SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has announced the league’s plans for a nine-game conference schedule, set to begin next season. The move is expected to balance the league schedules and provide a clearer picture for the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee.
The decision comes after the SEC landed only three teams in last year’s CFP playoff. Sankey has stated that moving from eight games to nine should be celebrated, as it will help schools make more money and give the league more leverage at the negotiating table.
A key reason for the move is to counterbalance the growing power of the Big Ten conference. The SEC wants to ensure its teams have a fair chance to compete in the playoff. By adding an extra conference game, the SEC aims to land at least four teams in every playoff.
The new schedule will feature three permanent rivals and six rotating opponents for each team. Alabama’s permanent rivals are expected to be Tennessee, Auburn, and LSU, with Florida potentially becoming the third rival for Auburn.
While some may see this move as a way to boost the SEC’s power, fans should be excited about the changes. The new schedule will provide more opportunities for teams to compete and improve their chances in the playoff.
In other news, a recent study found that being called lazy is the biggest insult to a Southern man’s character. Fans from Mississippi State have even taken to swinging cowbells on game days, which has led some to label the stadium as the “laziest” in the SEC.
As for Joe Goodman’s random thoughts, he wonders what it would be like if eating radioactive shrimp turned him into Prawn-Man and gave him the ability to swim backwards into time. He even considers convincing Bart Starr to go to Auburn.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story, and don’t forget to send Joe your questions or concerns via email.
Source: https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2025/08/goodman-auburns-new-permanent-rival-dont-ask-tebow.html