← SEC Unfiltered
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These are certainly subject to change by week number one. But as I sit here today, go again at SEC football media days. This is where I am starting at number 16. I got the Arkansas Razorbacks. Like I said, guys, I've said this before. The only question is, is Arkansas the worst team in the SEC right now? I think they are. I mean, you look at the roster, you talk about an uphill climb for Ryan Silverfield. It is. It is a full on rebuild. You know, my maybe offensively a guy like K.J. jackson could be exciting. Although he's got a. He's got to win the job over the Memphis transfer Braylon Russell is, is a bright spot for you. Outside of that, guys, there's just not a lot to get excited about. There's not a lot of reason to have hope or optimism even when it comes down to Ryan Silverhood himself. Was he an underwhelming hire? Felt like it at the time. Will he prove to be better then? We're giving credit for. We'll see. But right now I, I think Auburn, you got to put them in the 16 spot. Number 15. I'm gonna go the Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky's really interesting to me. I'm excited about him, excited about Will Stein and just what it's going to look like. A lot of new taking over a roster and a team that was not good last year but should have been better. It felt like Kenny Minchi at quarterback. I mean, what do you get out of Kenny Minchi, right? Exciting player. Notre Dame fans a couple years ago felt like maybe he should have been the starter, right? So. And you look at their transfer portal list and it's like, huh, damn, I forgot. CJ Baxter did go there. Lance Herd did go there. They got some guys at wide receiver. You're like, huh, forgot about that guy. A lot of new. And you're asking me to buy stock in a guy who's literally never been a head coach before. I think he's going to bring an exciting brand of football to Kentucky, but I think it's probably going to take some time. 15s where I got the cats number 14. I've got Mississippi State. And some of you may be like, what? Here's why I've got state at 14. I am excited about Camario Taylor. I'm excited about this offense, right? I love the condition of bringing Zach Arnett in back to Starkle on the defensive side to take over at D.C. but I think Camario Taylor can be a dude. Fluff Bothwell at running back is probably one of the Most underappreciated backs in this league. Anthony Evans on the outside as a guy. Really, really exciting player. There are pieces on this Mississippi State football team. Now I say all that into saying there are enough pieces to get to a bowl game. Are there enough pieces to do much more than that? Probably not. But the offense could be really exciting and it better be really exciting. Or Jeff Lebby, who's on one of the hottest season. The SEC ain't gonna be there anymore. So I got Mississippi State 14. I think there's reason for hope and optimism. That's the reason they're ahead of the last two. There's reason for hope and optimism and excitement. Will it pan out? That's the big question. Number 13. I've got the Vanderbilt Commodores. Boy, this is going to piss some of my vanity folks off. But I do think Bandy takes a step back. Guys, I. I love what Clark Lee has done. I do. I love what Clark Lee has done. I should have prefaced this guys and gave this disclaimer. These power rankings, it's not solely off this, but a lot of this goes into. If these teams played on a neutral site, who would I pick to win? That's just. That's a lot of what goes into this right now. So, yeah, I got vanity at 13. Who the hell's your quarterback? I like Jared Curtis, highly regarded player. Guys, he's never played a down of college football. Is it Blake Berlowitz? Who? I. I don't know anything about Blake Berlowitz Jr. Cheryl back big. Cedric Alexander back big. How do you replace Eli Towers? Is Cole Spence that guy? Lot to replace on both lines of scrimmage. This is a line of scrimmage league man. Lot to replace on defense, which I think the defense should be okay. I think it's probably ahead of the offense. There's. You're just going to have to show me. Like, I don't think Vandy falls off a cliff, but I think they're a fringe bowl team. I. I'm just. I don't think you're going to repeat. Double digigit wins. There's a reason it's only been done once in the history of the Vanderbilt football program. I don't see that as the new norm. I think if you can get to 6 and 6, you call that a success. We got back to postseason play. Let's build for 20, 27 when we got Jared Curtis returning. But 13 is where I've got Vandy right now. Number 12. I'm going to South Carolina Gamecocks. Yes. Lenora Sellers is back. Yes. Nick harbor is back. Yes. Dylan Stewart is back. Who else? I think the defense could actually be pretty salty. Fred Johnson at the linebacker position. The other guy who I just always forget how to pronounce his name. Bakway or whatever he is at linebacker. Really good player. You still got some solid players in the secondary. Clayton White back as your dc. Who are some of the other guys helping? How do you replace some of those guys in the interior defensive line? I think it's a question. But under Clayton White, they've shown they're gonna. They're gonna produce takeaways and turnovers offensively. Is Kendall Browse the guy who saved Shane Beamer's job? That is the big question of this season. That's how you could title this season for South Carolina. Can Kendall Briles save Shane Beamer? That's it. Because Shane Beamer, in