2026 SEC Football Schedule: First Look, Key Games & Storylines

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The 2026 SEC college football schedule is out, and for the most part, it’s not all that awful for most teams – reasonably speaking.

The nine-game SEC slates are more spread out, and they appear to be relatively fair. 

Of course, SEC schedules are always challenging, to be nice about it, but what conference teams does everyone miss, how tough are the slates, and what’s the first thought on what everyone has to work with?

We’ll do a deep dive on each team’s schedule in a few weeks once the transfer portal dust starts to settle.

Early Analysis for Every Team: Key Games, Storylines, and 2026 SEC Schedule Outlook

Alabama Crimson Tide

Early Storylines: There’s no “gauntlet” this year – it’s a typical SEC schedule, with plenty of tough tests and nasty games to deal with. But it’s Alabama – there’s nothing here it’s not supposed to be able to handle. The Georgia and Texas A&M games are at home, but Kentucky, Mississippi State, and (yes, this will slow down without Mr. Pavia) Vanderbilt on the road is hardly awful.

Three Biggest Games: 1) Georgia, 2) at LSU, 3) at Tennessee (yes, Auburn is always big, too).

Sept. 5 East Carolina
Sept. 12 at Kentucky
Sept. 19 Florida State
Sept. 26 South Carolina
Oct. 3 at Mississippi State
Oct. 10 Georgia
Oct. 17 at Tennessee
Oct. 24 Texas A&M
Oct. 31 OPEN DATE
Nov. 7 at LSU
Nov. 14 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 21 Chattanooga
Nov. 28 Auburn

SEC Teams Missed: Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas

Arkansas Razorbacks

Early Storylines: Going to Utah is among the most dangerous non-conference games anyone in the SEC has to deal with, but the rest of the slate isn’t totally awful. The SEC road dates aren’t easy, but there aren’t two road games in a row, and missing Alabama and Oklahoma is a big deal.

Three Biggest Games: 1) at Texas, 2) at Texas A&M, 3) Georgia

Sept. 5 North Alabama
Sept. 12 at Utah
Sept. 19 Georgia
Sept. 26 Tulsa
Oct. 3 at Texas A&M
Oct. 10 Tennessee
Oct. 17 at Vanderbilt
Oct. 24 OPEN DATE
Oct. 31 Missouri
Nov. 7 at Auburn
Nov. 14 South Carolina
Nov. 21 at Texas
Nov. 28 LSU

SEC Teams Missed: Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss

Auburn Tigers

Early Storylines: It’s not bad, and there should be a 4-0 start if the Tigers can get everything in place right away. The road games are brutal – especially if Mississippi State is good – but the November run of Arkansas, at Miss State, and Samford is about as nice as it reasonably gets.

Three Biggest Games: 1) at Alabama, 2) at Georgia, 3) at Tennessee

Sept. 5 Baylor (in Atlanta)
Sept. 12 Southern Miss
Sept. 19 Florida
Sept. 26 Vanderbilt
Oct. 3 at Tennessee
Oct 10 OPEN DATE
Oct. 17 at Georgia
Oct. 24 LSU
Oct. 31 at Ole Miss
Nov. 7 Arkansas
Nov. 14 at Mississippi State
Nov. 21 Samford
Nov. 28 at Alabama

SEC Teams Missed: Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Texas A&M

Florida Gators

Early Storylines: It all depends on whether or not Vanderbilt stays good, and if Florida State is back to being dangerous. If they’re both blah, there’s a lot to like about the beginning and the finishing kick. As road games go, playing three teams that didn’t go to a bowl, and Missouri and Texas, is workable.

Three Biggest Games: 1) Georgia, 2) at Texas, 3) Oklahoma

Sept. 5 Florida Atlantic
Sept. 12 Campbell
Sept. 19 at Auburn
Sept. 26 Ole Miss
Oct. 3 at Missouri
Oct. 10 South Carolina
Oct. 17 at Texas
Oct. 24 OPEN DATE
Oct. 31 Georgia (in Atlanta)
Nov. 7 Oklahoma
Nov. 14 at Kentucky
Nov. 21 Vanderbilt
Nov. 28 at Florida State

SEC Teams Missed: Alabama, Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas A&M

Georgia Bulldogs

Early Storylines: The Bulldogs should be 5-0 going into the road date at Alabama. Overall, this is the type of slate that should lead to another College Football Playoff berth. Missing LSU, Tennessee, Texas, and Texas A&M is dreamy, but the late run of three games away from Athens in four weeks will be a test.

