Ken Ruinard / staff, The Greenville News via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Paul Finebaum Reveals Major SEC Change No Longer a Sure Thing Amid Growing Pushback

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Jun 1, 2025 3:52 PM ET

The SEC has long been recognized as one of the premier conferences in college football. While some argue that it's the best conference, others point to the Big Ten, especially after teams from that conference won the last two national championships.

However, potential changes are on the horizon for the SEC. Recently, representatives from each SEC school gathered in Destin, Florida, to discuss these possible changes. One proposal is to shift to a nine-game conference schedule, similar to what the Big 12 and Big Ten have adopted. Currently, the SEC and ACC play eight conference games.

This change once seemed highly likely, but on "The Paul Finebaum Show," SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum expressed doubts about whether it will actually happen.

"It's possible that all of the predictions about the nine-game schedule for 2026 are not going to be correct," Finebaum said. "I say that because it's not the SEC's fault. The fact that the CFP (College Football Playoff) has been unable to find a coalition has really made it difficult for the SEC to sell the nine. There was a lot more resistance down there in Destin than I thought."

Finebaum said he believes the conference will eventually adopt a nine-game schedule, but he notes that it's no longer a certainty as it once seemed. He expressed concern that significant rivalries, like Alabama versus Tennessee, might fade if the schedule doesn’t change.

Finebaum suggested that some schools are resisting the change because they want to maximize their chances of making the CFP. There is concern that adding another conference game could negatively impact those chances.

However, he argues that if a school is strong enough, the potential expansion of the CFP to 16 teams, something that could happen soon, would make it difficult for good teams to miss the postseason.

While it remains unclear when SEC schools will vote on the nine-game proposal, it's expected to occur later this year, with potential implementation as early as 2026.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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