This is the first season the SEC is playing a nine game conference schedule. When the SEC announced their decision to play nine games fans gave mixed reviews about this change, but those against this decision voiced concerns around the potential for an increase in injuries.
Instead of playing another easy non-conference opponent teams had to play another SEC game where physicality is higher which means there’s a greater chance for injury. Those concerns so far this season are coming true even though we’re only halfway through the season, and Georgia is the perfect example.
Georgia safety KJ Bolden has been downgraded to doubtful for Saturday against Auburn. https://t.co/tUmfJzaWPI pic.twitter.com/83fQBwpiu6
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) October 16, 2026
KJ Bolden’s injury is why the SEC didn’t need a ninth conference game
Georgia is dealing with a lot of injuries already this season. Last week for the Alabama game they were missing four of their top offensive weapons which included their top two running backs. Injuries happen in football and they will always happen regardless of what the schedule looks like, but the injuries are racking up fast for Georgia.
Three of their four offensive weapons who were out for the Alabama game were already ruled out for the Auburn game this weekend. Now Georgia is finding out that star defensive back KJ Bolden will likely miss this weekend’s game as well.
All of these injuries are happening while Georgia still has five SEC games remaining and their season finale against Georgia Tech. In the past Georgia would have a cupcake game typically as their second to last game which would give them a chance to get healthy again, but they don’t have that luxury this year. They have to continue playing teams who are on their level physically which increases the chance for injuries even more.
The reason the SEC added a ninth conference game was to please the Big Ten who has been playing that many conference games for close to a decade now, but the increase in injuries seen by Georgia and the rest of the conference this year make it not worth it. It’s also a bit ridiculous that the SEC bowed down to the Big Ten in the first place because they don’t require a Power Four non-conference game like the SEC does.
The SEC's nine conference games disadvantages them compared to the Big Ten
The SEC requires each team to play at least one non-conference Power Four opponent every year, the Big Ten does not have that same requirement. As it stands today the Big Ten only requires their teams to play nine Power Four teams each year while the SEC requires 10 Power Four games.
It makes no sense why the Big Ten would lobby for the SEC to match their nine conference games knowing this, but it makes even less sense that the SEC to agreed to do it. But here we are having to watch the SEC beat each other up by playing far more difficult schedules when the College Football Playoff committee has proven to not care much about strength of schedule.
Georgia thankfully has a bye week after they play Auburn this weekend so guys like Bolden, Nate Frazier and Isiah Canion can get fully healthy, but so far adding a ninth conference game has not worked in the SEC's favor.
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