The SEC is a Power Five conference under the College Football Playoff format along with the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big 12 Conference, the Big Ten Conference, and the Pac–12 Conference. The season began on August 31 and will end with the 2017 SEC Championship Game on December 2. The 2017 Southeastern Conference football season was the 85th season of SEC football and took place during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. * Ole Miss ineligible for postseason due to NCAA sanctions.^ – College Football Playoff participant.