The 2025 SEC football season just got real. ESPN has laid out the kickoff windows and anchor matchups for the year’s juiciest games, and while some start times will float, the heavyweight clashes are already set—and circling the calendar is practically mandatory.
First to circle? Saturday, September 27. That’s when ABC delivers a double-stack of SEC sizzle: Notre Dame at Arkansas at noon ET—yes, a first-ever meeting—and then Alabama at Georgia in full prime-time mode at 7:30 p.m. ET. It’s the 75th all-time clash between the Tide and Dawgs, and it’s locked for Saturday Night Football, presented by Capital One. No need to flex—this one’s locked and loaded.
While full start times won’t be nailed down until six days before most games, ESPN has confirmed set television “windows” from Week 4 (September 20) through Week 14. That means fans can start mapping their Saturdays around the Early (Noon–1 p.m. ET), Afternoon (3:30–4:30 p.m. ET), and Night (6–8 p.m. ET) blocks. A Flex designation gives ABC and ESPN the freedom to shift marquee matchups between Afternoon and Night depending on the stakes and standings.
The season officially launches Thursday, August 28, when Central Arkansas at Missouri kicks things off on SEC Network. From there, Labor Day Weekend leans into the Aflac Kickoff spotlight, with Syracuse vs. Tennessee on Saturday, August 30, and Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina on Sunday.
Other September fixtures already locked include:
San Jose State at Texas (Sept 6)
Ole Miss at Kentucky (Sept 6)
Wisconsin at Alabama (Sept 13)
Florida at LSU (Sept 13)
And yes, Rivalry Week has been circled in permanent ink. Ole Miss at Mississippi State gets the Thanksgiving Friday night slot (Nov 28), and Texas A&M at Texas will run it back that same day. Clemson at South Carolina lands in the usual Saturday chaos, November 29.
Finally, the SEC Championship Game is now locked for Saturday, December 6, at 4:00 p.m. ET on ABC, live from Atlanta. By then, the playoff picture could be chaos, and every second of that game will count.
For fans, this isn’t just a schedule—it’s a blueprint. And with ESPN giving just enough structure to plan tailgates, road trips, and rivalry smack-talk, Saturdays in the South are officially back on the clock.
