After years of debate and discussion, the SEC is moving to a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026. But Georgia coach Kirby Smart expressed concern for how the shift will impact the league’s College Football Playoff hopes.

Smart predicted the SEC could miss out on a spot in the CFP by adding another conference game. One of the arguments against the move is the fact an extra game adds another loss for half the league, and Smart said that could be important come selection day.

However, there’s talk of expanding the CFP to 16 teams. But if the bracket stays at 12 teams, as currently constructed, Smart said the new schedule could impact the SEC’s path.

“One more loss,” Smart told David Pollack on his See Ball Get Ball podcast about the nine-game schedule. “I think it’s going to end up affecting, unless we increase the playoffs. But if we don’t increase the playoffs, it’s going to cost us probably a playoff spot.”

Under the new SEC schedule model, conference teams will play nine conference games. In addition, the league will continue to require one non-conference game against either a Power 4 program or Notre Dame. Teams will have three annual opponents and six rotating opponents. Annual opponents will be evaluated every four years, and every team will face the remaining 12 teams once in a two-year span.

Kirby Smart: Coaches ‘concerned’ about player health

The College Football Playoff was a key part of the conversations about adding a game to the SEC schedule, commissioner Greg Sankey said. The change went through after the CFP announced a new metric to help with record strength during strength-of-schedule discussions.

But Kirby Smart also has another concern about the extra SEC game as part of the new-look slate. He expressed worry about players’ health with the additional matchup. He used this year’s Georgia team as an example following the SEC Championship against Alabama.

“Those two teams were beat up tonight and that was the ninth game of the year, and we’re looking at next year having another game,” Smart said. “The coaches in our league are concerned about it — very concerned about it — and I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t speak my piece and say that it’s concerning.

“But hypothetically, every (SEC) team just played another game in their ninth (conference) game, so there’s eight more losses. Who just dropped out? Then there’s another game (with) the SEC Championship. It’s tough, it was physical out there tonight, and they were wounded, we were wounded. … We were without multiple guys (that were) just beat up.”