Now we have a 9-game SEC schedule to deal with... (SEC Preview thread 2026)

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Mississippi State

Preview segment: The Mississippi State Bulldogs

Last season: Well, at least Mississippi State got to play in a bowl game in 2025 (even though they were 5-7). That's... something. But seriously, that 5-7 record had to be disappointing after that 4-0 start they went on. Now coach Jeff Lebby is entering a very important 3rd year in Starkville.

Good news: QB Kamario Taylor had some good moments as a freshmen last year, and now he's ready to be an elite talent. Anthony Evans III should fill the shoes of Brenen Thompson at the top WR. Zach Arnett is back as the Bulldogs' new defensive coordinator, and he should take advantage of a revamped and powerful secondary.

Bad news: The offense could run into some major problems if the O-line doesn't correct itself. And last I checked, the staff was still trying to piece it together in spring ball. On the defense, it needs to do better at rushing the passer.

Key games:
9/12 @ Minnesota (Is Minnesota a world-beater program? No. Does it have the personnel to push Mississippi State hard in Minneapolis? Absolutely.)
9/26 vs. Missouri (Here's a good early chance for Miss. State to do some damage in the SEC in 2026.)
10/3 vs. Alabama (This will begin a brutal October for the Bulldogs; LSU, Oklahoma, and Texas are also on the docket for Miss. State during that month.)
11/7 vs. Vanderbilt (At least the month of November will start off better for the Bulldogs, as they can beat the 'Dores here.)
11/27 @ Ole Miss (Miss. State has lost 5 of the last 6 "Egg Bowls" they've played against the Rebels.)

Bottom line: On paper, it looks like Jeff Lebby finally has a roster that can hang with the rest of the SEC. But if the Bulldogs can't score a couple of upsets and/or get back to a bowl game, it may all be for naught. I hope Kamario Taylor and that new defense can save Jeff's behind in 2026.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Ole Miss

Preview segment: The Ole Miss Rebels

Last season: 2025 was a super-busy year in Oxford, Mississippi. First came the emergence of QB Trinidad Chambliss, who became a superstar thanks to his story [he started at Division II's Ferris State]. Then the Rebels got to 11-1 on the regular season... despite the fact that coach Lane Kiffin was being courted by LSU. Then Lane DID jump ship to LSU, and Pete Golding had to hold down the fort when the Rebels got into the playoff.
But the happy times continued! Ole Miss blew out Tulane, got revenge on Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, and was seconds away from beating Miami in the Fiesta Bowl and playing for the national title! So after the most successful season in Ole Miss history... what's next for them?

2026 X-factor: Coach Pete Golding (After that run in the playoff, Pete Golding is now the permanent head coach in Oxford. And of course, we'll all be watching to see how Pete handles the job 24/7... and how he handles a national title-caliber squad.)

Good news: Well, Ole Miss got their wish: Trinidad Chambliss got another year of eligibility. And with RB Kewan Lacy also coming back, the Rebels offense could be as good as last year's. There are no big worries on defense, as people like Will Echoles and Jaylon Braxton also return to the team.

Bad news: One guy that did NOT come back to the Rebel defense is Princewill Umanmielen, who left with Lane Kiffin to LSU. And 4 top receivers from a year ago have all left Oxford; a bunch of new guys will have to step up in the passing game.

Key games:
9/6 vs. Louisville {from Nashville, TN} (A dandy of an opener in Nashville! How well will the Rebels defense do against a high-flying offense like Louisville's?)
9/19 vs. LSU (Oh look. It's Lane Kiffin's big return to Oxford, Mississippi.)
10/24 @ Texas (This is the first time Ole Miss and Texas will duke it out as SEC opponents.)
11/7 vs. Georgia (Georgia took a game in Athens. Ole Miss took a game in New Orleans. Now here comes the rubber match!)
11/28 vs. Mississippi State (Hey, Rebels! Don't forget about the "Egg Bowl"!)

Bottom line: Ole Miss also has road games at Florida and Oklahoma, so this season will be a challenge. But after a tremendous 2025 season, fans in Oxford are expecting the best. And with Trinidad and Lacy back, those fans are expecting a return to the College Football Playoff. Well, coach Pete Golding... I hope you understand the mission. And good luck against LSU on September 19th!

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Oklahoma

Preview segment: The Oklahoma Sooners

Last season: So the Sooners was one of the worst short-yardage teams in the nation last year. Their QB was playing through a hand injury that limited his throwing. And the O-line was injury-prone all season. And despite ALL of that, Oklahoma managed to get into the playoff... and got boast-worthy wins over Michigan and Tennessee and Alabama. Plus, their defense was brilliant throughout the season.
...Man, coach Brent Venables truly saved himself in 2025. Now let's see what his team does in 2026.

Good news: The defense should still be brilliant, with an experienced secondary and a powerful front-7 on the Sooners' side. QB John Mateer is back for one more year, and he's fully healthy.

