It has been awhile since the SEC has been this starved of a national title in football.
The last time the conference went three consecutive seasons without one was at the turn of the century. But this time around feels a little different. When the SEC suffered through four years without a championship from 1999-2002, a single conference wasn’t dominating the sport at the time. Here in the present day, that’s what the SEC is contending with, seriously threatening both the subjective opinion and objective data suggesting that it is the premier conference in college football.
The battle wages on, however, with the SEC still in a great position year after year to have one of its schools crowned national champion. That doesn’t change in 2026, where the top of the conference appears to be as strong as any in the country and will likely see at least three of its members qualify for the Playoff.
But deep down, whether Greg Sankey and the league office admits it or not, the reality stings. The Big Ten is making a push to rip the title of best conference in college football from the SEC. Decisions affecting the landscape of the sport and how schools can legitimately compete within it are being determined by the most influential leagues, not an overarching governing body like the NCAA. So while it may seem like a trivial aspect that fans will use as a talking point throughout the season, it truly is a power struggle far more important than that.
The potential of being removed from the throne is never an easy thing to grapple with, even if you haven’t yet lost it. Making matters worse is that the stakes have never been higher.
Embed from Getty ImagesTeams I Like
Texas
Steve Sarkisian became something of a meme for suggesting that a three-loss Longhorns team deserved a CFP bid last season, but with the squad that Texas brings into 2026 it doesn’t feel like Sark will need to lobby like that again even despite one of the most difficult schedules in the country. Texas will be improved on the offensive line (a glaring weakness from last year’s team), therefore much better in the running game and has one of the most dangerous wide receiving corps in the country thanks to heavy work done via the transfer portal. And of course, there’s that guy at quarterback, who with a full year of starting experience under his belt will be more than capable of ensuring the talent around him is able to shine.
Like most years, Texas will be under the microscope all season and does carry a lot of pressure heading into certain contests, most notably a rematch with Ohio State that feels so much bigger for the Longhorns than it does the Buckeyes. If Sark’s group can win that one, a lot of the pressure will be relieved and as a result I think we’ll see a very confident Longhorns team that won’t wither in big spots later on in the season, as Texas did at times in 2025. Calling it a Playoff or bust season is a given – calling it a near lock that they’ll get there is the bolder claim, and one I’m willing to stand behind.
Georgia
It is such an odd phenomenon to me that the Bulldogs can be so highly regarded yet simultaneously feel like an afterthought. For the second straight season, both the AP and Coaches polls have agreed that Georgia is a top five team heading into the year, yet Kirby Smart’s group again feels like an afterthought within its own conference. Perhaps it’s the lack of sexiness on the offensive side of the football, where a shift towards flashiness and a strong passing game has directed a lot of attention to other programs in the SEC. After all, Georgia was one of only two SEC teams within the conference’s top five for rushing offense that made the Playoff last season (the other being Texas A&M, which also put up nearly 260 yards per contest through the air). The Bulldogs finished No. 12 in passing offense.
Things will not change much for Georgia in 2026. Gunner Stockton is an efficient quarterback but loses three downfield choices to the NFL. Additionally, the Bulldogs figure to be even more dangerous on the ground with an offensive line that will be a Joe Moore Award contender, depth at running back and a very strong defense that will encourage the offense to again be one of the nation’s leaders in time of possession. The schedule is tough but manageable, with only four true road games. The team is also much more experienced in 2026 and many of the players have spent multiple years with this program, a different approach than many other SEC programs have deployed.
Oklahoma
The 2025 Sooners represent one of the few times I was high on an “overlooked” team coming into the season and my prediction was actually correct, so for that reason I already have a soft spot for Oklahoma. But the scenario is similar in 2026, with yet another brutal schedule to navigate and question marks about whether the engine of this squad can hold up for an entire year. The questions are valid – Oklahoma’s schedule (featuring trips to Michigan, Georgia, Florida as well as home dates with Mississippi, Texas A&M and a “neutral” contest with Texas in Dallas) would make any fan base worried. So does the level of reliance that the offense has on John Mateer, a Heisman candidate when healthy but a constant risk due to the physicality with which he plays (and needs to, in order to be optimally effective).
The saving grace here is that Brent Venables knows defense and that side of the ball will once again be nasty. The Sooners return seven starters to a defense that will be incredibly important to the team’s success, particularly in early season matchups against Michigan and Georgia. If Oklahoma is able to get back to the Playoff again this season, we will need to start talking about Venables as one of the elite coaches in college football.
