BREAKING: SEC’s New 9-Game Schedule Sets Stage—Who Should Be Bama’s Three Permanent Rivals?

The SEC just dropped a seismic shift in the college football landscape. Starting in 2026, the league will officially move to a nine-game conference schedule, shaking up the traditional setup fans have known for decades. Instead of divisions, each team will now play three permanent SEC rivals every year, while rotating through the remaining six opponents. It’s a move aimed at balancing tradition with fairness, boosting strength of schedule for Playoff contenders, and delivering even more marquee matchups to fans year after year. But as this new model kicks into gear, the biggest question in Tuscaloosa is simple: Who should Alabama’s three permanent SEC rivals be?

This decision isn’t just about logistics. It’s about identity, legacy, and strategy. Alabama is no stranger to top-tier rivalries. Few programs in college football—maybe none—have a bigger target on their back or are more tied to the history of the sport. Choosing their three annual opponents will shape not only the Crimson Tide’s postseason path each year, but also the emotional landscape of their season. These aren’t just games. They’re wars, traditions, and recruiting battles rolled into one.

The first name on everyone’s list, of course, is Auburn. No one in their right mind is removing the Iron Bowl from the calendar. Alabama vs. Auburn is one of the fiercest, most emotionally charged rivalries in sports, let alone college football. It doesn’t matter what the standings say or where the game is played—this is a game that defines seasons and etches legacies. It has decided SEC titles, national titles, and coaching careers. There’s no scenario where Alabama’s permanent rival list exists without Auburn sitting at the top.

Next comes Tennessee. The Third Saturday in October has been a cornerstone of Alabama’s schedule for over a century. While Alabama’s dominance in the series over the past two decades may have dulled the rivalry’s intensity in the eyes of some, Tennessee’s resurgence under new leadership has breathed fresh life into it. And even when Tennessee was down, this game still meant something. It’s about tradition, hate, and cigars. Fans circle this date every fall, and players talk about it long after they’ve left campus. For a rivalry built on years of bad blood and mutual contempt, it simply can’t be replaced.

Now here’s where things get tricky. The third spot is wide open for debate. The obvious answer, at least from a competitive and historical standpoint, is LSU. Over the past 15 years, Alabama-LSU has become one of the most important games in the SEC, often deciding the SEC West and playing a pivotal role in national championship races. The Saban connection, the night games in Death Valley, the brutal physicality—it’s one of those games that always feels bigger than the schedule suggests. But does Alabama want, or even need, three bloodbath rivalry games every single season?

There’s an argument to be made that including LSU in this trio makes Alabama’s schedule unnecessarily top-heavy every year. Auburn and Tennessee are already major commitments—throw LSU in, and you’ve got a permanent lineup that’s arguably the toughest in the country. That’s not just physically demanding, it’s strategically risky in a world where one or two losses can knock you out of contention for the College Football Playoff. Balance matters, and the SEC’s new model is supposed to aim for competitive fairness across the board.

That brings us to another potential third rival: Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are Alabama’s most frequent historical opponent outside of Auburn. Starkville is a short drive away, making for a regional rivalry that makes sense geographically and logistically. While the matchup has rarely been competitive in recent years, it offers Alabama a more manageable annual opponent without sacrificing history or proximity. For fans, it may not stir the same passion as LSU or Tennessee, but it adds a degree of schedule balance that many believe Alabama deserves.

There’s also a curveball suggestion some fans have floated—Vanderbilt. Hear them out. Vandy would bring academic prestige, a manageable matchup most years, and offer a sort of “bye week” feel during a brutal SEC schedule. If Alabama were given Auburn and Tennessee as locks, adding Vanderbilt could be the league’s way of leveling the field and avoiding back-to-back-to-back slugfests. But let’s be honest: a rivalry isn’t a rivalry just because you play a team every year. Vandy doesn’t move the needle, and their fan base doesn’t exactly circle the Bama game on their calendar with venom.

Some wild cards could also be considered. Georgia, a high-profile program that Alabama has seen plenty of in SEC Championship games and the Playoff. Florida, a historic rival from the early SEC title years, with explosive matchups and big atmospheres. Texas or Oklahoma, the new kids on the SEC block, would bring flash and media attention but little historical context. These could all make for amazing matchups, but they lack the longevity and intensity that define true SEC rivalries.

If this decision were purely about the fans, Alabama’s three rivals would probably be Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU—no questions asked. The passion, the history, the stakes—they’re all there. These are the games that make you feel something deep down. The ones that live on ESPN Classic and in fan arguments for generations. But if the decision weighs balance more heavily, then Tennessee or LSU might have to give way to Mississippi State or another second-tier program. There’s only so much war a team can handle annually before it starts to wear them down.

So what’s the right answer? For many, it’s probably Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU—the historical big three. It’s brutal, sure. But Alabama is built to handle brutal. It’s part of the DNA. A schedule like that guarantees national attention, sells tickets, and keeps recruiting hot. There’s never a dull week, never a moment to catch your breath—and maybe that’s how it should be when you’re the flagship program of the nation’s toughest conference.

But others will argue it’s time to play it smart. Let the rotating schedule bring in tough games. Keep the permanent rivals steeped in tradition, but add one that gives you room to breathe. Auburn and Tennessee for legacy. Mississippi State for balance. That combo allows Alabama to honor its past without overloading the future.

As the SEC finalizes schedules and teams adjust to this new era, one thing’s certain—Alabama’s permanent rivals will help define not just the Tide’s season, but the shape of college football for years to come. Whether it’s the fire of Auburn, the tradition of Tennessee, the ferocity of LSU, or the familiarity of Mississippi State, the new scheduling format is about more than matchups. It’s about creating identity in a modernized SEC. And whatever trio Alabama lands with, it’s going to be must-watch football every single fall.