Early SEC football 2026 rankings: Who's built to win?

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Early SEC football 2026 rankings: Who's built to win?

While the 2025-2026 season concluded with a non-SEC national champion for the third consecutive year, the upcoming campaign could be a different story.

In the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, many teams across the league have caught up with the times and have begun to dominate the transfer portal and recruiting rankings. As of February, 10 SEC teams are ranked in the top-25 of On3 Sports 2026 transfer portal rankings, with nine securing a spot in the top 25 of the Rivals recruiting rankings. Texas, Georgia, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Tennessee and potentially Ole Miss (dependent upon the results of Trinidad Chambliss' lawsuit against the NCAA) are also returning quarterbacks who started in at least two games in 2025.

A program can't reach that apex purely off talent, however. The right head coach who is willing to use the tools around him to transform a program is integral to a team's success, especially in this era of college football.

The chaotic coaching carousel landed many new faces in the conference, including Ryan Silverfield (Arkansas), Alex Golesh (Auburn), Jon Sumrall (Florida) and Will Stein (Kentucky), all of which are looking to make a splash in their first appearances at the helm for their respective squads. Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin lit the match to engulf the LSU-Ole Miss rivalry into a raging wildfire by accepting the opening with the Tigers and leaving the Rebels without a head coach just before the playoff. Ole Miss leaders quickly responded by naming defensive coordinator Pete Golding the new leader of the Rebs.

A new season of SEC football is still a few months away, but it is never too early to project what the league could look like on the gridiron in 2026. Here is where every team in the conference stands in the offseason, based on their coaches, retention and recruiting rankings so far:

1. Texas Longhorns

Nov 30, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; A detail view of a Texas Longhorns helmet on the sideline during the first quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies. The Longhorns defeated the Aggies 17-7 at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

2025 record: 10-3 (6-2 in SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 10 overall and No. 4 in the SEC (19 transfers in and 23 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 10 overall and No. 5 in the SEC

2. Georgia Bulldogs

Jan 9, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; Detailed view of a Georgia Bulldogs helmet during the CFP national championship game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2025 record: 12-2 (7-1 in SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 54 overall and No. 15 in the SEC (Eight transfers out and 14 transfers in)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 6 overall and No. 2 in the SEC

3. LSU Tigers

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 12: LSU helmets are seen on the field prior to the game against the Florida Gators at Tiger Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Marianna Massey/Getty Images)

2025 record: 7-6 (3-5 in SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 4 overall and No. 2 in the SEC (40 transfers in and 33 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 12 overall and No. 6 in the SEC

4. Texas A&M Aggies

2025 record: 11-2 (7-1 in SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 3 overall and No. 1 in the SEC (18 transfers in and 14 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 7 overall and No. 3 in the SEC

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

Sep 14, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; General view of Alabama Crimson Tide helmets during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

2025 record: 11-4 (7-1 in SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 46 overall and No. 13 in the SEC (18 transfers in and 23 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 5 overall and No. 1 in the SEC

6. Ole Miss Rebels

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 08: A helmet for Ole Miss Rebels is seen during warmups prior to the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes at State Farm Stadium on January 08, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

2025 record: 13-2 (7-1 in SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 18 overall and No. 8 in the SEC (29 transfers in and 21 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 26 overall and No. 10 in the SEC

7. Oklahoma Sooners

Oct 28, 2023; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; A general view of an Oklahoma Sooners helmet against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

2025 record: 10-3 (6-2 in SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 25 overall and No. 10 in the SEC (16 transfers in and 27 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 16 overall and No. 8 in the SEC

8. Tennessee Volunteers

Nov 23, 2019; Columbia, MO, USA; A general view of a Tennessee Volunteers helmet during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

2025 record: 8-5 (4-4 in SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 24 overall and No. 9 in the SEC (21 transfers in and 23 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 9 overall and No. 4 in the SEC

9. Missouri Tigers

Nov 18, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Missouri Tigers helmet against the Florida Gators during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

2025 record: 8-5 (4-4 in SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 47 overall and No. 14 in the SEC (28 transfers in and 26 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 28 overall and No. 11 in the SEC

10. Vanderbilt Commodores

Oct 22, 2022; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A detail view of a Vanderbilt Commodores helmet against the Missouri Tigers during the second half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

2025 record: 10-3 (6-2 in SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 17 overall and No. 7 in the SEC (17 transfers in and 15 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 31 overall and No. 13 in the SEC

11. Florida Gators

Nov 18, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Florida Gators helmet against the Missouri Tigers during the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

2025 record: 4-8 (2-6 in the SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 12 overall and No. 5 in the SEC (27 transfers in and 29 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 14 overall and No. 7 in the SEC

12. Auburn Tigers

2025 record: 5-7 (1-7 in SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 66 overall and No. 16 in the SEC (39 transfers in and 36 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 42 overall and No. 14 in the SEC

13. South Carolina Gamecocks

Nov 13, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A general view of a South Carolina Gamecocks helmet against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

2025 record: 4-8 (1-7 in SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 26 overall and No. 11 in the SEC (26 transfers in and 20 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 18 overall and No. 9 in the SEC

14. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Nov 15, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A general view of Mississippi State Bulldogs helmets on field against the Missouri Tigers prior to a game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

2025 record: 5-8 (1-7 in SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 13 overall and No. 6 in the SEC (24 transfers in and 38 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 28 overall and No. 11 in the SEC

15. Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas Razorbacks helmet seen on the field

2025 record: 2-10 (0-8)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 8 overall and No. 3 in the SEC (41 transfers in and 38 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 49 overall and No. 15 in the SEC

16. Kentucky Wildcats

Sep 16, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats helmet during the game against the Akron Zips at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

2025 record: 5-7 (2-6 in SEC)

2026 transfer portal ranking: No. 38 overall and No. 12 in the SEC (30 transfers in and 23 transfers out)

2026 recruiting rankings: No. 53 overall and No. 16 in the SEC

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Ranking all 16 SEC teams entering the 2026 season

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