SEC adopts 10-game conference-only football schedule for 2020

The athletic directors of the Southeastern Conference cleared the way for a major schedule change Wednesday that the league’s school presidents have approved a day later.

The SEC will adopt a 10-game scheduled for the 2020 football season that will begin on September 26. The conference championship game will be played on December 19.

NEWS | @SEC establishes new football start date of September 26 and Conference-only football competition.https://t.co/UhFFOfQ2lK

— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) July 30, 2020

The move follows in the footsteps of other Power 5 conferences (Big Ten, PAC-12 and ACC) who will change their previously-planned 12-game slates to just 10-conference games with one exception. The ACC has cleared schools to scheduled an additional non-conference game as long as it is played in the school’s homestate.

Details on what extra two conference teams each SEC member will play in addition to the originally scheduled eight matchups have yet to emerge. The extra time with just 10 games and a league title game pushed back two weeks allows for leeway if the SEC encounters issues related to the virus pandemic.

STATEMENT FROM LSU ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SCOTT WOODWARD ON SEC FOOTBALL SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEMENT

“Today is an exciting day for all of us who love college football in the SEC. The toughest conference in college football is going to battle it out in historic fashion. Tiger Stadium and our National Championship Football team will play host to five SEC opponents in a 10-game, all-SEC regular-season schedule.

“As a conference we have been aligned in this process from the beginning and I want to thank Commissioner Sankey for his leadership during this unprecedented time. There is still a great deal of work to be done and many important decisions to be made, but this is a big step in the right direction for our conference, our school and our student-athletes.

“Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our student-athletes. We, as SEC member institutions, are continuing to engage in deliberate and informed discussions on planning for the safety of student-athletes, coaches and staff. We will continue to follow the guidance of medical professionals in our decision making, including the SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force. Together, and with the direction of state public health officials, we are focused on a safe return to competition.”