The Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, and Texas A&M Aggies are already expected to disappoint their fanbases once again in 2026. On the flip side, the LSU Tigers are trusted to rise back to the top of the SEC, while the Ole Miss Rebels are pegged to stay there, and the Kentucky Wildcats are primed to enter the conversation for the first time in half a decade.
USA Today's John Adams and Blake Toppmeyer came to a consensus that Bama and UGA are set to disappoint, though Kirby Smart got a shoutout that Kalen DeBoer notably did not. The latter threw TAMU in as a potential disappointment, despite an $18.5 million transfer portal haul.
"Two teams jump out," Adams said when asked who in the SEC is overrated. "Georgia and Alabama. The Bulldogs will return a lot from a team that repeated as SEC champions. I think they’re a top-10 team. A playoff team. But, No. 3?
"Georgia didn’t do much in the transfer portal, and it will be young at wide receiver. A No. 3 ranking seems too lofty for a team that will look familiar to the one that lost to Mississippi in the CFP quarterfinals. Then again, I trust few coaches like I trust Kirby Smart.
"As for Alabama, Ty Simpson emerged as the Crimson Tide’s offensive engine. Now, he’s off to the NFL. So is top receiver Germie Bernard. Is either Austin Mack or Keelon Russell ready to step in at starting quarterback? Several other SEC teams will have more proven quarterbacks."
"I’ll add another: Texas A&M. The Aggies sustained notable losses along the lines of scrimmage after finishing an 11-win season with back-to-back losses to Texas and Miami. They also lost offensive coordinator Collin Klein. He became Kansas State's coach. The Aggies reloaded with a nice portal haul, but the 2026 schedule will be tougher. Another top-20 season should be expected, but top-10 could be pushing it," Toppmeyer added.
Adams liked Lane Kiffin's extensive work up and down the depth chart in Baton Rouge, including a new quarterback, Arizona State Sun Devils transfer Sam Leavitt, a new blindside tackle, Colorado Buffaloes transfer Jordan Seaton, and a handful of blue-chip receivers, as evidence that LSU is set to rise in the ashes of Brian Kelly's high-priced, but underperforming tenure. Toppmeyer liked Ole Miss if/when quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is granted an extra year of eligibility and Kentucky after hiring Will Stein and signing Notre Dame Fighting Irish transfer QB Kenny Minchey.
The SEC hierarchy projected to be ruled by Texas, LSU, and Ole Miss
Toppmeyer almost included the Texas Longhorns as a disappointment, but that's only within the context of being the likely preseason No. 1 team for a second year in a row. After losing three games in 2025, one to a sub-.500 Florida Gators, Texas' massive transfer portal haul is seen by many to be the impetus for getting over the hump. Everything needs to work out in the trenches after an underwhelming performance recruiting tenured offensive linemen this January, but there's enough new talent at the offensive skill position to project a massive season in Austin with Arch Manning at the helm.
The Bayou Bengals are expected to do the same, while the Rebs get that treatment conditionally. A Deuce Knight-led Ole Miss doesn't inspire the same hope in Oxford as Chambliss walking through the door at Vaught Hemingway Stadium.
The SEC is projected to have a new hierarchy, but that's been said many times before an eventual Georgia-Alabama early-December championship game in Atlanta.
Maybe this time it'll actually be different.