How does the SEC stacks up in USA TODAY Sports preseason 1-138?

How does the SEC stacks up in USA TODAY Sports preseason 1-138?

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How does the SEC stacks up in USA TODAY Sports preseason 1-138?

It's Week 0 of the 2026 college football season. We've arrived! Though the Oklahoma Sooners and the rest of the SEC won't play during Week 0, the season is upon us. With that comes USA TODAY Sports' preseason 1-138 rankings for 2026.

In Paul Myerberg's rankings, there are eight SEC teams in the top 25 and nine in the top 30. 11 of the conference's 16 programs rank inside the top 50. The race to Atlanta for the SEC championship is going to be a fun one with seven legitimate contenders for the conference title. Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and LSU all rank within the top 18.

The Sooners will have tough sledding along the way, facing nine teams that rank in the top 51, including Michigan at No. 22 and New Mexico at No. 45. If Oklahoma can manage to get through the schedule with two or fewer losses, they'll be a shoo-in for the College Football Playoff.

With just over a week to go to the start of the 2026 season, here's how the SEC stacks up in USA TODAY Sports' preseason 1-138.

3. Texas Longhorns

Oct 25, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian reacts with Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the fourth quarter against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Though we go through this every offseason with Texas, they still have a talented team on both sides of the ball. Even if Arch isn't a Heisman winner at the end of the season, the Longhorns have a defense that can play with just about anybody and they have skill talent to create big plays. Like Oklahoma and Alabama, can the offensive line take a big step this season?

Week 1: vs. Texas State

6. Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia coach Kirby Smart celebrates with President of the University of Georgia Jere Morehead Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) and Georgia running back Cash Jones (32) after winning the NCAA Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. Georgia won 34-3.

Few teams have had as much consistency in college football over the last decade as the Georgia Bulldogs. Kirby Smart's squad is one of the safest bets to reach the College Football Playoff this season.

Week 1: vs. Tennessee State

7. Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer (10) runs drills during an OU Football practice in Norman, Okla., on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a team capable of making noise in 2026 but they'll have to overcome a daunting schedule to achieve what they're capable of. Get that running game going and the Sooners are national title contenders.

Week 1: vs. UTEP

9. Alabama Crimson Tide

Aug. 17, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell (12) throws at practice for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Kalen DeBoer named former five-star quarterback Keelon Russell his starting quarterback to open the 2026 season. Russell has big-time talent and the ability to lead Alabama to the playoff, especially with the defense the Tide can deploy when Russell doesn't have the ball. But is their offensive line better? That'll be the question.

Week 1: vs. East Carolina

11. Ole Miss Rebels

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - SEPTEMBER 06: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of Ole Miss Rebels against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field on September 06, 2025 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Pete Golding just completed his first offseason as head coach after a run to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. It was a drama-filled offseason with tampering accusations flying from Clemson to Ole Miss and from Ole Miss to LSU. Probably more than anyone, Golding is ready for the season to start.

Week 1: vs. Louisville

13. Texas A&M Aggies

Sep 27, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) celebrates with teammates after the game against the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Mike Elko has one of the most talented rosters in the country and a returning and ever-improving quarterback in Marcel Reed. But the Aggies are facing a schedule with a much higher degree of difficulty than the one they played last year.

Week 1: vs. Missouri State

18. LSU Tigers

LSU Tigers head football coach Lane Kiffin talking with Quarterback Husan Longstreet 8 at LSU Football practice. August 18, 2026.

You may not like Lane Kiffin or the way that he's building his roster, but you have to admit he's got a talented roster. The biggest question is can he pull it all together to make the LSU Tigers a contender. Get your popcorn ready because Kiffin has LSU in villain mode.

Week 1: vs. Clemson

19. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon (11) throws a pass during the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.

Josh Heupel is going with true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon. The former five-star prospect has all the tools to be great in Heupel's offense and has a run game that will support him, led by DeSean Bishop, who ran for 1,079 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.

Week 1: vs. Furman

30. Missouri Tigers

Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz talks to his team during a timeout during the first quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium Saturday December 27, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]

The Missouri Tigers are one of the more intriguing teams in the SEC. If they can keep their quarterback upright for the entire season, there's a chance Eli Drinkwitz can get them to 10 wins and a College Football Playoff berth.

Week 1: Arkansas-Pine Bluff

36. Florida Gators

Jul 22, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Jon Sumrall is one of the better football coaches in college football. His time at Tulane proved as much. Now he gets to prove his worth on the big stage at Florida. There's a ton of talent in Gainesville led by running back Jadan Baugh. If Sumrall can get improved offensive line and quarterback play, they could have a huge jump in their win total.

Week 1: vs. Florida Atlantic

40. Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt players and coach Clark Lea celebrate after defeating Auburn in overtime at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.

As much as I admire the job Clark Lea's done to recruit talent to Vanderbilt, I need to see this team win without Diego Pavia before I can believe this isn't the same old Commodores.

Week 1: Austin Peay

51. South Carolina Gamecocks

Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Trace Ford (30) and Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Gracen Halton (56) bring down South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.

Last year, South Carolina struggled to block anyone, and they had a hard time scoring points. LaNorris Sellers was hardly the problem, but can he shake off a rough 2025 and rediscover the success that had him the talk of the college football world in 2024? Shane Beamer is banking on offensive coordinator Kendal Briles to be the answer.

Week 1: vs. Kent State

63. Auburn Tigers

AUBURN, AL - August 21, 2026 - Auburn Head Coach Alex Golesh during a fall camp practice at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, AL.

The Auburn Tigers are beginning a new era under former Tennessee offensive coordinator and USF head coach Alex Golesh. There's a lot of optimism surrounding his quarterback, Byrum Brown, and the defense will be really good once again. The Tigers could be the most improved team in the SEC in 2026.

Week 1: vs. Baylor

78. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) passes the ball during a college football game between Mississippi State and Ole Miss at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. The Egg Bowl game marks the 122nd meeting between the two teams.

This will be arguably the best roster of the Jeff Lebby era. Though he may not have the experience at quarterback that he had with Blake Shapen, Kamario Taylor offers more upside. Anthony Evans at wide receiver is one of the most electric players in the nation. The Bulldogs will score some points but will they be able to stop anyone?

Week 1: vs. UL Monroe

95. Kentucky Wildcats

Oct 27, 2018; Columbia, MO, USA; A general view of a Kentucky Wildcats helmet during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Kentucky won 15-14. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The Will Stein era has brought a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. They added some big time talents in the transfer portal, like offensive tackle Lance Heard and are hoping that former Notre Dame quarterback Kenny Minchey is able to bring it all together.

Week 1: vs. Youngstown State

97. Arkansas Razorbacks

Wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield and head coach Ryan Silverfield clap hands during an Arkansas football fall camp practice.

There aren't a lot of expectations for the Arkansas Razorbacks and Ryan Silverfield but that doesn't mean there isn't any pressure to turn things around. They named K.J. Jackson the starter. The Sophomore showed some potential last season, throwing for over 200 yards and a touchdown and rushing for another score against Texas.

Week 1: vs. North Alabama

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: How does the SEC stacks up in USA TODAY Sports preseason 1-138?

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