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.
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.
- Related: Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 for 2026
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
10. Florida
Roster 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. Missouri
The 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.
- Related: Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 for 2026
12. Auburn
New 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.
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13. Vanderbilt
The 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.
14. Mississippi State
Jeff 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.