Three Biggest Games: 1) at Alabama, 2) Oklahoma, 3) Florida

Sept. 5 Tennessee State
Sept. 12 Western Kentucky
Sept. 19 at Arkansas
Sept. 26 Oklahoma
Oct. 3 Vanderbilt
Oct. 10 at Alabama
Oct. 17 Auburn
Oct. 24 OPEN DATE
Oct. 31 Florida (in Atlanta)
Nov. 7 at Ole Miss
Nov. 14 Missouri
Nov. 21 at South Carolina
Nov. 28 Georgia Tech

SEC Teams Missed: Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M

Kentucky Wildcats

Early Storylines: The schedule shouldn’t be a massive barrier to a quick improvement. Missing Georgia and Texas is a great start, and there should be more than enough winnable opportunities to make this a turnaround year. The one big problem is the lack of two home games in a row after the start, but it’s manageable.

Three Biggest Games: 1) at Texas A&M, 2) at Oklahoma, 3) LSU

Sept. 5 Youngstown State
Sept. 12 Alabama
Sept. 19 at Texas A&M
Sept. 26 South Alabama
Oct. 3 at South Carolina
Oct. 10 LSU
Oct. 17 at Oklahoma
Oct. 24 Vanderbilt
Oct. 31 OPEN DATE
Nov. 7 at Tennessee
Nov. 14 Florida
Nov. 21 at Missouri
Nov. 28 Louisville

SEC Teams Missed: Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas

LSU Tigers

Early Storylines: Seriously, it doesn’t get more cheeky than opening up the SEC season than at Ole Miss. But for the most part, the SEC couldn’t have given Lane Kiffin more of a break with just two relatively light road games – Kentucky and Auburn – over a two-month span before closing at Tennessee and Auburn.

Three Biggest Games: 1) at Ole Miss, 2) Alabama, 3) Texas

Sept. 5 Clemson
Sept. 12 Louisiana Tech
Sept. 19 at Ole Miss
Sept. 26 Texas A&M
Oct. 3 McNeese
Oct. 10 at Kentucky
Oct. 17 Mississippi State
Oct. 24 at Auburn
Oct. 31 OPEN DATE
Nov. 7 Alabama
Nov. 14 Texas
Nov. 21 at Tennessee
Nov. 28 at Arkansas

SEC Teams Missed: Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Vanderbilt

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Early Storylines: A lot of the SEC teams have schedules that shouldn’t be too bad if they’re as good talent-wise as they’re hoping to be. The Mississippi State slate is absolutely brutal. The Bulldogs probably won’t be favored seven straight games after starting at ULM, but not leaving Mississippi in November should help.

Three Biggest Games: 1) at Ole Miss, 2) at Texas, 3) Alabama

Sept. 5 ULM
Sept. 12 at Minnesota
Sept. 19 at South Carolina
Sept. 26 Missouri
Oct. 3 Alabama
Oct. 10 OPEN DATE
Oct. 17 at LSU
Oct. 24 Oklahoma
Oct. 31 at Texas
Nov. 7 Vanderbilt
Nov. 14 Auburn
Nov. 21 Tennessee Tech
Nov. 28 at Ole Miss

SEC Teams Missed: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas A&M

Missouri Tigers

Early Storylines: The rivalry game at Kansas is fun, but once again, there isn’t a lot of traveling for Mizzou early on. If Mississippi State is your first SEC road game before October 17th, you’re okay. November has the potential to be a bear, though.

Three Biggest Games: 1) at Georgia, 2) Texas, 3) Texas A&M

Sept. 5 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Sept. 12 at Kansas
Sept. 19 Troy
Sept. 26 at Mississippi State
Oct. 3 Florida
Oct. 10 Texas A&M
Oct. 17 at Ole Miss
Oct. 24 OPEN DATE
Oct. 31 at Arkansas
Nov. 7 Texas
Nov. 14 at Georgia
Nov. 21 Kentucky
Nov. 28 Oklahoma

SEC Teams Missed: Alabama, Auburn, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt

Oklahoma Sooners

Early Analysis: The trip to Michigan is the road game that beats the Arkansas date at Utah for the toughest non-conference game, and having to go to Georgia, and then face Texas within the first half of the season isn’t fair. Missing Alabama, LSU, and Tennessee should help, and the last three SEC road games are winnable.

Three Biggest Games: 1) at Michigan, 2) Texas, 3) at Georgia

Sept. 5 UTEP
Sept. 12 at Michigan
Sept. 19 New Mexico
Sept. 26 at Georgia
Oct. 3 OPEN DATE
Oct. 10 Texas (in Dallas)
Oct. 17 Kentucky
Oct. 24 at Mississippi State
Oct. 31 South Carolina
Nov. 7 at Florida
Nov. 14 Ole Miss
Nov. 21 Texas A&M
Nov. 28 at Missouri

SEC Teams Missed: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee, Vanderbilt

Ole Miss Rebels

Early Storylines: Getting the LSU Fighting Kiffins at home to start the SEC season should be fun, and going to Florida, Vanderbilt, Texas, and Oklahoma will all be dangerous tests. On the plus side, there’s just one road game over the last five dates.

