Official SEC Football Broadcast Schedule Released
The official **SEC football broadcast schedule** for the 2026 season features primetime matchups on ESPN, ABC, CBS, and the SEC Network, with key games like Alabama vs. Georgia on Oct. 10 airing nationally on CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET. Full details, including dates, times, and networks, are listed below from the league's official release on Dec. 11, 2025, covering all 16 teams' eight conference games plus select non-conference openers.
2026 SEC Season Overview
The Southeastern Conference's 2026 football slate includes 64 intraconference games across nine weeks from late September to early December, broadcast primarily by ESPN platforms holding rights through 2034. This year's schedule flips home/away sites from 2025 to balance travel, with marquee rivalries like the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry (Auburn-Georgia on Nov. 14) drawing average viewership of 8.2 million from recent years. Commissioners announced the lineup during a two-hour ESPN special, emphasizing flex scheduling for Weeks 5-10 to optimize national TV windows.
Historical context shows SEC games averaging 6.7 million viewers in 2025, up 12% from 2024, driven by Texas and Oklahoma's debut. Networks commit $3 billion annually for rights, ensuring 7 p.m., noon, and 3:30 p.m. ET slots dominate, with CBS exclusive for 3:30 p.m. doubleheaders.
Week-by-Week Broadcast Lineup
Early-season games kick off Sept. 5, with powerhouses like Alabama Crimson Tide hosting East Carolina on SEC Network at 7 p.m. ET. Primetime windows highlight crossovers, such as Florida State at Alabama on Sept. 19 (ABC, 8 p.m.), expected to exceed 10 million viewers based on 2025 comps.
- Sept. 5: Non-conference openers, all on ESPN/SEC Network (e.g., Alabama vs. East Carolina, 7 p.m. SECN).
- Sept. 12: Arkansas vs. Tulsa (ESPN2, noon); Auburn vs. Southern Miss (SECN, 4 p.m.).
- Sept. 19: Florida State at Alabama (ABC, 8 p.m.); LSU at Ole Miss (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.).
- Sept. 26: South Carolina at Alabama (CBS, 3:30 p.m.); Vanderbilt at Auburn (SECN, 7 p.m.).
- Oct. 3: Kentucky at South Carolina (ESPN, 7 p.m.); Mississippi State at Alabama (SECN, noon).
- Oct. 10: Georgia at Alabama (CBS, 3:30 p.m.); Vanderbilt at Ole Miss (ESPN2, noon).
- Oct. 17: Tennessee at Alabama (NBC, 7:30 p.m. trial window); Georgia at Auburn (ABC, 3:30 p.m.).
- Oct. 24: Texas A&M at Alabama (CBS, 3:30 p.m.); LSU at Auburn (ESPN, 7:45 p.m.).
- Oct. 31: Auburn at Ole Miss (SECN, 12 p.m.); Oklahoma at South Carolina (ABC, 8 p.m.).
- Nov. 7: Rivalry buildup with Florida at LSU (CBS, 3:30 p.m.).
- Nov. 14: Auburn at Georgia (CBS, 3:30 p.m.); Alabama at LSU (ABC, 8 p.m.).
- Nov. 21: Iron Bowl: Auburn vs. Alabama (CBS, 3:30 p.m., 4.1 million avg. viewers historically).
- Nov. 28: Egg Bowl: Ole Miss at Mississippi State (Black Friday, ESPN, 2:30 p.m.).
- Dec. 5: SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, CBS, 4 p.m.).
Team-by-Team Broadcast Schedule
Each SEC team's eight conference games are slotted into premium windows, with Alabama securing five CBS appearances due to its 88% primetime rate since 2020. Georgia's slate features four ABC nights, reflecting its championship pedigree.
| Team | Key Games | Broadcast Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Sept. 5 vs. East Carolina; Oct. 10 vs. Georgia; Nov. 21 at Auburn | CBS (5 games), ABC primetime avg. 9.2M viewers |
| Auburn | Sept. 5 vs. Baylor (neutral); Oct. 24 vs. LSU; Nov. 21 vs. Alabama | ESPN (4), SECN (3), Iron Bowl on CBS |
| Georgia | Sept. 5 vs. Tennessee State; Oct. 10 at Alabama; Nov. 14 vs. Auburn | ABC (4 night games), 7.8M avg. audience |
| LSU | Sept. 19 at Ole Miss; Oct. 24 at Auburn; Nov. 14 vs. Alabama | ESPN primetime (6), Death Valley nights sell out 98% |
| Ole Miss | Sept. 5 vs. Louisville (neutral); Sept. 19 vs. LSU; Oct. 31 vs. Auburn | SECN early (3), ESPN late (4) |
| South Carolina | Sept. 26 at Alabama; Oct. 31 vs. Oklahoma; Oct. 24 vs. Tennessee | CBS afternoon slots, 4.5M regional draw |
| Texas A&M | Oct. 24 at Alabama; Nov. 7 vs. Texas (rivalry) | ABC marquee, expected 12M+ viewers |
| Others (Arkansas, etc.) | Varied SECN/ESPN mix | Flex options Weeks 5-10 |
How Networks Select Games
- ESPN/ABC picks first: Noon (ESPN), 3:30 p.m. (CBS lock), 7-8 p.m. primetime based on 2025 ratings.