LSU
The storylines have already begun writing themselves about Lane Kiffin at his new program, and regardless of your opinion about him it’s hard not to at least be curious about what the former Mississippi head coach can do in Baton Rouge. Kiffin got to work early, bringing in Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt to play quarterback, Princewill Umanmielen with him from Oxford to solidify the defensive front, a bunch of wideouts with starting experience elsewhere and somewhat controversially, much of the key coaching personnel previously with Mississippi. It’s a given that the offense will be better following a rough 2025 season, and LSU has bet heavily that defensive improvement can be bought, retaining coordinator Blake Baker and making him the highest paid assistant in college football.
As it works out, we’ll know within the first month of the season whether LSU’s administration looks like geniuses for its decisions or is looking for ways to control a spiraling narrative. The Tigers kick off the year with Clemson, travel to play Mississippi two weeks later in what will be can’t-miss entertainment both pre and in-game, followed up with a contest against Texas A&M. Leavitt has proven to be a bit inconsistent but has all the physical tools to be a Heisman contender and will play under a guy and in a system that rewards potential. If he is one of the best in college football, LSU will be as well.
Embed from Getty ImagesNot High On
Texas A&M
It is a bit disappointing writing this, because I am a fan of Mike Elko and what he has done both at Texas A&M and previously at Duke. But the writing was on the wall with this team last season and it became grossly apparent at the business end of the year. The Aggies were blessed with an unusually favorable schedule in 2025, avoiding all but two of the teams that finished within the top half of the SEC last season. They did not defeat an opponent that finished with a winning record in SEC play and entered all but one of its games as the favored squad despite entering the season at No. 19. The seemingly potent offense that averaged nearly 450 yards of offense per game withered in the final two of the season, producing only 331.5 YPG against Texas and Miami.
While the offense may be as good as last season with Marcel Reed back, a host of targets to throw to and a capable offensive line, I don’t see the Aggies as having taken the next “step” in development that would allow them to perform any better than what we saw in 2025. And the schedule is definitely more difficult. With road contests against LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma coupled with home dates against Tennessee and Texas, Coach Elko’s squad won’t be hiding in the alley of the SEC this season. Texas A&M must engage in several open air duels and will need to win at least a few of them to be considered Playoff contenders in 2026.
Embed from Getty ImagesPlayers To Watch
Mario Craver, Texas A&M wide receiver
Craver and KC Concepcion were a terrific 1A and 1B pairing that Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed utilized often, with the two combining for 120 receptions and over 1,800 yards receiving in 2025. Having two dangerous options downfield made it difficult for opponents to key on one, which allowed both to flourish. Craver should experience a similar situation this season even with Concepcion gone thanks to the crop of wideouts the Aggies still have, including Ashton Bethel-Roman and both wideout and tight end transfers coming into the fold.
Where Craver will likely see an uptick in production is in the redzone. Concepcion was the top option in that area last season and benefited from it, catching nine touchdowns compared with Craver’s four. Given his separation ability in tight spaces and Reed’s familiarity with him, Craver will likely be the go-to guy for Texas A&M near the end zone this year and could dramatically improve those touchdown catch numbers.
Cam Coleman, Texas wide receiver
If you think Arch Manning needs help to become one of the best quarterbacks in the country this season, you should be aware that he’s got in spades out wide. Texas returns two of its top four receivers from last season, including second-team all-SEC selection Ryan Wingo, but people are most excited about the Auburn transfer coming in to provide a physical presence that can go up and grab whatever Manning may throw to him. Cam Coleman was excellent in an Auburn offense that wasn’t (next-to-last in the SEC in passing yards per game), catching nearly half of the touchdowns that the Tigers threw last season.
Like Texas’s other starters at wideout, Coleman has a sturdy frame (6’3”, 201 pounds) that allows him to be physical and successful challenging for contested balls. Assuming he won’t always see the opponents’ best defender given what else Texas has on the field, Coleman has an excellent opportunity to prove his ability to create space and as an after-the-catch receiver, something that he wasn’t able to do much at Auburn.