my opinion's, on the hottest seat in the SEC entering this season. Right. And here's the deal. Yes, you got Seller Stewart and Harbor back, but what do you have besides them? Because you went four and eight with them last year. So as exciting as it was to get him back, you better have some guys that can block. You better have some production out of a run game. You better have somebody outside of harbor or have some receivers that are good route runners that can make big plays. Can Nitro Tuggle be that guy from Purdue? Guys, Shane Beamer lost me after the A and M game last year. I'm just gonna have to see it. South Carolina is in that bottom tier for me. Until I just see otherwise. I. I think South Carolina, maybe this is a little harsh. I was going to say they proved. Why, like, you can't give the Gamecocks the benefit of the doubt. They got to prove it to you. They just. They got to prove it to me. Everybody was buying the stock last year. They go 4 and 8. Maybe being ranked low and having no expectations will help them, but until I see otherwise, I got them at 12, number 11. I've got the Auburn Tigers. Year one, Alex Golish excited for Byron Brown at quarterback. I know it's a lot of new. A lot of USF comes over. DJ Durkin at DC Retaining him was maybe one of the biggest wins of the offseason for any team in college football. Defense should be salty yet again. If they can get to a winning season, it's a success for year one of Alex Golish. I think they've got the roster to do it. I like the Higher of goish. Lot of excitement, hope, optimism once again down on the plains. Auburn at 11 for me, number 10. I've got the Missouri Tigers guys. I've gone through my game by game predictions and I'll start to drop those next week. I was shocked how low I was on Mizzou. I, I just. Here's the thing, man. Not everybody in this conference can go waiting for somebody's got to lose football games. Mizzou could be that team that regresses significantly in 2026. Now I like Austin Simmons, the transfer from Ole Miss. I thought he was going to do big things last year in Oxford. Obviously the injury and some inconsistent play and the emergence of Trinidad Chambliss. That was all it wrote or all she wrote, if you will. So I, I think Austin Simmons can have a big year. Defensively, what are you right zero returning starters. Corey Batoon's got his work cut out for him. Also, what's the status of Ahmad Hardy? That's the biggest question in the sec. You could argue right now. I mean, Jamal Roberts is a fantastic player, do not get me wrong. But Ahmad Hardy's Ahmad Hardy for a reason. So a lot of question marks from a zoo. Really, really tough schedule. A lot of, a lot more questions than knowns I would say right now for Miz. That's why I've got him at number 10. At number nine, I've got the Tennessee Vols. This is a team I have been higher on than most entering the season, right? Yes, there's some questions on the offensive line. Yes, there's some questions at edge rusher after the Chaz Coleman thing took place. Yes, there's a big question at quarterback. Is it George McIntyre? Is it Faison? Brandon? Here's the thing, guys, with Josh Hypo, I don't worry about quarterback much. I think quarterback play will be fine. Oh, by the way, you got desean Bishop, who rushed for over a thousand yards last year. Braylon Staley and Mike Matthews are back at the wide receiver position. They should create a nice tandem. Should be able to pick up where Chris Brazil left off. Arian Carter's back at the linebacker spot. I think the secondary is a little bit better. People give him credit for. Jim Knowles I think will be the answer defensively at D.C. again, very much a middle of the pack SEC team and there's a lot of questions to answer there, but I think Tennessee is going to be a little bit better than people are expecting. Now again, I'm not saying college ball playoff. I'm just saying there's a lot of folks out there throwing out six and six, whatever. I think Tennessee is a little bit better than people are expecting, but certainly a middle of the pack team. Feels like they're going to go one way or the other. Are they going to be knocking the door of the playoff? They're going to regress back to fringe bowl team and Josh Hypel seat getting really, really uncomfortable knocks will certainly a big year for him. Number eight. I've got the Florida Gators guys. I love this roster. I do. Now it's year one of John Sumrall. I'm. I'm hesitant to buy so much Florida stock because I did it last year and I got burned. I do think this is a different situation though. Now quarterbacks pick to click for them and it's year one of a new head coach. Lot of moving pieces and I think in year one, you know, it's a lot to ask to contend and. But I think John Sumrall at Florida perfect fit after you didn't get Lane Kif and I think it worked out as well as it possibly could have. I think Summerall is a guy you want to run through a brick wall for. I think he fits Florida really well. That kind of like quirky, weird, like, you know, just out there kind of do. But Florida man, like he fits the Florida man Persona, if you will. Is it Aaron Philo? Is it Tramell Jones Jr. You do get Buster Faulkner from Georgia Tech. I think a massive addition at offensive coordinator. I mean, guys, you got weapons all over that offense, right? Got questions to answer on O line. There's no doubt that is the question of the offense. But Jaden Ball back at running back. Run the damn ball. Dallas Wilson, who's a freak. Renell Brown, the third. I mean, you got