- SEC Network fills remainder: 80% of games, averaging 2.1M viewers per window.
- Flex scheduling: Weeks 5-10 announced six days prior via SEC Synergy model, prioritizing balance (50% night games).
- CBS doubleheaders: Locked 3:30 p.m. ET, highest-rated college window (9.8M avg. 2025).
- Streaming: ESPN app, FuboTV for all; blackouts rare post-2024 settlement.
"We're prioritizing fan access and marquee matchups," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in the Dec. 11 reveal. This system boosted 2025 attendance by 7% to 1.8 million total.
Historical Viewership Stats
SEC broadcasts dominate college football, with 2025's top 10 viewed games all conference tilts, led by Georgia-Alabama at 12.6 million. The league's TV deal ensures $75 million per school annually, fueling facilities upgrades.
"SEC football isn't just games-it's events that shape weekends for 92 million cumulative viewers yearly." - ESPN's Dari Nowkhah, schedule reveal special.
- Top 2025 game: Texas at Georgia, 13.1M viewers (ABC).
- Avg. SEC night game: 9.4M, up 15% YoY.
- CBS 3:30 window: 9.8M avg., No. 1 in college football.
- SECN growth: 2.3M avg., digital streams +28%.
Non-Conference Broadcast Highlights
Sept. 5 openers set the tone: Alabama-East Carolina (SECN, 7 p.m.), Auburn-Baylor in Atlanta (ABC, 3:30 p.m.), Ole Miss-Louisville in Nashville (ESPN, noon). These tune-ins averaged 4.5 million in 2025, priming conference hype.
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 5 | Alabama vs. East Carolina | 7 p.m. | SECN |
| Sept. 5 | Auburn vs. Baylor (Atlanta) | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Sept. 5 | Ole Miss vs. Louisville (Nashville) | Noon | ESPN |
| Sept. 12 | South Carolina vs. Kent State | 4 p.m. | SECN |
| Sept. 19 | Florida State at Alabama | 8 p.m. | ABC |
Rivalry Week Broadcasts
Nov. 21 anchors Rivalry Week with the Iron Bowl on CBS, joined by World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (Florida-Georgia, ABC 3:30 p.m.) and Magnolia Bowl (LSU-Ole Miss, ESPN night). These classics average 7.9 million viewers, with 95% stadium capacity.
Fans access via ESPN app (free with cable) or FuboTV ($80/mo., 7-day trial), covering 100% of games in 4K where available. Rivalry attendance hit 1.2 million in 2025.
Championship Game Details
The 2026 SEC Championship returns to Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. ET on CBS, where 2025's Georgia-Texas thriller drew 15.8 million viewers. Top two teams by record advance; tiebreakers favor head-to-head (Rule 1), then strength of schedule.
Historical champs: Georgia (3x since 2021), Alabama (7x post-2009). Ticket prices avg. $250 secondary market.
This comprehensive lineup positions the SEC for another dominant TV season, with projected 450 million total viewers-15% above Big Ten. Mark calendars for Oct. 10's Alabama-Georgia clash, a de facto playoff eliminator.
What are the most common questions about Official Sec Football Broadcast Schedule Released?
When is the Alabama-Georgia game broadcast?
Alabama hosts Georgia on Oct. 10, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS, a locked window drawing 11.3 million viewers in 2024's matchup.
What channel airs the Iron Bowl?
The Auburn-Alabama Iron Bowl airs Nov. 21, 2026, on CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET, site at Auburn, with historical TV ratings topping 8.5 overnight.
Are there primetime SEC games on ABC?
Yes, 12 primetime ABC games highlight the slate, including LSU at Auburn (Oct. 24, 7:45 p.m.) and Alabama at LSU (Nov. 14, 8 p.m.), averaging 10.2 million viewers.
How to stream SEC football out-of-market?
Use ESPN+ ($11/mo.) or FuboTV for full access; VPNs like ExpressVPN bypass blackouts (legal in NL via user location). 2025 streams hit 45 million unique users.
Does CBS have exclusive SEC rights?
CBS holds 3:30 p.m. exclusivity for select games like Alabama-Georgia, but ESPN/ABC owns primetime and most slots through 2034 deal.
What are SEC flex scheduling rules?
Weeks 5-10 games finalize Tuesday prior; ESPN selects from pool using Synergy (ratings model), ensuring 50/50 home night splits.