The SEC Is Moving to a 9-Game Schedule With a 10th Power 4 Game Required, So What Will Big Ten Fans Cry About Now?

This is as brutal a day for Big Ten fans as I can remember. The SEC will move to a 9-game conference schedule in 2026 and still maintain its rule that schools must play at least one other Power Four team in non-conference, to avoid a schedule that looks like Indiana’s — which Curt Cignetti somehow claims resembles an SEC schedule despite this glaring error.

My only hesitation with the 9-game schedule was losing fun non-conference games for most teams, but thankfully Greg Sankey and league decision makers wanted to maintain integrity and ensure the best teams in the country continue playing the best schedules in the country. Well done.

And in terms of league scheduling, the 9th game is the best way to make sure schedules are as even as possible. Each school will have three permanent rivalry opponents and play each of the other 12 teams every other year. This also means every player who stays in school for four years will play at every stadium in the conference instead of some teams going multiple presidential administrations between visits to each other’s campus.

It also means a fat check for everybody and one home game every other season turning from Toledo into Texas. I’m surprised it took this long for university presidents to sign up for that deal.

Dark day for the Big Ten, though. I have no doubt they will find something new to complain about, I’m just curious to see what it is.