According to Brandon Marcello of 247 Sports, the SEC is set to reveal on Tuesday the full list of opponents for its new nine-game football schedule beginning in 2026. The league’s move away from the traditional eight-game model is a significant change, and one that Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops and athletic director Mitch Barnhart wanted to avoid.
Both Stoops and Barnhart lobbied for the SEC to maintain its current eight-game format, prioritizing flexibility with nonconference opponents. Kentucky
has played its annual rivalry with Louisville every year since 1994, and concerns were raised that an expanded SEC slate could make it harder to keep the Cardinals on the schedule. However, early indications suggest Kentucky will continue to face Louisville every season, even with the added conference game, and they will still be playing for the Governor’s Cup.
Under the SEC’s new structure, each team will have three “annual opponents,” reviewed every four years. Those matchups were previously called “permanent rivals” and are expected to preserve traditional games.
The change means Kentucky will face a tougher road in league play while still managing its long-standing rivalry with Louisville. For Stoops, it’s another balancing act: staying competitive in the nation’s toughest conference while honoring one of the program’s most important traditions.