Bad news: The rushing game was trash last year, so obviously the team has been working on that throughout the offseason. Both Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson have shown flashes of greatness, but I wanna see those 2 be more consistent on the field.

Key games:
9/12 @ Michigan (Hmm... Oklahoma didn't do too much to the O-line during spring ball. Maybe they're confident that the line will hold during this HUGE trip to Ann Arbor.)
9/26 @ Georgia (Well, time for another role call of tough SEC games. This will only be the 2nd time ever that Oklahoma and Georgia face each other.)
10/10 vs. Texas [from Dallas] (Now, Oklahoma has met Texas a bunch of times. And this game will be the 125th time the "Red River Rivalry" have taken place.)
11/14 vs. Ole Miss (Wait. The Sooners get to host the Rebels again? Hopefully, this one will go better than the 34-26 loss they suffered last year.)
11/21 vs. Texas A&M (This is the 1st time Oklahoma and Texas A&M will face off as SEC foes. This will also be their first meeting since the 2012 Cotton Bowl.)

Bottom line: Yeah yeah, Oklahoma's schedule looks daunting again. But honestly? I trust the Sooners more than some of the other SEC contenders in 2026. John Mateer should be back in top form, and the defense looks terrifying again. If they fix their run game, Oklahoma should actually win a game in the College Football playoff this time... and maybe more.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Arkansas

Preview segment: The Arkansas Razorbacks

Last season: Poor Sam Pittman. After Arkansas went 9-4 in 2021, fans in Fayetteville were waiting for him to have another fun season like that. Sadly, it just never came. And 2025 was the final straw. I mean, the Razorbacks is entering 2026 on a 10-game losing streak. And you can blame their pathetic defense for that.
So Pittman is out, and former Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield has come in to clean things up.

Good news: Line play should be pretty good; the O-line has an experienced bunch, and the D-line already looks better than it did a year ago. The WR room looks solid again.

Bad news: The QB room does have talent, but not a lot of experience. Oh, and we don't know who the starter is yet. But the secondary is the biggest worry; if the new guys don't jell together, it'll get burned over and over again like it did in 2025.

Key games:
9/12 @ Utah (Hmmm... A road game against a team you're facing for the 1st time ever. Who is still looking great despite having a new coach in Salt Lake City. Will the Razorback defense be ready for this?)
9/19 vs. Georgia (And on that note, will the Razorback offense be ready to deal with mighty Georgia in their SEC opener?)
10/31 vs. Missouri (Phew! It looks like Arkansas and Missouri have given up on their end-of-season "rivalry game" garbage.)
11/7 @ Auburn (Of all of their road SEC games, this one looks to be the most winnable for Arkansas.)
11/28 vs. LSU (There we go! The "Battle for the Golden Boot" is ending the 2026 season... as it should be.)

Bottom line: The new coach has a LOT to clean up here at Arkansas. Fix that crappy defense, cut back on stupid penalties, and get back to protecting the ball. Not to mention the schedule; people are saying that Arkansas' SEC slate is the worst of the bunch. I could have also highlighted games against Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Texas.
So expect Arkansas to finish last in the SEC again as the coaching staff is trying to put the pieces together.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Now that things have (thankfully) died down on this thread, we can get this thread back to what it should be. And that's having fun while previewing SEC teams. And speaking of...

Kentucky

The first preview segment for the Southeastern Conference: The Kentucky Wildcats

Last season: I was a little surprised when Kentucky decided to fire Mark Stoops after the 2025 season. But then again, Kentucky did get 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021, and things in Lexington had kinda plateaued ever since. Plus, the offense has started to struggle badly.
Enter former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein, who has made it his mission to bring more fun to Lexington.

Good news: Already, the offense is looking faster than it was under Stoops. The O-line got BIG reinforcements through the portal, tight-end Will Rodriguez is back, and the front-7 on defense should deliver more pressure.

Bad news: For all of his talent, new QB Kenny Minchey has a lack of experience; his next TD will be his first. A lack of experience could also hurt the cornerback spot, and so could the lack of depth the entire team has.

Key games:
9/12 vs. Alabama (After getting his feet wet against Youngstown State, Kenny Minchey will get his 1st real test against the Crimson Tide. Let's pray that the Wildcat defense is ready for this.)
10/3 @ South Carolina (Here's a winnable SEC road game for Kentucky; South Carolina will be coming off their own nightmare game against Alabama before this.)
10/24 vs. Vanderbilt (Last year, Diego Pavia torched the Wildcat defense. Let's see if Kentucky learned their lesson, and how they defend Vandy's new wiz-kid starter Jared Curtis.)
11/14 vs. Florida (Wait. Kentucky gets to host the Florida Gators again? Kentucky should enjoy it; their 38-7 win over the Gators was the most fun they had last last season.)
11/28 vs. Louisville (Trust me. Kentucky WILL do better here than the 41-0 embarrassment they suffered last year.)

Bottom line: For 2026, Kentucky fans are just looking for "proof of concept". You know, a showing of what the future is gonna hold for a CFB team. And if Kentucky gets back to a bowl and/or looks more exciting on the field in 2026, that will be just fine for Wildcat fans.

