LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The SEC finally pulled the trigger on a nine-game football schedule. Does that mean the end of Kentucky's annual football clash with rival Louisville?
Not necessarily.
On Thursday, SEC presidents approved a long-debated move to expand the league's schedule beginning in 2026. It's a seismic shift for a conference that has operated with an eight-game format since 1992. But buried in the fine print is a provision that could keep the Governor's Cup alive: Each SEC program will still be required to play at least one non-conference game against a Power 4 opponent.
Translation: If Kentucky wants to keep playing Louisville, it can.
But there are other factors involved — primarily the question of whether Kentucky wants to give up a home date in football every other year or seek contracts that would allow it to play those Power 4 games at home as often as possible. With football revenue at a premium, that will figure into the decision.
The rivalry has faced uncertainty since the SEC began floating expanded conference slates several years ago. With Texas and Oklahoma joining the fold and competitive demands increasing, many wondered if Kentucky would eventually have to scrap its annual game with the Cardinals to lighten the load.
Thursday's news adds a wrinkle. Kentucky will have to schedule a Power 4 non-conference opponent. Will it be Louisville, or someone else?
"Adding a ninth SEC game underscores our universities' commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. "This format protects rivalries, increases competitive balance, and paired with our requirement to play an additional Power opponent, ensures SEC teams are well prepared to compete and succeed in the College Football Playoff."
The new format means:
- Each school will play three annual SEC opponents, maintaining traditional rivalries (like Alabama-Auburn and Georgia-Florida).
- The other six league games will rotate across the remaining schools.
- Every team will face every SEC opponent at least once every two years, and both home and away within a four-year cycle.
- The league keeps its single-standings, non-divisional structure.
The change brings the SEC in line with the Big Ten and Big 12, both of which already play nine conference games. The ACC still plays eight, though that could change as media rights and playoff positioning evolve.
For Kentucky, the move adds another layer of difficulty, but also clarity. It will face more of its league rivals more often and now has a defined path to keep its biggest in-state game intact.
The teams have met every year since 1994 -- except for the 2000 season, when COVID prevented it.
All the SEC has done is raise the bar. Whether UK wants to keep clearing it, and keep playing Louisville in the current home-and-home arrangement, is now a question of tradition, not obligation.
Under the current series contract, Louisville is obligated to visit Kentucky in 2026. Beyond that, the clock could be ticking.
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