Nick Saban names 7 teams as SEC championship contenders

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Former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban outlined his top SEC championship contenders at SEC media days. Saban, like most other college football experts, thinks the Georgia Bulldogs and Texas Longhorns have a good shot at winning the SEC.

Saban's list of SEC championship contenders goes well beyond Georgia and Texas. He thinks seven teams have enough talent to win an SEC championship.

"But I also think there's probably about five other teams (outside of Georgia and Texas) that have a chance (to compete for an SEC championship)," Saban said during SEC media days. "I think (Texas) A&M's got a chance. I think Oklahoma's got a chance. You know, John Mateer comes back and plays well."

If Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer is fully healthy, then Oklahoma should have a dynamic offense and stout defense that could help the Sooners make a second straight College Football Playoff appearance. Oklahoma's biggest problem is their schedule. The Sooners have to play Georgia, Texas and Michigan in their first five games of the season. Additionally, home games against Texas AM and Ole Miss won't be easy.

"I think LSU's got a chance. I think Ole Miss definitely has a chance with Trinidad (Chambliss). You know, that guy can make more plays than anybody in college football. So he's going to win some close games for them. I think Alabama's got a chance. I think they're flying under the radar, but I think they've got some pretty good players. I will be interesting to see how the quarterback situation works out."

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is a first-team All-SEC pick for a reason. He an accurate passer and is elusive when he gets pressured. Chambliss led Ole Miss to the playoff semifinals last season and is looking to go further this year.

"So there's a lot of people who have a chance and have good enough players," Saban continued. "It just depends on how things go for them."

The nine-game SEC schedule will be a big factor in who ends up making the SEC championship in Atlanta. Georgia and Texas are the media's top SEC favorites entering the season with the Bulldogs being the most popular SEC title pick at SEC media days.

The most notable exclusion from Saban's list of SEC title contenders is the Tennessee Volunteers. Tennessee figures to enter the 2026 season with a preseason top-25 ranking.

Nick Saban's SEC championship contenders

• Georgia Bulldogs
• Alabama Crimson Tide
• Oklahoma Sooners
• Texas Longhorns
• Ole Miss Rebels
• LSU Tigers
• Texas A&M Aggies

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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Nick Saban names 7 teams as SEC championship contenders

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