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Early SEC Football Predictions for 2026
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- Early SEC Football Predictions for 2026
The SEC enters 2026 looking to get back to the top of college football . The conference hasn't won a national title since Georgia hoisted the trophy in '22. And since that moment by the Bulldogs, the SEC had to watch the Big Ten claim the last three championships with Michigan, Ohio State , and Indiana earning the No. 1 spot.
However, optimism is high in the SEC for a return to the top in '26 with Georgia and Texas among the top-five teams in the way-too-early top 25 for next fall. Additionally, Texas A&M , Ole Miss , Oklahoma, Alabama and LSU headline a strong second tier and teams that should squarely be in the mix for a spot in the playoff.
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Even if Georgia, Texas, or another team in the SEC doesn't win the national title, depth remains a strength for this league. Vanderbilt has staying power behind coach Clark Lea, Mississippi State is on the rise entering coach Jeff Lebby's third season, and Auburn and Florida made intriguing hires to get back on track after losing records in '24.
It's never too early to think about predictions or rankings for the 2026 college football season. With that in mind, Athlon provides its very early power rankings for the SEC for 2026:
Early SEC Predictions for 2026
Sep 27, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) passes against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images© Brett Davis-Imagn Images
1. Georgia
The Bulldogs have won back-to-back SEC titles and should begin '26 as the favorite to win another conference title. Considering coach Kirby Smart
's team doesn't lose a ton of key pieces and continues to reel in elite talent on the recruiting trail, Georgia has all of the necessary pieces to contend for the national title and the No. 1 ranking. Smart's defense featured a handful of underclassmen seeing big-time snaps in '25 and is likely to be even more dominant next season after limiting teams to 17.6 points a contest. Quarterback Gunner Stockton and a standout ground attack leads the way on offense. Reloading Stockton's receiving corps and replacing dynamic playmaker Zachariah Branch on the outside is Smart's biggest preseason priority.
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2. Texas
The Longhorns failed to meet preseason expectations in '25, but coach Steve Sarkisian's squad still won 10 games and is primed for another run at the SEC title next fall. Quarterback Arch Manning
found his rhythm down the stretch and is one of the nation's top signal-callers for '26. Sarkisian improved Manning's weapons through the portal, bringing in receiver Cam Coleman
from Auburn and running backs Raleek Brown (Arizona State) and Hollywood Smothers ( NC State
). After a shaky start, the play in the trenches improved late in the season and should continue that uptick next fall. Defense hasn't been the problem in Austin, but Sarkisian hopes to elevate this unit to another level with the hire of Will Muschamp as coordinator.
3. Texas A&MThe Aggies took a step forward in coach Mike Elko's second season with an appearance in the College Football Playoff. A first-round loss to Miami should provide plenty of motivation for Texas A&M as it aims for a deeper run in '26 behind quarterback Marcel Reed and a receiving corps including Mario Craver and Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton. Restocking the trenches on both sides of the ball was Elko's biggest priority this offseason. The Aggies replenished those groups from the transfer portal to give the staff plenty of options. Holmon Wiggins taking over as offensive coordinator for Collin Klein (departed to be the head coach at Kansas State) is a storyline to watch.
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer.BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
4. OklahomaCoach Brent Venables opened 2025 on the hot seat but finished as a candidate for SEC Coach of the Year honors after guiding Oklahoma to 10 victories and a spot in the College Football Playoff. To make a deeper run in the 12-team field next season, the Sooners need the offense to take its play up a notch or two behind quarterback John Mateer. An improved set of receivers will help but more production out the ground game and better overall performance from the line is a must. Venables has turnover to navigate on defense, but it's safe to assume he will find the right answers on that side of the ball.
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5. LSULSU made arguably the best hire of the '25-26 carousel by bringing Lane Kiffin to Baton Rouge. The Bayou Bengals are also poised to land one of the top transfer classes, which includes quarterback Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), a handful of receivers to restock a thin group, and help for a defense that ranked among the best in the SEC in '25. It may take some time for Kiffin to put all of the pieces together, but if enough transfers hit with the new staff, LSU can contend for a playoff spot next year.
6. Ole MissUncertainty surrounds the '26 status of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss with an ongoing appeal for an extra year of eligibility. If Chambliss secures a waiver, the Rebels will contend for the SEC title. But if that effort fails, Auburn transfer Deuce Knight is expected to take over as the No. 1 quarterback in Oxford. Running back Kewan Lacy returns after a breakout '25 season and headlines the offense for new play-caller John David Baker. Coach Pete Golding's tenure in Oxford is off to a good start with two playoff victories and a standout portal class will help to restock a defense that struggled to stop the run and allowed 5.6 yards a play in SEC games.
Nov 22, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell (12) carries the ball during the second half against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images
7. Alabama
The Crimson Tide enter 2026 with more question marks than usual, but coach Kalen DeBoer should plug the roster holes to keep this team in contention for a spot in the playoff. The battle between Austin Mack
and Keelon Russell is among the nation's most intriguing quarterback competitions for '26. Ryan Williams and Lotzeir Brooks form one of the SEC's top receiving duos, but Alabama has question marks up front and with its ground attack after a lackluster showing last year. The secondary should rank among the best in the SEC next year. However, coordinator Kane Wommack has to retool up front and at linebacker.
