The SEC's shift to a 9-game conference schedule in 2026 pauses traditional rivalries like Florida-Tennessee and Alabama-LSU. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — It used to be the biggest rivalry game of the week, the month — maybe the entire season. In 2026, Florida and Tennessee will be complete strangers. Their once-a-year matchup that, back in the day, featured Steve Spurrier, Peyton Manning, Phil Fulmer and snark that sometimes even outweighed the stakes — “You can’t spell Citrus without ‘U-T’” — is absent from the schedule for the first time in 37 seasons.

Alabama-LSU — that’s gone too, for the first time since 1963. The Gators and LSU — they’ll miss each other for the first time since 1970. Such is the price of progress in the Southeastern Conference, which has grown from 10 teams in the old days to 16 now.

The league is introducing a nine-game league slate this season in an attempt to boost strength of schedule for what is now a playoff system that has a committee awarding seven at-large spots in the 12-team field. “When you look at our schedule, no one has created the kind of weekly competition that exists in the Southeastern Conference,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. He noted that despite the loss of some rivalries, the new schedule will test the strength of teams.

The Florida-Tennessee rivalry peaked in the 1990s during the Spurrier-Fulmer clashes. Both teams now have new coaches: Billy Napier at Florida and Josh Heupel at Tennessee. Their meeting won't return to the schedule until 2027. The Alabama-LSU rivalry resumes in 2027, and Florida-LSU returns in 2028.

The SEC added Texas and Oklahoma in 2024, reaching 16 teams. The nine-game schedule gives each team three permanent opponents, with the remaining six games rotating. While it pauses some traditional rivalries, it awakens others. For instance, the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry is revived for the first time since 2024. “We understand the importance of rivalries, but our job is to ensure teams have the strongest schedule,” Sankey said.

The new schedule has drawn mixed reactions from fans and coaches. Despite the loss of some traditional rivalries, the league believes it will enhance competitiveness in the national playoff. Florida coach Billy Napier said, “We’re ready for any schedule. Our goal is to win every week.” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel added, “It will test our team, but we’re ready for the challenge.”

The SEC will begin the 2026 season on Aug. 28. The new schedule will last until 2027, after which the league may review it.