Report: SEC moves to conference-only football schedule

By Will Leverett

Share or Save for Later

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Save to Favorites

The SEC will play a 10-game, conference-only schedule according to a report from AL.com. The presidents reportedly voted on the measure on Thursday afternoon. 

Under this plan, the league will start play on Sept. 26, with an SEC championship game occurring on Dec. 19. It’s unclear at this time how the league will handle a move from eight to 10 conference games. 

The SEC becomes just the latest Power Five league to move to a conference-only schedule, joining the Big Ten and Pac-12. The ACC passed a plan that allowed one nonconference game in hopes of keeping rivalry games like South Carolina-Clemson alive, but those will now be canceled with the news. 

With this reported decision, nonconference games involving Texas schools and SEC programs are likely off the table. That includes Baylor’s neutral site matchup with Ole Miss, Texas’ road tilt with LSU and UTSA’s money game with LSU. 

This decision leaves the Big 12 as the only Power Five conference waiting to change its schedule. The league's athletic directors have consistently noted that it wants to play a 12-game schedule. TCU, Oklahoma and Texas Tech have even tried to reschedule games after cancelation. But with the other Power Five leagues now likely cutting nonconference, it leaves the conference in a precarious spot. 

Additionally, the decision likely has major consequences for Texas A&M's projected 2020 success. The Aggies lose nonconference matchups with Abilene Christian, North Texas, Fresno State and Colorado, and will likely replace two of those games with two SEC East opponents. The list of contenders includes Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee. 

This article is available to our Digital Subscribers.
Click "Subscribe Now" to see a list of subscription offers.
Already a Subscriber? Sign In to access this content.

Sign In
Don't Miss Any Exclusive Coverage!

We've been the Bible of Texas football fans for 64 years. By joining the DCTF family you'll gain access to all of our exclusive content and have our magazines mailed to you!