The SEC will play a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026, the league said Thursday, a historic move it's been considering for years. The decision was approved by the SEC's presidents and chancellors after a recommendation by the athletic directors in the conference.

The SEC has played eight conference games each season since 1992 when the conference expanded to 12 teams with the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina. The Atlantic Coast Conference still plays eight league games. The Big 12 and the Big Ten already play nine. Under the SEC's new format:

After years of deliberation, the SEC has announced it is moving to a nine-game conference schedule, aligning with the Big Ten and Big 12's formats.