Gunner Stockton, Georgia quarterback
You can be forgiven if you haven’t come around on Stockton yet – it took me awhile to do so as well. But for as unflattering a style as he may exhibit, it’s hard to argue with his productivity, efficiency and intangibles that result in the Bulldogs simply winning a lot of football games because he is orchestrating the offense.
The Georgia quarterback’s completion percentage of 69.7 percent in 2025 was better than all but three returning players to college football this season (Julian Sayin, Dante Moore, Texas State’s Brad Jackson) and unlike the others Stockton will not be leaned upon to use his arm as much as being a dual threat option. This increases the chances of his success being entirely repeatable. Former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow loves his intangibles, and although Stockton has a stronger arm and better accuracy, I think the former Florida quarterback is a decent comp because of those.
Trinidad Chambliss, Mississippi quarterback
Chambliss is the poster child for what some believe is wrong with local judicial branches getting involved in college athletics, but for the purpose of this preview we’ll focus on the fact that he’s a damn good football player and one that fans will benefit from seeing play another season at Mississippi. In Lane Kiffin’s offense last season Chambliss was second in the country in total offense, trailing Drew Mestemaker for the top spot by a paltry four yards. He’s a true dual threat but is as dangerous as any passer in the country, with the ability to make all the throws and makes smart decisions (22-3 TD-to-INT ratio in 2025).
With Kiffin departing for LSU, it is interesting and simultaneously a nod to Chambliss’s capabilities that the Rebels quarterback is high up on the list of Heisman Trophy contenders heading into this season. With Mississippi’s defense coming in highly touted as well, I don’t expect Chambliss to feel any undue pressure to put the team on his back and therefore should be able to play freely.
Jaden Baugh, Florida running back
There haven’t been a lot of bright spots to speak about from the Florida offense the past couple of years, but Baugh is certainly one of them. The now junior led the Gators in rushing touchdowns in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, and despite Florida’s issues in the run game last season still managed to amass 1,170 yards on the ground in 2025. Despite being heavily pursued by other programs following last season, Baugh chose to stay in Gainesville and could be handsomely rewarded for his decision.
New offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner’s system is perfect for showcasing Baugh’s abilities and he can be one of the SEC’s most dominant players this season if the Gators get decent play from the offensive line. At 6’1”, 228 pounds, Baugh possesses plenty of size to be able to withstand a physical rushing style but is also fast enough to avoid taking the beating that many backs his size end up seeing. His soft hands make him a versatile option out of the backfield as well, and someone that should be on the field a ton. Faulkner led Georgia Tech to three straight seasons of finishing either No. 1 or No. 2 in the ACC in rushing offense and will be able to get the most out of Baugh.
Owen Heinecke, Oklahoma linebacker
It’s impressive enough that Heinecke has worked his way into being one of the top inside linebacker prospects for next year’s NFL Draft having been a former walk-on to the Sooners’ program. But before he was a walk-on, Heinecke wasn’t even playing college football, spending his first year of collegiate eligibility playing lacrosse at Ohio State. Now, Heinecke is one of the captains for Oklahoma and a key reason why the Sooners again have one of the most intimidating defenses in the country.
Unsurprisingly, Heinecke’s path to success instilled in him an incredibly strong work ethic that shows up in the way he plays. Opportunistic but not reckless, Heinecke was second on the team last season with 74 tackles and also finished tied for second with three sacks. He’s able to engage in the pass run as well as drop back in coverage and while known for the work ethic, isn’t making up for any significant deficiencies in the athleticism department. Heinecke is an excellent representation of the Oklahoma defense as a whole, and it’s a big reason why the team has a chance to surprise people again in 2026.
Embed from Getty ImagesGames to Watch (Conference)
LSU at Mississippi (September 19)
A game that is circled on the calendars of casual and diehard college football fans alike. I can’t think of a situation where the program of a former coach would be more motivated to hand that coach an “L” at his new program.
Oklahoma at Georgia (September 26)
Elite defensive minds in college football square off, making the battle at quarterback between John Mateer and Gunner Stockton even more interesting. Both players are known for their ability to find a way to win at any cost, and creativity will be required to break down these defensive outfits.
Texas vs. Oklahoma [game in Dallas] (October 10)
Assuming that John Mateer is healthy for it, expect this year’s edition of the Red River Shootout to be much more competitive than it was last season. Both teams will arrive in Dallas off of a bye week, increasing the likelihood that each will at full strength from a personnel perspective.
