FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas’s path in the SEC’s new nine-game format has been set, and it’s a challenging one, according to a report from Chris Low with On3.
The Razorbacks will play Texas, LSU, and Missouri every season from 2026 through 2029 as the league moves to a nine-game slate with three annual opponents per team.
It’s a mix of history and intensity with Texas reigniting the old Southwest Conference rivalry, LSU representing the SEC West powerhouse Arkansas has battled since joining the league and Missouri maintaining the Battle Line Trophy.
This will be debated all across the conference for awhile. The full release will be on SEC Network on Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
Full list of SEC annual opponents (2026-29)
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Alabama: Auburn, Tennessee, Mississippi State
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Arkansas: Missouri, Texas, LSU
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Auburn: Georgia, Alabama, Vanderbilt
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Florida: Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky
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Georgia: Auburn, Florida, South Carolina
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Kentucky: South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida
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LSU: Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas A&M
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Mississippi State: Ole Miss, Alabama, Vanderbilt
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Missouri: Arkansas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma
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Oklahoma: Texas, Ole Miss, Missouri
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Ole Miss: Mississippi State, LSU, Oklahoma
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South Carolina: Georgia, Kentucky, Florida
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Tennessee: Alabama, Vanderbilt, Kentucky
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Texas: Texas A&M, Arkansas, Oklahoma
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Texas A&M: Texas, LSU, Missouri
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Vanderbilt: Tennessee, Mississippi State, Auburn
Projected strength of schedule snapshot
Using current ESPN FPI national rankings (Sept. 2025), Kentucky projects as having the toughest baseline trio with South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. Oklahoma and Arkansas/Texas A&M also land in the upper tier. Tennessee and Vanderbilt rank toward the lighter end, though both still face Alabama annually.
Kentucky’s index is highest because its three fixed opponents are all top-15 teams in FPI right now. For Arkansas, Texas (No. 1), LSU (No. 12), and Missouri (No. 23) combine for one of the toughest yearly tests in the league.
Team-by-team cards
Alabama
Annual opponents: Auburn, Tennessee, Mississippi State
SoS index rank: 13th
Rivalry note: Iron Bowl remains locked in; Tennessee’s rise makes this slate stingier than it looks.
Arkansas
Annual opponents: Missouri, Texas, LSU
SoS index rank: 3rd
Rivalry note: Texas series is revived permanently; LSU keeps Battle for the Golden Boot intact.
Auburn
Annual opponents: Georgia, Alabama, Vanderbilt
SoS index rank: 7th
Rivalry note: Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry and Iron Bowl secured, with Vandy providing some balance.
Florida
Annual opponents: Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky
SoS index rank: 8th
Rivalry note: Cocktail Party remains annual; no Tennessee guarantee for the first time in decades.
Georgia
Annual opponents: Auburn, Florida, South Carolina
SoS index rank: 5th
Rivalry note: Auburn preserved, Florida locked in; Tennessee rotation only.
Kentucky
Annual opponents: South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida
SoS index rank: 1st
Rivalry note: Wildcats hit hardest; annual slate includes three strong programs in current FPI.
LSU
Annual opponents: Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas A&M
SoS index rank: 6th
Rivalry note: Golden Boot, Magnolia Bowl, and A&M rivalry all preserved.
Mississippi State
Annual opponents: Ole Miss, Alabama, Vanderbilt
SoS index rank: 12th
Rivalry note: Egg Bowl secured; annual Alabama makes this trickier than it looks.
Missouri
Annual opponents: Arkansas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma
SoS index rank: 8th
Rivalry note: Renewed Oklahoma series draws headlines; Battle Line Trophy stays.
Oklahoma
Annual opponents: Texas, Ole Miss, Missouri
SoS index rank: 2nd
Rivalry note: Red River Rivalry remains annual; Ole Miss adds intrigue.
Ole Miss
Annual opponents: Mississippi State, LSU, Oklahoma
SoS index rank: 15th
Rivalry note: Egg Bowl and Magnolia Bowl secured, plus a new annual with Oklahoma.
South Carolina
Annual opponents: Georgia, Kentucky, Florida
SoS index rank: 11th
Rivalry note: Three East rivals locked in; Clemson still scheduled nonconference.
Tennessee
Annual opponents: Alabama, Vanderbilt, Kentucky
SoS index rank: 16th
Rivalry note: Alabama stays annual; Florida and Georgia rotation only, breaking decades of tradition.
Texas
Annual opponents: Texas A&M, Arkansas, Oklahoma
SoS index rank: 8th
Rivalry note: Red River Rivalry, Lone Star Showdown, and old Southwest battles with Arkansas.
Texas A&M
Annual opponents: Texas, LSU, Missouri
SoS index rank: 3rd
Rivalry note: Texas returns, LSU and Missouri provide balance.
Vanderbilt
Annual opponents: Tennessee, Mississippi State, Auburn
SoS index rank: 13th
Rivalry note: Nashville keeps in-state rivalry; Iron Bowl rotation still guaranteed.
Key takeaways
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Arkansas’ trio of Texas, LSU, and Missouri anchors one of the toughest annual opponent groups in the SEC.
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Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Arkansas/Texas A&M project the hardest annual opponent slates by FPI baseline.
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Tennessee loses guaranteed Florida and Georgia matchups, but keeps Alabama and in-state Vanderbilt as annual opponents.
