SEC, Big Ten to End Championship Games in 2026

The SEC and Big Ten announced that their 2026 football championship games will be their last, ending their conference title-game traditions as the College Football Playoff expands to 24 teams next season. Both games are scheduled for Dec. 5, with the SEC’s 35th championship in Atlanta and the Big Ten’s 16th in Indianapolis. The SEC championship began in 1992 and has been held in Atlanta since 1994; the Big Ten championship began in 2011. The SEC cited the playoff’s new format, while the Big Ten linked its final game to the expansion.