Kentucky football set with permanent SEC opponents in new 9-game format

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Kentucky football now knows its permanent SEC opponents under the league’s new nine-game conference format.

Starting with the 2026 season, the Wildcats will face South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida every year. The remaining games will rotate from a pool of six other SEC opponents.

The change comes as part of the SEC’s shift to a nine-game schedule, designed to balance rivalries and competition across the expanded conference.