The 2026 college football season is on the horizon and SEC Network (SECN) kicks off its 13th college football season in CoMo on Thursday, Sept. 3 as Missouri hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 8 p.m. ET. SEC Network's season opener is one of 37 matchups featuring Southeastern Conference teams across ESPN networks in the first three weeks of the season, including 10 televised on SECN.
Following the scheduling format that debuted two seasons ago, television windows will be announced for all remaining SEC-controlled games on Wednesday, June 10 (i.e., Early: noon to 1 p.m. start, Afternoon: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. start, or Night: 6 to 8 p.m. start). Select games will be tagged as Flex games, with either an Afternoon or Night window start. Inside the 2026 Football Schedule premieres at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10 to break down the full SEC schedule. The show will simulcast the first hour on ESPN2 and will air exclusively on SECN from 8-9 p.m.
Kickoff Week
ESPN networks are home to 61 games during Week 1, beginning Thursday, Sept. 3 and running through Labor Day. SEC Network is set for a tripleheader on the first Saturday of play as Kent State faces South Carolina (12:45 p.m.), North Alabama heads to Arkansas (4:15 p.m.) and Florida Atlantic at Florida (7:45 p.m.).
Additionally, on the first weekend of play, ESPN networks highlight multiple SEC teams in action, starting with the 16th-ranked Crimson Tide hosting East Carolina on ABC (Sept. 5, noon). Following that matchup, the Aflac Kickoff Game returns and is set to showcase the Auburn Tigers with first year head coach Alex Golesh taking on the Baylor Bears in Atlanta, Ga. on ABC (Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m.). Closing out the night on ABC is Lane Kiffin's first game as the No. 11 LSU Tigers' head coach, with the Clemson Tigers heading to Death Valley for the primetime matchup (7:30 p.m.).
As part of an ESPN Saturday doubleheader, the No. 5 Texas Longhorns face Texas State (3:30 p.m.) and No. 10 Texas A&M host Missouri State (7 p.m.).
The weekend continues in Nashville, Tenn. on Sunday with the inaugural Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff as the ninth-ranked Ole Miss Rebels face off against the 21st-ranked Louisville Cardinals in Nissan Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. on ABC.
Weeks 2 and 3
Week 2 action is highlighted by the first conference bout of the season when No. 16 Alabama travels to Lexington, Ky., to take on the Kentucky Wildcats (Sept. 12). The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
SEC Network showcases No. 3 Georgia, Vanderbilt and either No. 9 Ole Miss or Auburn during Week 2, then spotlights Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, South Carolina and No. 25 Tennessee during Week 3 action.
Week 3 also features a triple of SEC on ABC, beginning with No. 3 Georgia at Arkansas at noon, followed by a 3:30 p.m. matchup between Florida State and No. 16 Alabama. The night closes out with one of the most anticipated games of the 2026 season as the No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels host the No. 11 LSU Tigers in Oxford, Miss. The matchup kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.
Schedules are subject to change. Please continue to check@ESPNPRandESPN Press Roomfor more information. The broadcast schedule for the 2026-27 College Football Playoff will be announced on Monday, June 1, ESPN's Bowl Season schedule will be revealed on Wednesday, June 3, and the times and windows for the rest of the SEC's schedule will be unveiled on Wednesday, June 10. Additional scheduling details, including commentator assignments for Kickoff Week, will be announced later this summer.
ESPN Networks - 2026 Early Season SEC Football Schedule
*Rankings from ESPN's Way-Too-Early Top 25
About SEC Network
The Southeastern Conference and ESPN launched SEC Network on August 14, 2014. The network televises hundreds of games across the SEC's 22 sports annually. Programming includes in-depth analysis and storytelling in studio shows such asSEC Nation,Marty & McGee, Read & ReactandRally Cap, daily news and information withThe Paul Finebaum ShowandSEC Now, original content such as the Emmy Award-winningTrueSouth,SEC StoriedandSEC Inside, and more. Hundreds of additional live events are available for streaming exclusively on SEC Network's digital companion, SEC Network+, via the ESPN App andSECNetwork.com. Follow SEC Network on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter/X.
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Source: ESPN
