UK Athletics Photo
Kentucky made it clear it was not in favor of a nine-game Southeastern Conference football schedule but now athletics director Mitch Barnhart and coach Mark Stoops have no choice but to deal with it.
The Southeastern Conference announced Thursday that starting in 2026 it will implement a nine-game football schedule. The decision was approved by the SEC’s Presidents and Chancellors following a recommendation by the league’s Athletics Directors.
“Adding a ninth SEC game underscores our universities’ commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “This format protects rivalries, increases competitive balance, and paired with our requirement to play an additional Power opponent, ensures SEC teams are well prepared to compete and succeed in the College Football Playoff.”
This is all about getting more SEC teams in the national playoffs but certainly is no bonus for Kentucky. It will cost Kentucky a home game every other year — and that’s a lot of lost revenue — plus make it much more difficult for UK to achieve a winning season.
Each school will play three annual opponents focused on maintaining many traditional rivalries so that should assure Tennessee remains on the UK schedule. The remaining six league games will rotate among the other SEC schools and each team will face every other SEC program at least once every two years and every opponent home and away in four years — scheduling that fans should like.
The SEC will also require teams to schedule at least one additional high quality non-conference from the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten or Big 12 conferences or Notre Dame each season.
That would seem to give UK no reason to drop the annual game with Louisville since the Cards are a Power Four team playing in the ACC. Why try to find another ACC, Big Ten or Big 12 conference opponent when Louisville checks all the boxes and fans will want that game.
“The SEC has established itself as the leader in delivering the most compelling football schedule in college athletics,” Sankey said. “Fans will see traditional rivalries preserved, new matchups more frequently, and a level of competition unmatched across the nation.”
Again, that makes Louisville the obvious fit for Kentucky’s schedule.
The SEC has played eight conference games each season since 1992 when the conference first expanded from 10 to 12 teams. The SEC played seven conference games per year from 1988-1991 and six games from 1974-1987.
12 Responses
This change cements the death knell for Mark Stoops. There is no way a Stoops coached team will ever become bowl eligible more than 1 year out of 10. For $9.5 million, Kentucky can hire a coach who can make our football team respectable again. We have to get rid of Barnhart first!
BP……is it too early to order the R.I.P for Stoop's head stone?
Mike, you tell me who we are going to beat this year? We are looking at 3, maybe 4 wins tops and that is only due to having 3 Popcorn States on the schedule. Next year, there will only be two.
Momentum seems to be building locally and nationally that he needs to be Caliparied. He caught the wave of some mediocrity in both playing/coaching in SEC and it all has passed him by.
More money in the coffers of the SEC comes at a cost: 8 teams will lose another conference game each year. That makes it harder to get bowl bids, CFP invites and winning seasons. SEC greed is resulting in the conference “eating its own tribe” with this change.
Hard to envision UK (and several other schools) thriving in this 9 game scenario.
No coach is going to succeed at KY with the current economy unless you can get Apple, Toyota and couple of health care companies to drop a huge amount in the KY NIL combine. KY's economy is just not big enough to compete with the Big 10, and the rest of the SEC. Consequently, Stoops is about as big time as you are going to get. I will admit that a $9Million salary would be tempting for a high-profile coach but he would have to have a death wish to sign up with KY.
Everyone has a solid comment with supporting facts. I agree with all the above.
The 1st thing I considered when the SEC announced the 9th game was the fact that UK and a few others are now virtually guaranteed another loss about 3 out of every 4 seasons. That’s because 3/4 of the SEC teams have passed up UK during the past 3 to 4 seasons while Stoops sunk to the miserable 4 wins while being more than fully supported by Barney.
It’s sad when UK is in such a downward spiral and the best UK can do is hire an inept OC thru the revolving door plan and leave a 6 yard per carry RB on the bench because Stoops has a personal grievance. Improvement does not happen thru ignorance.
The new 9 SEC game schedule would have 3 rival teams that a school would play every year and play the remaining 12 schools once every 2 years. It has been suggested that Florida's 3 rival games each year would be Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Kentucky's 3 rival games would most likely be Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Florida, then 6 of the remaining 12 schools in year 1 and the other 6 schools in year 2 with a home and home schedule occurring every 4 years. Louisville would most likely remain on our schedule leaving us with 2 games to be scheduled with Popcorn State schools. In what universe would Kentucky ever be bowl eligible again if Stoops remains our coach?
Thank gawd for Vanderbilt.
Even Vandy is not a guaranteed W anymore and we only get to play Miss. State once every 2 years.
Ky has went to 23 bowls since 1915. Stoops has 8 of those (over one third). He has beaten Louisville regularly. Ended the streak against Florida. Ky has played some exciting football under Stoops. Recruiting has never been better. If any of you think it will get better when Stoops leaves, you are sadly mistaken. I really don't get it. Did you all get your feelings hurt when he told you to "pony up"? He said something you didn't want to hear like Cal did and you turn on him. Toughen up butter cups because the grass won't be greener on the other side. And quit bringing up his salary. It makes you sound jealous and petty.
I am somewhat jealous. I would love to be paid $9.5 million for a losing effort. Ever since A&M said NO to him, Stoops seems to have issues with PTSD. There are plenty of guys we could hire for a third of what we are paying Stoops. Use the other $6 million to bring in better players.