dudes. You got dudes. Eric Singleton comes in, right? He transfers in. You got dudes on dudes on the offensive side and I think defensively, guys with Miles Graham returning at linebacker, some others there as well. I think the defense will be salty. I think Florida's got a roster guys to knock on the door of the college football. I know that's saying a lot early, but there's a lot of reason to be excited about Florida Gators football in year one. And number seven, I've got the Alabama Crimson Tide. Is it Keelan Russell? Is it Austin Mack? Quarterback seems to be the big question. And I think also the other one. Huge year for Caitlin Deborah. Why is it a huge year? Will physicality and will discipline improve? Are you going to be A more physical football team in 2026 couldn't run the football for a. You couldn't run it. Run yourself out of a paper sack last year, couldn't do it right when you lost, which wasn't often, but when you lost you got bullied. Right? Is it EJ Crowell? The. The prized freshman who takes over is. Can Daniel Hill be the dude? AKD is back. Like there's a number of guys there that could be contributors. But the offensive line's got to be much better and you got to find some ground game because you do have weapons. Right. Ryan Coleman Williams is back. Lotsy Brooks is back. You know, I think Keon Russell, I think he will be and should be the starting quarterback and he's a dude that's really special, a hell of an athlete. Obviously it's a spring game, take it with a grain of salt. But everybody walked away with that. Super impressed with him. Yeah, I mean I think you've got the pieces right offensively and then defensively you very well might have the best secondary. I'll just say it, you have the best secondary in college football right now. There's some pieces to replace on the defensive front. Lost a couple guys in the portal. Totally understand that. You got Pierre back. I believe it is at the linebacker spot. So Kane Womack, another year under him. Great secondary. See if the defensive front, if they can be physical up front. Obviously I think Alabama is going to be a little bit better than even something. They haven't been as much in the conversation this offseason. But I think because of the questions at quarterback and because of the questions on the offensive line in regards to physicality, that's why I've got them down at seven and number six, I got the Oklahoma Sooners. I'm buying more stock in John Mattier than most. Admittedly I think Oklahoma certainly college football playoff caliber football team in 2026. The question for them is very similar as it is for Alabama. Can they run the football? Can you? Can you run the football? From the standpoint of John Matiere does not have to be the focal point in the run game. That's the key. That's the key. Does John Mateer not have to be the focal point in the run game? You know, can toys Tori Blaylock, the guy that's going to break out and and be the bell cow. Right. So I will say Oklahoma got better as the season went on the offensive front. That's certainly a big key. This is trench warfare. I mean defensively in a Brent Minimals I know what I'm getting. They're going to be salty yet again. If not elite, they might have top three defense. Almost could guarantee they're gonna have a top three defense on the sec. Do they have the offense to compliment it? Has John Matiere improved as a decision maker? I understand the thumb injury, but, boy, he, he, he made some very questionable decisions. He's got to be better from that standpoint, right? He's a great player. Could be a guy we're talking about in the Heisman Trophy conversation, but he's got to improve as a decision maker. He's got to raise the floor. But I like this Oklahoma football team. I do think they're a serious contender in the sec. Guys, number five. I've got the LSU Tigers. And even in saying this, I, I can hear, I can hear the chatter on this one. Is it a little high? If anything, it feels like it might be a little high from me. But you bring in Lane Kiffin, and I know it's a lot of new, over 50 new players, 40 guys, I think, from the Portal, but, boy, you brought in some studs. Yeah, brought in some studs, man. Sam Levitt at quarterback. I mean, you know, you got this Wisconsin transfer at running back that looks like he's going to be a dude along with Harlem Berry. What's Kaden Durham coming him? I don't know. It's just so much new. I think trade as Green's a breakout star in this league at tight end, I think he's a matchup nightmare for anybody. Getting Blake Baker back at D.C. was one of the biggest wins in the SEC from a retention standpoint. A lot of experience there with Whit Weeks coming back and a lot of talent in the secondary. You know, a lot of young guys that played last year on the defensive line that should take a step forward and be better. Schedule's tough, and I'm not sitting here saying that, you know, LSU is some, you know, surefire college football playoff team, but I put him at five because again, put them on a neutral field right now. I think just off a sheer talent perspective, LSU right now you can make the case of the fifth best team in the conference. Now, let's see it play out on the field. Talent alone doesn't win football games, but. And there's a lot of new and a lot of moving pieces here, and it's going to be very. One of the most intriguing teams. And not just the sec, but all the college football. But I got him at 5. Yeah, LSU is one that I'm excited to watch number four. Our top four here. I've got Texas A M, the