How Lane Kiffin Shapes the LSU

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has finalized its football scheduling format for the 2025 season and beyond, following the addition of the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma. A key component of the new format involves the frequency of games between traditional opponents.

Main News

On June 1, the SEC announced it will adopt a one permanent opponent football scheduling model starting in the 2025 season. This model provides each school with one annual rival.

The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and Mississippi State were confirmed as permanent opponents. Louisiana State University (LSU) and the University of Florida were also paired as annual rivals.

LSU publicly opposed this format and voted against it. LSU officials had advocated for a nine-game conference schedule with three permanent opponents, which would have included Ole Miss.

Under the new format, LSU and Ole Miss are not scheduled to play in the 2025 or 2026 regular seasons. The teams are next scheduled to meet in Baton Rouge in 2027.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey stated that the schedule for the years 2032 and beyond will be evaluated at a later date.

Summary

The SEC will move to a one permanent opponent scheduling model from 2025 onward. This decision sets the league’s football matchups for the 2025 through 2031 seasons.

As a result of this format, LSU and Ole Miss will not face each other annually. The schools are scheduled to play in 2027, but will not meet in the 2025 or 2026 regular seasons.

LSU’s administration was openly against the single-opponent model. The school preferred an alternative structure that would have preserved several historic rivalries each year.

The conference leadership has stated that scheduling for the years after 2031 will be re-examined in the future, leaving open the possibility for format changes later.

FAQs

**Why did LSU oppose the new SEC scheduling format?**
LSU voted against the one permanent opponent model. The school’s leadership had publicly supported a nine-game schedule with three annual rivals, which would have included Ole Miss.

When will LSU and Ole Miss play football next?
According to the SEC’s announced schedule, the next football game between LSU and Ole Miss is set for the 2027 season in Baton Rouge. They are not scheduled to play in the 2025 or 2026 regular seasons.

Is the new SEC schedule permanent?
The schedule is confirmed for the 2025 through 2031 seasons. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey stated the format for the 2032 season and beyond will be evaluated at a later time.