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College Football

The Saturday Board

The viewing windows, matchup data and personnel questions that serious fans will track from the opening kick to the nightcap.

Sample Editorial Guide

A Back Porch Field Guide

Useful before the weekend. Worth saving after it.

This sample page shows how timely information, useful lists and local perspective can live together without losing the voice of Back Porch Sports.

ESPN Football Power Index

Current SEC Rankings

The current SEC order in ESPN's Football Power Index, updated July 21, 2026. FPI measures team strength in points above or below average and builds its projections from 20,000 season simulations.

  1. Texas

    FPI 26.9 | No. 2 nationally

    Projected record: 9.8-2.7 | Playoff chance: 70.2%

    01

  2. Georgia

    FPI 24.8 | No. 5 nationally

    Projected record: 9.9-2.5 | Playoff chance: 63.9%

    02

  3. Alabama

    FPI 20.1 | No. 8 nationally

    Projected record: 8.6-3.6 | Playoff chance: 41.4%

    03

  4. LSU

    FPI 20.0 | No. 9 nationally

    Projected record: 8.4-3.8 | Playoff chance: 39.5%

    04

  5. Texas A&M

    FPI 20.0 | No. 11 nationally

    Projected record: 8.4-3.8 | Playoff chance: 38.8%

    05

  6. Oklahoma

    FPI 17.8 | No. 12 nationally

    Projected record: 7.5-4.6 | Playoff chance: 28.2%

    06

  7. Ole Miss

    FPI 16.0 | No. 14 nationally

    Projected record: 7.3-4.8 | Playoff chance: 22.5%

    07

  8. Tennessee

    FPI 15.1 | No. 16 nationally

    Projected record: 7.3-4.7 | Playoff chance: 20.4%

    08

  9. Florida

    FPI 13.6 | No. 18 nationally

    Projected record: 6.7-5.3 | Playoff chance: 15.1%

    09

  10. Missouri

    FPI 12.2 | No. 21 nationally

    Projected record: 6.7-5.3 | Playoff chance: 12.4%

    10

  11. Auburn

    FPI 12.0 | No. 22 nationally

    Projected record: 6.6-5.4 | Playoff chance: 12.0%

    11

  12. South Carolina

    FPI 11.7 | No. 23 nationally

    Projected record: 6.4-5.6 | Playoff chance: 10.8%

    12

  13. Vanderbilt

    FPI 9.0 | No. 29 nationally

    Projected record: 6.2-5.8 | Playoff chance: 6.8%

    13

  14. Kentucky

    FPI 5.4 | No. 40 nationally

    Projected record: 4.6-7.4 | Playoff chance: 2.2%

    14

  15. Arkansas

    FPI 4.4 | No. 47 nationally

    Projected record: 4.3-7.7 | Playoff chance: 1.7%

    15

  16. Mississippi State

    FPI 4.1 | No. 49 nationally

    Projected record: 4.6-7.4 | Playoff chance: 1.7%

    16

The Expanded Conference Slate

2026 SEC Football, Week by Week

The complete 2026 broadcast board for the SEC's first season with nine conference games per school, organized by week with announced kickoff times, networks and flex windows.

All times Eastern. Later kickoff windows and networks remain subject to selection and change.

