JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - The SEC will play a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026, the league announced Thursday. The decision was approved by the SEC’s presidents and chancellors after a recommendation by the athletic directors in the conference.

Here's what the Crimson Tide's athletics director had to say about the SEC's move to a nine-game conference football schedule.

In the nine-game schedule, each team will play three teams annually as permanent opponents and the remaining 12 teams on a rotating basis. Over four years, each team will play every team in the conference at least once every two years and will have home and home matchups with every other member over a four-year period.