Analysis of the 2026 SEC football preseason media poll

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We have talked a lot about Arkansas football, as we should, since the end of SEC media days and the release of the SEC football preseason media poll. Let's set aside one article to discuss the conference as a whole going into the 2026 season.

We have discussed Arkansas' last-place position. It's really hard to argue, though Mississippi State could just as easily have occupied the basement. Kentucky at No. 14 seems a little surprising given that Will Stein seems like a competent head coach. Purely based on talent, it's not an unreasonable selection. Vanderbilt does seem likely to take a big tumble without Diego Pavia. That call looks accurate. 

If Alex Golesh is as good a coach as the experts think he is, Auburn at 12 is too low by at least one spot if not two or three. South Carolina has LaNorris Sellers back for another year. That should put the Gamecocks above Missouri, but they aren't.

Jon Sumrall is a highly competent head coach. Florida at 9 seems low, while Tennessee's very uncertain quarterback position should put the Vols lower than 8, where they appear to be overrated. 

Oklahoma's limitations on offense have the Sooners at 7. That seems about right. Alabama at 6 appears to be low. Kalen DeBoer can coach, and he won on the road at Georgia last season. He's no Nick Saban or Kirby Smart, but he's not a bum, either. Being held to the Saban standard is an unreasonable expectation if that's what Tide fans have.

Lane Kiffin was able to land Sam Leavitt at quarterback, but is the rest of the LSU roster ready to play up to playoff standards? The LSU program has wobbled for several seasons, and it's unclear if Kiffin is ready to instantly elevate the operation. LSU being voted fifth in the SEC seems fair. Skepticism is warranted for the program and for Kiffin.

Texas A&M is probably underrated at No. 4, given how good Mike Elko has proved to be. However, Marcel Reed does not inspire complete confidence at quarterback, so the Aggies not being No. 3 or No. 2 is entirely understandable and not outrageous.

Ole Miss is No. 3. Trinidad Chambliss is obviously very talented, but the Rebels are going to have a target on their back all season long. They're going to get everyone's best shot. Is Pete Golding really good enough to guide this team all the way to the top three of the SEC? The Rebels are overrated.

Texas at No. 2 makes sense and yet doesn't feel solid. Arch Manning torched Arkansas last season … but that's the point: It was Arkansas, a bad team going nowhere. Is Arch really ready to become a superstar? We're not sure, so we're not fully sold on Texas at 2. A&M probably makes more sense, but we get it. 

Georgia at No. 1 is hard to argue against. The SEC is a very tough conference every year, but Georgia is regularly able to find its way to the top of it. Kirby Smart is an elite coach for a reason, and he has a veteran quarterback (Gunner Stockton) coming back. 

All in all, this SEC preseason poll seems to be fairly reasonable, with a number of disagreements but nothing ridiculously off the mark (3 or more spots). Now all that's left is for the season to begin.

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