The SEC is moving to nine conference games each year beginning in 2026. The entire format of the SEC's schedules is changing because of this, but one of the most talked about changes across the conference are the three annual opponents each team will play starting next season.
Georgia found out on Monday who their three annual opponents would be for the next four years, and the SEC really missed the mark on one of their three selections.
SEC missed the mark on Georgia's 3 annual rivalry matchups
The SEC does deserve some credit because they did give Georgia their two traditional rivals as annual opponents. Auburn and Florida are those two teams, and no one from Georgia or either of those programs will complain about that.
However, Georgia's third team given to them is where there were some problems. That team is South Carolina, and while UGA does have a lot of history with the Gamecocks, there was another team every Georgia fan would have rather had.
The consensus among most Georgia fans is that they would have rather had Tennessee as their third annual opponent instead of South Carolina. While the Gamecocks are a solid program, they do not compare to how good of a program Tennessee has been over the last few years. So the opportunity to play one of the better teams in the SEC in the Volunteers each season feels too good to pass up.
Georgia will still get to play Tennessee every other year under this new format, but that still isn't as good as playing (and beating) them every year.
These annual opponents are only set in stone through the 2029 season and at that point the SEC will re-evaluate their selections and make changs where this see fit. But for now Georgia fans can get used to seeing Auburn, Florida and South Carolina on the schedule every season because that will remain the case for the next few years.