With the SEC set to move to a nine-game conference schedule beginning in 2026 and the ACC shifting to a nine-game model starting in 2026 as well, athletic departments across the country are reworking future non-conference slates.
Georgia and Louisville mutually agreed to cancel a home-and-home series that was scheduled to start in 2026, and Georgia also announced it was canceling a future home-and-home with NC State for 2033-34. Alabama and West Virginia also mutually canceled their 2026-27 home-and-home series.
With ACC & SEC moving to 9-game conference schedules, I see a lot of future non-conference games/series being canceled in past few weeks. UM's Dan Radakovich told me that Canes are moving ahead with (not canceling) the 2027 opener vs. Utah at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas and a…
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) February 9, 2026
Miami has done the same, but one matchup is reportedly staying in place. The Hurricanes and South Carolina agreed to cancel their planned 2026 and 2027 home-and-home series. But, AD Dan Radakovich said that Miami is moving forward with its 2027 season opener against Utah at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and that the Hurricanes also plan to keep their future home-and-home series with Auburn unless the Tigers pursue a cancellation.
Miami and Utah are scheduled to meet for the first time in the Vegas Kickoff Classic over Labor Day weekend 2027.
As for Auburn, Miami's series with the Tigers has been on the books for years: Miami hosts Auburn on Sept. 1, 2029, then travels to Auburn on Aug. 31, 2030.
Under the SEC's new model, schools will still be required to schedule at least one additional high-quality non-conference opponent from another Power Four conference (or Notre Dame) each season. In theory, that should encourage games like Auburn-Miami to stay on schedule rather than disappear.
In 2026, the ACC's "bridge" year will include 12 teams playing nine conference games, while five play eight. Miami is among the programs slated to play nine conference games in 2026. The ACC's long-term plan is to have a nine-game model regularly by 2027, with one team each year rotating through an eight-game slate because of the odd number of teams in the conference.