The SEC is going to a nine-game schedule in 2026 with three annual rivalries. Tennessee football should face Alabama, Florida and Vanderbilt

Aspects of the nine-game schedule include the league sticking with its non-divisional structure, each school playing three annual opponents with a focus on traditional rivalries, the other six opponents on a rotation and facing every SEC opponent at least once every two years and every opponent home and away in four years.

The SEC will move to a nine game conference schedule beginning in 2026. “Adding a ninth SEC game underscores our universities’ commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation,