Starting next season the SEC will play a 9 game conference schedule. Each team will also have to schedule at least one non-conference power four team. (This probably maintains the UK/UL Rivalry game for the foreseeable future.)

Teams will have 3 permanent opponents and 6 rotating opponents. Meaning that each school will play the 12 non-permanent opponents home and away once each every 4 years. 

This has likely been done to make way for the CFP expansion to 16 teams.

 

A 16 team playoff can't get here soon enough.

And I prefer SEC teams playing SEC teams and then maybe a couple of other good teams. 

I'd expect UK's permanent opponents to be Tennessee and Vanderbilt then either Missouri or South Carolina. 

3 minutes ago, theguru said:

A 16 team playoff can't get here soon enough.

And I prefer SEC teams playing SEC teams and then maybe a couple of other good teams. 

Most already have at least one power conference team on their upcoming schedules. This would limit teams to two "cupcakes" instead of 3 or 4 that they could have scheduled in the past. 

1 minute ago, Jumper_Dad said:

Most already have at least one power conference team on their upcoming schedules. This would limit teams to two "cupcakes" instead of 3 or 4 that they could have scheduled in the past. 

Two cupcakes are plenty and honestly one is enough if you are after a National Championship.  However, I don't blame any school for following the best path to get there but I am glad to see the decision being taken out of their hands. 

The ACC is expected to also to move to a 9 game conference schedule soon.

With 17 teams it's impossible, but it's expected that they may start counting ND games in the conference standings.

3 minutes ago, theguru said:

Two cupcakes are plenty and honestly one is enough if you are after a National Championship.  However, I don't blame any school for following the best path to get there but I am glad to see the decision being taken out of their hands. 

Two gives you guaranteed home games that you don't have to give a return game to. I think most AD's would rather eat glass than lose the payday of another home game.

So what is UKs gameplan?  2 MAC schools, Louisville and hope like crazy to find 3 or 4 more wins?

5 minutes ago, Tranquility Base said:

So what is UKs gameplan?  2 MAC schools, Louisville and hope like crazy to find 3 or 4 more wins?

Same as everyone else's plan.

With the added conference games, you have to think ABC/ESPN/Disney will be sending a few more dollars to the SEC each year now. 

It will be fun to see teams like Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, LSU and others on the schedule every other year and in Lexington once ever 4 years.

11 hours ago, Jumper_Dad said:

Each team will also have to schedule at least one non-conference power four team. (This probably maintains the UK/UL Rivalry game for the foreseeable future.)

Really like this. You have to think Kentucky/Louisville, Florida/Florida State, South Carolina/Clemson, and Georgia/Georgia Tech wanted an assurance that everyone else would be playing a P4 team every year.

2 minutes ago, gchs_uk9 said:

Really like this. You have to think Kentucky/Louisville, Florida/Florida State, South Carolina/Clemson, and Georgia/Georgia Tech wanted an assurance that everyone else would be playing a P4 team every year.

Agreed, but looking at future schedules for most teams they already have an extra power game scheduled for the next several seasons. So that mandate, while nice to have in place, won't change what most teams were already doing on their own.

If all power conferences go to 9, I can see it becoming more difficult for Notre Dame to schedule and that could force a pivot on their independent status.  It seems like the Big 10 is really trying to push them in this regard but I've always said I wouldn't be shocked if the Irish decided to join the SEC if pushed in a conference direction.

From a fan perspective, fewer cupcake games is better. Everybody loves to win but I don't need EKU, JMU and Bowling Green on any home schedule. 

Hopefully the ACC quickly follows suit.