming whether the nine-game schedule would be introduced in 2026, he emphasized the league’s current rigor.

“It’s absolutely, fully and 100% correct that we play eight conference games, while others play nine conference games,” Sankey remarked, adding that last season, all 16 SEC members faced at least nine games against what are considered power opponents.

Sankey mentioned the necessity for a timely decision regarding the move to nine games but did not provide a schedule for the 2026 season’s release.

Potential Implications of Adopting the Nine-Game Schedule

Should the SEC approve the new schedule, the ACC is likely to follow suit, potentially leading all Power Four conferences to align with a uniform nine-game schedule, as noted by Dellenger. Such a shift could streamline College Football Playoff evaluations by simplifying the selection committee’s comparisons of teams across different conferences.

This week, the CFP announced a new “record strength” metric for 2025, which will reward victories over quality opponents while reducing penalties for losses against tougher teams. The aim is for the committee to construct a postseason bracket that acknowledges the best performances during the regular season.

With a nine-game schedule, SEC teams would have further opportunities to compete against high-level opponents, aiding the league in maximizing its representation based on the new metrics. The ACC may feel compelled to mirror this format to stay competitive, potentially creating significant ripple effects throughout college football linked to the structure of future CFP.