SEC scheduling was a simpler riddle when Nick Saban first took over at Alabama: eight conference games, clear divisions, and familiar rivalries. Fast-forward to 2026, and the league’s primary plan looks strange as teams brace themselves for an expanded nine-game battle. So, every SEC team will play one extra league opponent instead of an additional non-conference team. Naturally, some teams must cut ties out of conference. That’s precisely what Mississippi State did.

On October 10, On3’s beat writer for Mississippi State, Robbie Faulk, hopped onto X with upsetting news: “Mississippi State and Washington State’s matchups in 2030-31 have officially been canceled, according to an MSU spokesperson. It’s a mutual parting of ways, and neither team will be financially penalized.” The Bulldogs decided to cut ties with Washington State after the new nine-game conference plan came into play.

The conference will keep its single-standings format, with no East or West divisions. Each school will have three permanent rivals it plays yearly, like Alabama vs. Auburn or Georgia vs. Florida, while the other six SEC matchups will rotate. This rotation promises every team plays all others both home and away within four years. Automatically, it offers fans diverse games and maintains old-school historical rivalries.

However, Mississippi State and Washington State haven’t had a long-standing, intense football rivalry, unlike Georgia vs. Auburn. The connection between these two schools became special because of one legendary coach: Mike Leach. Notably, Hal Mumme, the “Godfather of the Air Raid,” and Leach combined their minds to transform a run-first game into the passing-first football we see today.

But unfortunately, Mike passed away while coaching Mississippi State. Before that, though, he was the head coach at Washington State, where he really put their program on the map with his exciting Air Raid offense. He made both teams must-see TV.

The SEC’s goal with the new schedule format is to create more matchups between league teams. Therefore, it ensures every team plays every other SEC team at least once every two seasons. It undoubtedly maximizes opportunities for its members to qualify for the College Football Playoff. This shift means some long-standing traditions, like the LSU-Mississippi State rivalry (played 117 times), are impacted as the league prioritizes other matchups within the expanded conference slate.

Also, the SEC will require each team to play at least one non-conference game against a major opponent from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, or Notre Dame. The rule change boosts each team’s schedule strength, which matters for considering the College Football Playoff. However, the pristine schedule might force some schools to cancel or change previously planned non-conference series to accommodate the extra SEC game.

How the 9-game slate impacts the SEC

Significantly, the principal goal behind this new plan is competitive fairness. By removing divisions and rotating opponents more frequently, the SEC hopes to avoid any imbalance seen in past years when some teams had much more demanding schedules than others. Recent examples are the Sooners and Gators. Oklahoma and Florida faced challenging schedules with multiple top-ranked teams blocking their stride. Remarkably, Florida didn’t have lady luck shining on them as they played the league’s three highest-ranked preseason teams in 2025 (Texas, Georgia, and LSU). Now that’s unfair.

According to SEC data, the difference between the hardest and easiest schedules under this new system is less than 9.02%, compared to over 21.56% under the old East/West division setup. That means every program from Georgia to Vanderbilt will face more or less difficulty over time.

Finally, the SEC balanced home and away games to ensure each school gets seven home games per season. In 2026, half the league will host five conference games while the other half hosts four, and they’ll alternate every year after that. The conference even allowed back-to-back games at the same venue to make the overall balance work.

This new structure aims to preserve the SEC’s traditions, provide fans with more exciting matchups, and make the previously rocky path to the playoffs as fair and competitive as possible. Are you all excited for the next season? Let us know in the comments below.