For many years, the SEC has had a slight edge over other conferences in terms of record, rankings, and strength of schedule. One reason was that they played fewer conference games. While conferences like the Pac-12 and the Big Ten played nine in-conference games, the SEC played only eight. This allowed SEC teams to schedule four non-conference games, often opting for less challenging opponents to secure early-season victories.

A prime example is the 2025 Missouri Tigers. Their non-conference schedule included Central Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, and Massachusetts. These teams posed little threat, giving Missouri four wins before entering SEC play. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz led Missouri to four conference wins and maintained a spot in the AP Poll nearly all season. This positioning portrayed them as a ‘ranked’ opponent despite a lack of victories against teams with winning records.

The scenario changed in 2026 when SEC decided to increase conference games from eight to nine, removing what many saw as an ‘extra’ win. New LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin quickly expressed dissatisfaction with this change, emphasizing potential negative impacts. Ahead of a game against Texas A&M, Kiffin sarcastically commented on perceived scheduling issues, inaccurately suggesting past unique challenges in their schedules.

LSU, dealing with injuries to key players like linebacker Whit Wheeks and tight end Trey’Dez Green, found Kiffin claiming that these were due to the more demanding nine-game schedule. Despite having played only two conference games, Kiffin’s complaints highlighted the supposed disadvantages now faced by teams in the SEC.

There are broader aspects of the difficulties faced by teams that Kiffin did not address. For instance, teams like USC and UCLA endure extensive travel that impacts their players significantly. USC had a journey from New Jersey back to LA, covering thousands of miles, whereas LSU’s longest trip was to Lexington, Kentucky.

Despite the complaints from SEC representatives, the introduction of a nine-game conference schedule appears here to stay. Critics suggest Kiffin’s public grievances may aim to sway opinion towards reverting to eight conference games in future seasons.