Three Biggest Games: 1) LSU, 2) at Texas, 3) Georgia

Sept. 5 Louisville (in Nashville)
Sept. 12 Charlotte
Sept. 19 LSU
Sept. 26 at Florida
Oct. 3 OPEN DATE
Oct. 10 at Vanderbilt
Oct. 17 Missouri
Oct. 24 at Texas
Oct. 31 Auburn
Nov. 7 Georgia
Nov. 14 at Oklahoma
Nov. 21 Wofford
Nov. 28 Mississippi State

SEC Teams Missed: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M

South Carolina Gamecocks

Early Storylines: No excuses, South Carolina – you HAVE to start at least 4-1 with this gift of an opening first part of the season. However, out of all the SEC teams you could pick to miss, you’d like to have more than LSU and Texas among the six. The finishing kick is the gauntlet everyone tried to sell you that Alabama faced in 2025.

Three Biggest Games: 1) at Alabama, 2) at Oklahoma, 3) at Clemson

Sept. 5 Kent State
Sept. 12 Towson
Sept. 19 Mississippi State
Sept. 26 at Alabama
Oct. 3 Kentucky
Oct. 10 at Florida
Oct. 17 OPEN DATE
Oct. 24 Tennessee
Oct. 31 at Oklahoma
Nov. 7 Texas A&M
Nov. 14 at Arkansas
Nov. 21 Georgia
Nov. 28 at Clemson

SEC Teams Missed: Auburn, LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, Texas, Vanderbilt

Tennessee Volunteers

Early Storylines: All things considered, four of the five road games – Georgia Tech, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt – are about as nice as can be asked for, and getting Texas and Alabama at home, and not dealing with Georgia or Oklahoma, is about as wonderful as can be asked for.

Three Biggest Games: 1) Alabama, 2) at Texas A&M, 3) Texas 

Sept. 5 Furman
Sept. 12 at Georgia Tech
Sept. 19 Kennesaw State
Sept. 26 Texas
Oct. 3 Auburn
Oct. 10 at Arkansas
Oct. 17 Alabama
Oct. 24 at South Carolina
Oct. 31 OPEN DATE
Nov. 7 Kentucky
Nov. 14 at Texas A&M
Nov. 21 LSU
Nov. 28 at Vanderbilt

SEC Teams Missed: Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss

Texas Longhorns

Early Storylines: Okay, Texas – now you get Ohio State in your house. There’s no Alabama or Georgia to face, but three of the last four games on the road – to go along with the dates away from Austin against Texas and Oklahoma – won’t make this easy.

Three Biggest Games: 1) Ohio State, 2) at Texas A&M, 3) Oklahoma

Sept. 5 Texas State
Sept. 12 Ohio State
Sept. 19 UTSA
Sept. 26 at Tennessee
Oct. 3 OPEN DATE
Oct. 10 vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas)
Oct. 17 Florida
Oct. 24 Ole Miss
Oct. 31 Mississippi State
Nov. 7 at Missouri
Nov. 14 at LSU
Nov. 21 Arkansas
Nov. 27 at Texas A&M

SEC Teams Missed: Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Vanderbilt

Texas A&M Aggies

Early Analysis: No Notre Dame this time around, although Arizona State is a decent non-conference game. There’s the awful break of three road games in four dates before finishing up with Texas, and going to LSU, Alabama, and Oklahoma – good luck with that.

Three Biggest Games: 1) at Alabama, 2) Texas, 3) at Oklahoma

Sept. 5 Missouri State
Sept. 12 Arizona State
Sept. 19 Kentucky
Sept. 26 at LSU
Oct. 3 Arkansas
Oct. 10 at Missouri
Oct. 17 Citadel
Oct. 24 at Alabama
Oct. 31 OPEN DATE
Nov. 7 at South Carolina
Nov. 14 Tennessee
Nov. 21 at Oklahoma
Nov. 27 Texas

SEC Teams Missed: Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt Commodores

Early Analysis: If the Commodores are okay post-Pavia, they should start 3-0, and only the trip to Georgia is truly brutal before hosting Alabama in mid-November. Not having to play Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, and Texas is a gift.

Three Biggest Games: 1) Alabama, 2) at Georgia, 3) Tennessee

Sept. 5 Austin Peay
Sept. 12 Delaware
Sept. 19 NC State
Sept. 26 at Auburn
Oct. 3 at Georgia
Oct. 10 Ole Miss
Oct. 17 Arkansas
Oct. 24 at Kentucky
Oct. 31 OPEN DATE
Nov. 7 at Mississippi State
Nov. 14 Alabama
Nov. 21 at Florida
Nov. 28 Tennessee

SEC Teams Missed: Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Texas A&M

Related: 3 Simple Fixes To Improve and Expand the College Football Playoff

This story was originally published by College Football News on Dec 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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