SEC annual opponents, explained: Why Alabama-LSU game reportedly won't be played and more to know

The SEC is moving to a nine-game conference schedule starting next season. It's a historic move for the conference, but it joins the likes of the Big 12 and Big Ten to play a nine-game conference schedule. 

In the modern College Football Playoff era, conferences are doing whatever it takes to make a favorable impression on the selection committee. But with the new nine-game conference schedule comes a few changes.

For starters, the league will assign four annual opponents to teams across the conference. Those games will be played for the next four years, and then will be re-evaluated by the conference every four years. 

In advance of the SEC's unveiling of the nine-game conference schedule on Tuesday evening, On3's Chris Low received the annual opponents for each team. 

While some teams' annual opponents are traditional rivals, others are not, which leads to plenty of speculation surrounding the perseverance of traditional rivalries in the new nine-game SEC schedule.

Let's take a look at the SEC annual opponents for the 2026-2030 seasons.  

More: College football picks, predictions against the spread for Week 5 matchups

SEC annual opponents, explained

As Low reports, the annual opponents, for now, just represent three guaranteed matchups for each team for the next four years. Low added that these are "annual" opponents—not permanent on Monday. 

Entire 9-game schedules will be announced Tuesday on SEC Network. Keep in mind the three annual opponents will be re-evaluated every four years. Lotta factors involved, including protecting traditional rivalries. https://t.co/SPebiSy8wK

— Chris Low (@clowfb) September 22, 2025

When the full nine-game schedules are released, there's a chance that permanent rivals—like LSU-Florida and Alabama-LSU could be included in the full nine-game slates. 

Here's a look at each annual opponent for each SEC team.

More: Week 5 college football first look: Penn State-Oregon, Alabama-Georgia and more 

Notable SEC matchups not scheduled

So yes, for now, it appears as if rivalries such as LSU-Alabama, LSU-Florida and Tennessee-Georgia may not be happening. 

It's not yet official if SEC commissioner Greg Sankey will let these beloved conference rivalries die after adding one extra conference game to the schedule. Plus, the SEC was very clear in its initial announcement that traditional rivalries will be protected. But obviously, moving to a new scheduling format means there will be some changes regardless.  

LSU-Alabama

This one is by far the most notable. Alabama holds a 57-5-27 overall record over the Tigers, and the Tide won eight straight from 2011-2018. Heck, the "Game of the Century" from 2011 was so good—a gritty 9-6 LSU victory—that it gave us the first-ever BCS Championship rematch. That in itself was the catalyst for the new CFP era.

Brian Kelly's LSU team defeated the Tide 32-31 in overtime in 2022, but Alabama has won the last two straight. 

Tennessee-Georgia

Although this has been an annual rivalry since 1992, it's gotten heated in recent years. It's particularly a shame that the rivalry is seemingly ending after this year's thriller, a Georgia 44-41 victory in overtime. The win gave the Dawgs a ninth-straight win over the Vols. Tennessee dominated the series in the 1990s with Philip Fulmer, but Georgia has a 30-2-23 overall edge in the series. 

Florida-LSU

Although Florida has notable, big rivals like Florida State and Georgia, LSU is by far the most heated. It's been filled with bad blood and chippiness, especially in the last 15 years.

More: College Football Playoff bracket for Week 5: Projecting top four seeds, first-round matchups, bubble teams 

Tennessee-Florida

Florida not playing Tennessee is equally surprising. The two have played every year since 1990, and Florida had an FBS-record 11-straight wins from 2005-2015.

Notable SEC matchups scheduled

Auburn-Georgia 

Nicknamed "The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry," these two rivals have played each other since the 1890s. Back in the day, these two teams played each other in various cities in Georgia, like Atlanta, Macon, Ga., Columbus and Savannah. 

But starting in 1959, they began swapping between Athens and Auburn consistently. Georgia holds a 65-8-56 overall edge in the rivalry, and the Dawgs have won in the last eight straight meetings.  

Florida-Georgia

Yes, it's Florida-Georgia, not Georgia-Florida. Colloquially named "The World's Largest Cocktail Party," it's played in Jacksonville, Fla. But due to planned renovations at Everbank, the game will be played in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in 2026, and in Tampa in 2027 before moving back to each year.

Tennessee-Alabama

The rivalry dubbed "The Third Saturday in October" has been played pretty consistently, dating back to the 1920s. Alabama has a 59-7-40 overall edge in this series, having won 15 straight from 2007-2021. Tennessee won seven games in this series from 1995-2001.  

Texas-Texas A&M

Having this one included on this list is pretty special. That's because these two longtime rivals didn't play the "Lonestar Showdown" from 2011-2023 thanks to the Aggies leaving for the SEC. Texas' 17-7 win over TAMU last season marked the first matchup between the two in 13 seasons. 

Ole Miss-Mississippi State

The "Egg Bowl" has become synonymous with Thanksgiving, as it's been played on the last Thursday in November 23 times, from 2017-2023. Unfortunately, the game was moved to Black Friday in 2024, and it appears it'll be set there for years to come. 

Auburn-Alabama

The Iron Bowl is both an SEC and Rivalry Week staple. The Tide have dominated the series, with a 51-137 overall mark in the rivalry. Alabama has also won 13 of the last 16 meetings dating back to 2008. The Tigers' longest win streak in the series is when it won six straight from 2002-07.