how many games do they play in the scottish premiership

Teams in the Scottish Premiership play 38 games each over a full season. This unique structure sets it apart from many other leagues, creating intense competition especially between powerhouses like Celtic and Rangers.

Season Format

The league features 12 teams that first play each other three times , totaling 33 matches per team. After this phase, the table splits into a top six (Championship Group) and bottom six (Relegation Group), with each team then playing five more fixtures within their group—once against each opponent—for a grand total of 38 games.

This split system was introduced in 2000 when the league expanded from 10 to 12 teams, avoiding an excessive 44-game schedule while ensuring meaningful end-of-season battles for titles, Europe, or survival.

Why 38 Games?

• Pre-split phase : 12 teams × 3 matches each against 11 others (but divided by 2 for home/away) = 33 games.
• Post-split : 5 additional games in smaller groups of 6.
• Total league matches: 228 across all teams, balancing fairness and fixture balance despite occasional seeding quirks.

Fans on forums like Reddit often debate this quirky setup, with some calling for tweaks to avoid repeat heavyweights dominating, but it keeps the drama high into May.

Current Context (2025/26 Season)

As of January 2026, the season follows this unchanged format—no major reforms announced. Check official SPFL sites for live standings, as the split typically happens around late March or early April.

TL;DR : 38 games per team via 33 pre-split + 5 post-split.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.