Texas A and M Maggies. Marcel Reed is a player listen we are critical of but it's because of I think what he's what you feel like he's capable of. Really solid quarterback, one of the best quarterbacks in the sec. You pick up Mario Craver to help out on the outside. Big time player. You have your bell cow back who somehow his name is escaping me. Forgive me Aggie fans. Is it Rashawn? Oh, I don't know. My brain is just a kind of jumbled right now. Either way, defensively I think you'll be solid yet again. Under Mike Elko. I think the floor is really high for Texas. I get him. I do. Now are they going to start the season 11 0? I'd almost guarantee you they will not. But that doesn't mean the Yaggies can't get right back where they were last year, which is in the College Football Playoff. Like I think the floor is really high here. I think Texas or Mike Elko in Texas A and M done a great job of building this program, stacking it with talent. I think they have immense amounts of talent on both sides of the football. I do think Texas A and M will be a force and will be a team to reckon with this season. Number three, I've got the Ole Miss Rebels. Does it feel a little high with some of the question marks they may have? Maybe so because there's a lot to replace on defense. Brand new head coach in Pete Golding. But guys, it starts and ends with Trinidad Chambers, Kawan Lacey, Deuce Alexander on the outside. I think the very underrated piece could be an underrated piece for them. How much different is the offense Post Charlie Weiss Jr. Elaine Kiffin, we'll see. But I, I just have trust in those two guys offensively and I think defensively Pete Golding will push the right buttons on defense and this is again going into media day so this is subject to change. But as of right now I still have faith and trust and I tip the cap to Ole Miss. I, I think they're one of the teams to beat in the sec. I, I think they deserve that for what happened last year. Again, a lot of change, a lot of change in the off season but you still have two of the best players and maybe the best player in the SEC on your football team. And then at number two guys I got the Texas Longhorns. Immensely talented group should be in the short list of the Conversation for the national championship. You got your quarterback back in Arch Manning who was really special down the stretch. Add Cam Coleman of the outs at wide receiver. You add Relief Brown. You add Hollywood Smothers at running back. You add the Michigan State transfer at tight end. Offensive lines of question, but God should be better than they were last year. You add a number of portal guys on the O line to help and then offensively you bring in Will must chant to take what I think was a really good defense and make it great. And heck, you could argue it was a great defense and make it elite. Right? Colin Simmons being back one of the most dynamic players in college football. A guy like Hero Canoe back in the middle. Tons of returning experience. Guys, Texas is right there. It feels like it's Texas and the next team I'm about to talk about and then just everybody else, right? And it feels like, it feels like as we jump to two, there's a gap from two to everybody else really does. So Texas certainly should be one of the favorites to get to Atlanta. You're going to see people next week pick them to finish first and that's fine and dandy and what have you. And I'm not saying you're crazy for it, but I got them too right now because at number one I got the Georgia Bulldogs. Give me Kirby Smart in Georgia and I, I just, here's my line of thinking on it. I get it. People want to get out ahead of it and I respect any and all predictions because nobody, none of us really know. We're just going off of the information we have and doing the very best we can. It is what it is. But guys, until I see Texas dethrone Georgia and actually take the crown from them, why would I give it to anybody else? Back to back SEC champs. Gunner Stockton returning at quarterback. Chauncey Bowens. Nate Frazier back at running back. The offensive line. George is going to bully people. The tight end room is as good as it's been, I think, since Kirby's been there. Lawson lucky lead the way. But it's a host of others, host of others that are going to make an impact now. Wide receiver. Bear with me, Georgia fans. It's the question mark. There's a lot of talent in that room. Guys like Taylor Taylor, London Humphreys returns, but a lot of talent. But that is a big question mark for Georgia. Who is wide receiver one. But I think they're going to be just fine. I, I think Gunner Stockton's wildly underrated, toughest quarterback in the league and then on defense guys. I mean Georgia is going to be lethal defensively. They're just I, I think Georgia will get the pass rush issues corrected from a season ago. I think they will do a much better job of getting after the quarterback. They're completed all three levels and guys, there isn't a coach. If I got to win a football game, there isn't a coach in this league. I'm taking over Kirby Smart. So Georgia for me is number one. They're deserving of being number one until somebody knocks them off. And I fully expect the dogs not only to be in Atlanta but to be right in the thick of the national title conversation in the national title race. So those are my power rankings entering SEC media days. Guys, would love to hear your thoughts. Do you would agree with me? Do you disagree? How would you power rank the teams of the SEC entering 2026 college football season.