Official SEC Schedule
Week 1Sept. 3-616 games
DateMatchupKickoff & TV
Thu9/3/26Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Missouri8:00 PMSEC Network
Sat9/5/26East Carolina at Alabama12:00 PMABC
Sat9/5/26Kent State at South Carolina12:45 PMSEC Network
Sat9/5/26Youngstown State at Kentucky1:00 PMESPN+/SECN+
Sat9/5/26Tennessee State at Georgia3:00 PMESPN+/SECN+
Sat9/5/26Baylor vs. Auburn (Atlanta)3:30 PMABC
Sat9/5/26Texas State at Texas3:30 PMESPN
Sat9/5/26Furman at Tennessee3:30 PMESPN+/SECN+
Sat9/5/26North Alabama at Arkansas4:15 PMSEC Network
Sat9/5/26Missouri State at Texas A&M7:00 PMESPN
Sat9/5/26Austin Peay at Vanderbilt7:00 PMESPN+/SECN+
Sat9/5/26Clemson at LSU7:30 PMABC
Sat9/5/26UL Monroe at Mississippi State7:30 PMESPNU
Sat9/5/26Florida Atlantic at Florida7:45 PMSEC Network
Sat9/5/26UTEP at OklahomaTBDESPN+/SECN+
Sun9/6/26Louisville vs. Ole Miss (Nashville)7:30 PMABC
Week 2Sept. 11-1215 games
DateMatchupKickoff & TV
Fri9/11/26Missouri at Kansas8:00 PMFOX
Sat9/12/26Oklahoma at Michigan12:00 PMFOX
Sat9/12/26Arizona State at Texas A&M12:00 PMABC
Sat9/12/26Western Kentucky at Georgia12:45 PMSEC Network
Sat9/12/26Alabama at Kentucky3:30 PMABC
Sat9/12/26Mississippi State at Minnesota3:30 PMCBS
Sat9/12/26Delaware at Vanderbilt4:15 PMSEC Network
Sat9/12/26Campbell at Florida5:30 PMESPN+/SECN+
Sat9/12/26Towson at South Carolina7:00 PMESPN+/SECN+
Sat9/12/26Tennessee at Georgia Tech7:00 PMESPN
Sat9/12/26Ohio State at Texas7:30 PMABC
Sat9/12/26Louisiana Tech at LSU7:30 PMESPN+/SECN+
Sat9/12/26Charlotte at Ole Miss7:45 PMESPN2 or SEC Network
Sat9/12/26Southern Miss at Auburn7:30 PM or 7:45 PMESPNU or SEC Network
Sat9/12/26Arkansas at Utah10:15 PMESPN
Week 3Sept. 1911 games
DateMatchupKickoff & TV
Sat9/19/26Georgia at Arkansas12:00 PMABC
Sat9/19/26NC State at Vanderbilt12:45 PMSEC Network
Sat9/19/26Troy at Missouri12:45 PMESPN+/SECN+
Sat9/19/26Florida State at Alabama3:30 PMABC
Sat9/19/26Kentucky at Texas A&M3:30 PMESPN or ESPN2
Sat9/19/26Mississippi State at South Carolina4:15 PMSEC Network
Sat9/19/26Florida at Auburn7:00 PMESPN
Sat9/19/26LSU at Ole Miss7:30 PMABC
Sat9/19/26New Mexico at Oklahoma7:30 PMESPN2
Sat9/19/26Kennesaw State at Tennessee7:45 PMSEC Network
Sat9/19/26UTSA at Texas8:00 PMESPN+/SECN+
Week 4Sept. 269 games
DateMatchupKickoff & TV
Sat9/26/26Texas at Tennessee12:00 PMABC or ESPN
Sat9/26/26South Alabama at Kentucky12:45 PMSEC Network
Sat9/26/26Vanderbilt at AuburnAfternoonTBA
Sat9/26/26South Carolina at AlabamaNightTBA
Sat9/26/26Missouri at Mississippi StateNightTBA
Sat9/26/26Tulsa at Arkansas8:00 PMESPN+/SECN+
Sat9/26/26Ole Miss at FloridaFlexTBA
Sat9/26/26Oklahoma at GeorgiaFlexTBA
Sat9/26/26Texas A&M at LSUFlexTBA
Week 5Oct. 37 games
DateMatchupKickoff & TV
Sat10/3/26Vanderbilt at GeorgiaEarlyTBA
Sat10/3/26Alabama at Mississippi StateEarlyTBA
Sat10/3/26McNeese at LSU7:45 PMSEC Network
Sat10/3/26Florida at MissouriFlexTBA
Sat10/3/26Kentucky at South CarolinaFlexTBA
Sat10/3/26Auburn at TennesseeFlexTBA
Sat10/3/26Arkansas at Texas A&MFlexTBA
Week 6Oct. 107 games
DateMatchupKickoff & TV
Sat10/10/26South Carolina at FloridaEarlyTBA
Sat10/10/26Texas A&M at MissouriEarlyTBA
Sat10/10/26Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas)3:30 PMABC or ESPN
Sat10/10/26Georgia at AlabamaNightTBA
Sat10/10/26LSU at KentuckyNightTBA
Sat10/10/26Tennessee at ArkansasFlexTBA
Sat10/10/26Ole Miss at VanderbiltFlexTBA
Week 7Oct. 178 games
DateMatchupKickoff & TV
Sat10/17/26The Citadel at Texas A&M1:00 PMESPN+/SECN+
Sat10/17/26Mississippi State at LSUEarlyTBA
Sat10/17/26Florida at TexasEarlyTBA
Sat10/17/26Auburn at GeorgiaAfternoonTBA
Sat10/17/26Missouri at Ole MissAfternoonTBA
Sat10/17/26Kentucky at OklahomaFlexTBA
Sat10/17/26Alabama at TennesseeFlexTBA
Sat10/17/26Arkansas at VanderbiltFlexTBA
Week 8Oct. 246 games
DateMatchupKickoff & TV
Sat10/24/26LSU at Auburn12:00 PMABC or ESPN
Sat10/24/26Tennessee at South CarolinaAfternoonTBA
Sat10/24/26Vanderbilt at KentuckyNightTBA
Sat10/24/26Texas A&M at AlabamaFlexTBA
Sat10/24/26Oklahoma at Mississippi StateFlexTBA
Sat10/24/26Ole Miss at TexasFlexTBA
Week 9Oct. 315 games
DateMatchupKickoff & TV
Sat10/31/26Auburn at Ole MissEarlyTBA
Sat10/31/26Florida vs. Georgia (Atlanta)3:30 PMABC
Sat10/31/26Mississippi State at TexasNightTBA
Sat10/31/26Missouri at ArkansasFlexTBA
Sat10/31/26South Carolina at OklahomaFlexTBA
Week 10Nov. 78 games
DateMatchupKickoff & TV
Sat11/7/26Arkansas at AuburnEarlyTBA
Sat11/7/26Texas at MissouriEarlyTBA
Sat11/7/26Texas A&M at South CarolinaAfternoonTBA
Sat11/7/26Kentucky at TennesseeNightTBA
Sat11/7/26Oklahoma at FloridaFlexTBA
Sat11/7/26Alabama at LSUFlexTBA
Sat11/7/26Vanderbilt at Mississippi StateFlexTBA
Sat11/7/26Georgia at Ole MissFlexTBA
Week 11Nov. 148 games
DateMatchupKickoff & TV
Sat11/14/26Auburn at Mississippi StateEarlyTBA
Sat11/14/26Alabama at VanderbiltEarlyTBA
Sat11/14/26Ole Miss at OklahomaAfternoonTBA
Sat11/14/26Florida at KentuckyNightTBA
Sat11/14/26South Carolina at ArkansasFlexTBA
Sat11/14/26Missouri at GeorgiaFlexTBA
Sat11/14/26Texas at LSUFlexTBA
Sat11/14/26Tennessee at Texas A&MFlexTBA
Week 12Nov. 2110 games
DateMatchupKickoff & TV
Sat11/21/26Wofford at Ole Miss12:00 PMESPN+/SECN+
Sat11/21/26Tennessee Tech at Mississippi State1:00 PMESPN+/SECN+
Sat11/21/26Chattanooga at Alabama2:00 PMESPN+/SECN+
Sat11/21/26Samford at Auburn3:30 PMESPN+/SECN+
Sat11/21/26Vanderbilt at FloridaEarlyTBA
Sat11/21/26Texas A&M at OklahomaEarlyTBA
Sat11/21/26Arkansas at TexasAfternoonTBA
Sat11/21/26Kentucky at MissouriNightTBA
Sat11/21/26Georgia at South CarolinaFlexTBA
Sat11/21/26LSU at TennesseeFlexTBA
Week 13Nov. 27-2810 games
DateMatchupKickoff & TV
Fri11/27/26Mississippi State at Ole Miss12:00 PMABC
Fri11/27/26Florida at Florida State3:30 PMABC
Fri11/27/26Texas at Texas A&M7:30 PMABC
Sat11/28/26LSU at ArkansasEarlyTBA
Sat11/28/26Louisville at KentuckyEarlyTBA
Sat11/28/26Oklahoma at MissouriAfternoonTBA
Sat11/28/26Tennessee at VanderbiltNightTBA
Sat11/28/26Auburn at AlabamaFlexTBA
Sat11/28/26Georgia Tech at GeorgiaFlexTBA
Sat11/28/26South Carolina at ClemsonTBATBA
ChampionshipDec. 51 game
DateMatchupKickoff & TV
Sat12/5/262026 SEC Championship Game (Atlanta)4:00 PMABC