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8. Tennessee
After Tennessee ranked among the SEC's worst on defense in 2025, coach Josh Heupel hit the reset button this offseason. Tim Banks was dismissed as defensive coordinator, with veteran Jim Knowles arriving from Penn State
to handle the play-calling duties. Knowles is bringing a couple of players with him from Happy Valley, including potential standouts Chaz Coleman and Xavier Gilliam in the trenches, along with linebacker Amare Campbell at linebacker. An improved defense could go a long way to helping Tennessee return to the playoff, as the offense is in transition with freshmen quarterbacks Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre vying to replace Joey Aguilar.
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Related: Early Heisman Contenders for 2026
9. South Carolina
The Gamecocks should rank among the most-improved teams in college football next season. A struggling offense will get help from the arrival of new play-caller Kendal Briles, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers
passed on the NFL
for another season in Columbia. NC State transfer Jacarrius Peak is one of the top offensive linemen in the portal and was a massive get to solidify South Carolina's struggling line. The Gamecocks also return one of the SEC's top defenders with Dylan Stewart (12 TFL in '25) coming back to anchor the front. The addition of Tennessee transfer Caleb Herring should give coordinator Clayton White another option off the edge to alleviate some of the attention on Stewart.
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Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh (13) celebrates his touchdown during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 19, 2024 against the Kentucky Wildcats. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]© Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
10. FloridaRoster talent hasn't necessarily been an issue in Gainesville in recent years, but new coach Jon Sumrall should do a better job at maximizing it. Sumrall is off to a strong start this offseason, landing a pair of standout coordinators in Buster Faulkner (offense) and Brad White (defense). The departure of quarterback DJ Lagway was a surprise, but Sumrall and Faulkner landed a promising replacement in Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo. Running back Jadan Baugh returns, and the Gators feature one of the SEC's top receiving corps with Dallas Wilson, Eric Singleton (Auburn transfer), and Vernell Brown III. Replacing the performance of standout left tackle Austin Barber and center Jake Slaughter won't be easy. Keeping promising pass rusher Jayden Woods was huge for the defense.
11. MissouriThe Tigers are 29-10 over the last three seasons under coach Eli Drinkwitz and landed one of the top quarterbacks in the portal in former Ole Miss signal-caller Austin Simmons to make another run at a double-digit win total in '26. New coordinator Chip Lindsey also has one of the nation's top backfields at his disposal with Ahmad Hardy and Jamal Roberts anchoring a ground game that led the SEC with 228.3 yards a contest. The return of standout guard Cayden Green provides a strong foundation in the trenches. Defensive signal-caller Corey Batoon must retool up front and in the secondary. Drinkwitz has thrived at reloading through the portal, so Missouri's defense may not miss much of a beat in '26.
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12. AuburnNew coach Alex Golesh wasted no time revamping Auburn's roster. Over 30 transfers are set to join the squad for '26, including a handful from Golesh's former team (South Florida). Among that collection of portal talent is dynamic quarterback Byrum Brown and a couple of receivers to replace Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton (departed to the portal). A revamped offensive and defensive line headline the biggest concerns for Golesh in his first year on the Plains.
© Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
13. VanderbiltThe development of five-star quarterback Jared Curtis in replacing Diego Pavia is one of the SEC's top storylines this offseason. The Commodores will miss Pavia but have plenty of staying power behind coach Clark Lea, especially after the staff landed a solid haul of transfers to restock both sides of the ball. In addition to developing Curtis, rebuilding the offensive line tops the list of offseason priorities for Lea.
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14. Mississippi StateJeff Lebby's program took a step forward in '25, winning five games after posting just two victories the previous year. Another deep class of transfers should help Lebby add depth to both sides of the ball, especially in the trenches where Mississippi State has struggled over the last two seasons. Quarterback Kamario Taylor is a rising star, and the return of Zach Arnett as the program's defensive coordinator should improve a unit that's ranked near the bottom of the SEC in the last two years.
15. Kentucky
It's a new era in Lexington with rising star and offensive mastermind Will Stein taking over following Mark Stoops' dismissal at the end of 2025. Stein hit the portal hard for help, landing several impact additions on offense. Quarterback Kenny Minchey ( Notre Dame
), running back CJ Baxter (Texas), and linemen Lance Heard (Tennessee), Coleton Price (Baylor), and Tegra Tshabola (Ohio State) are all slated to make a massive impact next fall. This team still has a ton of questions to answer next fall, but Stein's work in the portal could allow Kentucky to push for a winning season.
16. Arkansas
Arkansas was better than its 2-10 record suggested in '25, but new coach Ryan Silverfield has a significant rebuilding effort on tap this fall. The Razorbacks brought in over 35 players from the transfer portal with significant help coming for both sides of the ball. Quarterback KJ Jackson showed promise in limited snaps in '25, and the skill talent features talented weapons at running back (Braylon Russell) and receiver ( Chris Marshall
and Jamari Hawkins). Veteran play-caller Ron Roberts is tasked with improving a defense that allowed 37.1 points a contest in SEC play last year.
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Related: College Football Top 25 for 2026: Athlon's Way-Too-Early Picks
Related: Way-Too-Early Heisman Trophy Contenders for the 2026 College Football Season
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