Georgia at Alabama (October 10)
The Bulldogs’ only regular season loss in 2025 came at the hands of the Crimson Tide, which also snapped Georgia’s 33-game home winning streak. There is a decent chance that this will be a battle of unbeatens, and feels incredibly important for Alabama, which faces Tennessee, Texas A&M and LSU in its next three following this one.
Texas A&M at Alabama (October 24)
Speaking of that aforementioned game against the Aggies – Texas A&M hasn’t beaten the Crimson Tide since 2021 but has played to within a touchdown each of the last three contests. The Aggies haven’t always been “even” with Alabama in this series but appear to be on par talent wise this season.
Alabama at LSU (November 7)
This annual rivalry has recently been at risk of being overhyped, with no game since 2022 being decided by fewer than 11 points. With both teams seemingly taking a step in the right direction this offseason, there is a good chance it be back to being one of the most hotly contested games in the conference.
Mississippi at Oklahoma (November 14)
One week after losing to Georgia, the Rebels traveled to Norman last season and saved their CFP hopes by becoming one of the few teams that solved the riddle that was Oklahoma’s defense. With a new OC and head coach, it’ll be interesting to see whether this is a similarly played chess match or if it pivots to becoming a defensive stalemate.
Texas at LSU (November 14)
Three of Texas’s four true road games this season come in the month of November. This is the middle of that three game sequence and the first time that the Longhorns have visited Death Valley in over 70 years. There aren’t a ton of spots where I think the Longhorns may struggle this season, but this is one of them.
Embed from Getty ImagesGames to Watch (Non-Conference)
Louisville vs. Mississippi [game in Nashville] (September 6)
Interestingly, the newly formed Music City Kickoff is the second meeting between these two programs, the first of which occurred in another kickoff special (the Chic-fil-A one) in 2021. Mississippi’s defense will need to be prepared for a healthy dose of the run game.
Tennessee at Georgia Tech (September 12)
The Volunteers got off to a blazing start last season but aren’t experienced at the quarterback position as they were in 2025. Brent Key has a history of giving ranked opponents trouble, but will also be breaking in a new quarterback and thus it’s unclear what we’ll get from both sides.
South Carolina at Clemson (November 28)
So much for homefield advantage – the Battle for the Palmetto State has seen the host win just one of the last eight contests. With Clemson’s homefield advantage having taken a dip in general over the past few seasons, it is conceivable that the trend could continue.
Embed from Getty ImagesAw, Shuck It (3 Bets to Place)
*odds via DraftKings at time of publication. Around The Corn is not responsible for lost bets!
Texas Wins National Championship (+650)
They’d likely retire the Is Texas Back Yet? website if this were to happen. Expectations for the Longhorns are sky high, which has rarely been helpful to the cause, but for the first time in awhile it feels like they are at least reasonably in line with the roster that Texas has to try to accomplish them. Scientifically speaking, of course.
Oklahoma Makes College Football Playoff (+210)
If you missed the first opportunity to jump on the Oklahoma bandwagon, shame on everyone else. If you miss it again, shame on you, I suppose. John Mateer’s health plays an important role in this happening, but if you believe in that remaining positive, only the schedule is left in terms of a reason to doubt the Sooners again.
Trinidad Chambliss Wins Heisman Trophy (+1300)
There are a number of candidates from the SEC that will be amongst the conversation throughout the season, but Chambliss is one of the few that should possess enough individual indicators and team success to get the nod in what has become an incredibly subjective and ambiguous award. He has also already shown an ability to capture a proverbial “Heisman moment” in a way that some of the other top contenders have not.
Embed from Getty ImagesPredictions
- Texas (11-1, [8-1])
- Georgia (11-1, [8-1])
- LSU (10-2, [7-2])
- Alabama (10-2, [7-2])
- Oklahoma (9-3, [7-2])
- Mississippi (9-3, [6-3])
- Tennessee (8-4, [5-4])
- Missouri (8-4, [5-4])
- Florida (8-4, [5-4])
- Texas A&M (7-5, [4-5])
- South Carolina (6-6, [4-5])
- Auburn (6-6, [3-6])
- Vanderbilt (6-6, [3-6])
- Mississippi State (2-10, [0-9])
- Arkansas (2-10, [0-9])
- Kentucky (2-10, [0-9])
Conference Title Game
Georgia vs. Texas (game in Atlanta)
Champion: Georgia