Power Ranking Method

What Moves a Team Up the Board

A sample ranking of the five factors that carry the most weight in our weekly team evaluation.

  1. 01

    Quarterback efficiency

    EPA per dropback

    Accuracy matters, but so do sack avoidance, third-down conversion rate and production when the first read is removed.

    01
  2. 02

    Line-of-scrimmage control

    Line yards and pressure rate

    Contenders stay efficient without giving the quarterback a perfect pocket and create disruption without selling out to blitz.

    02
  3. 03

    Explosive play margin

    20-plus-yard plays

    The best teams generate chunk gains while forcing opponents to drive the field in small pieces.

    03
  4. 04

    Defensive havoc

    TFLs, PBUs and takeaways

    Havoc rate shows whether a defense can create drive-killing events. Turnover margin still needs context because fumble recovery can swing quickly.

    04
  5. 05

    Field position

    Starting field position

    Punt quality, coverage units and return decisions create hidden points before the offense takes a snap.

    05

Film-Room Notes

Matchups Inside the Matchup

Three places where scheme and personnel usually tell more than the raw box score.

  1. 01

    Protection vs. the four-man rush

    If the offense needs six protectors to block four, the defense can keep seven in coverage and squeeze the intermediate windows.

    01
  2. 02

    Box count vs. run fit

    Track whether the quarterback checks into favorable numbers and whether the overhang defender can fit the run without giving away the RPO glance route.

    02
  3. 03

    Post-snap safety rotation

    Late movement from a two-high shell can steal the quarterback's first read and buy the pass rush an extra half-second.

    03

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