The move ends a yearslong debate and potentially eases a path toward another expansion of the College Football Playoff.

The SEC has played eight conference games each season since 1992 when the conference expanded to 12 teams with the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina. The Atlantic Coast Conference still plays eight league games. The Big 12 and the Big Ten already play nine. Under the SEC's new format:

On cue, the SEC has officially announced a new nine-game conference schedule starting next season. Details: The SEC will continue with a single standings, non-divisional structure; Each school will play three annual opponents focused on maintaining many traditional rivalries;