I was shocked. I thought Stoops was going to have a job for life after essentially turning down a lot of big money offers to stay at UK.

Will Stein is going to take a minute to get going, but I think he’s a good long-term fit. If UK can be competitive in the NIL realm, I think they’ll be back to being a 9-10 win team. But by that point, is Stein going to have the same loyalty as Stoops did?

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Ole Miss

Preview segment: The Ole Miss Rebels

Last season: 2025 was a super-busy year in Oxford, Mississippi. First came the emergence of QB Trinidad Chambliss, who became a superstar thanks to his story [he started at Division II's Ferris State]. Then the Rebels got to 11-1 on the regular season... despite the fact that coach Lane Kiffin was being courted by LSU. Then Lane DID jump ship to LSU, and Pete Golding had to hold down the fort when the Rebels got into the playoff.
But the happy times continued! Ole Miss blew out Tulane, got revenge on Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, and was seconds away from beating Miami in the Fiesta Bowl and playing for the national title! So after the most successful season in Ole Miss history... what's next for them?

2026 X-factor: Coach Pete Golding (After that run in the playoff, Pete Golding is now the permanent head coach in Oxford. And of course, we'll all be watching to see how Pete handles the job 24/7... and how he handles a national title-caliber squad.)

Good news: Well, Ole Miss got their wish: Trinidad Chambliss got another year of eligibility. And with RB Kewan Lacy also coming back, the Rebels offense could be as good as last year's. There are no big worries on defense, as people like Will Echoles and Jaylon Braxton also return to the team.

Bad news: One guy that did NOT come back to the Rebel defense is Princewill Umanmielen, who left with Lane Kiffin to LSU. And 4 top receivers from a year ago have all left Oxford; a bunch of new guys will have to step up in the passing game.

Key games:
9/6 vs. Louisville {from Nashville, TN} (A dandy of an opener in Nashville! How well will the Rebels defense do against a high-flying offense like Louisville's?)
9/19 vs. LSU (Oh look. It's Lane Kiffin's big return to Oxford, Mississippi.)
10/24 @ Texas (This is the first time Ole Miss and Texas will duke it out as SEC opponents.)
11/7 vs. Georgia (Georgia took a game in Athens. Ole Miss took a game in New Orleans. Now here comes the rubber match!)
11/28 vs. Mississippi State (Hey, Rebels! Don't forget about the "Egg Bowl"!)

Bottom line: Ole Miss also has road games at Florida and Oklahoma, so this season will be a challenge. But after a tremendous 2025 season, fans in Oxford are expecting the best. And with Trinidad and Lacy back, those fans are expecting a return to the College Football Playoff. Well, coach Pete Golding... I hope you understand the mission. And good luck against LSU on September 19th!

A lot of eyes are going to be on Pete Golding. As we know, being a full-time head coach is a lot different than managing a couple playoff games, even with the extra wrenches of coaches in/out of the building.

First glance, I’m not a fan of their offensive structure. John David Baker has OC experience, including co-OC experience in Oxford from 2021-23, but why did they feel the need to make Joe Judge of all people Offensive Head Coach? Yes, he’s worked with their QBs, but I’m just not a fan of this structure.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Tennessee

Preview segment: The Tennessee Volunteers

Last season: Despite getting 8 wins, 2025 was still a disappointing year for Tennessee. That's because their defense regressed badly and they didn't beat any FBS team with a winning record. And... Oh yeah! There was also the stunning run that their in-state rival Vanderbilt went on that culminated in a 45-24 loss to them AT HOME.

Bad news: Much like Vanderbilt has a young QB, so does Tennessee; their future starter will be a freshmen. And whoever is the starting QB must work with a O-line that struggled at times last year. The defense (of course) has to get better, no doubt about it.

Good news: Jim Knowles (the new defensive coordinator) comes in from Penn State, and he brought along some studs (like Xavier Gilliam) to beef up the D-line. All the skill positions on offense looks great; Desean Bishop was a 1,000-yard rusher for the Vols last year, and the WR's and tight-ends look solid too.

Key games:
9/12 @ Georgia Tech (Going to Atlanta to face the Yellow Jackets may be tough, but chin up, Vols! I heard that GT are breaking in some new coordinators and is missing their star QB from 2025.)
9/26 vs. Texas (Another "good news/bad news" event for Tennessee in this SEC opener. They may be home for this game, but Texas is returning a LOT of talent... including that star QB of theirs.)
10/17 vs. Alabama (Don't forget how Tennessee defeated Alabama the last time the Tide went to Knoxville.)
11/21 vs. LSU (Tennessee will be VERY busy this November. They'll face rival Kentucky, visit Texas A&M, and then deal with Lane Kiffin and LSU while the Vols do their Senior Day celebrations.)
11/28 @ Vanderbilt (Hmm... George MacIntyre vs. Jared Curtis in a battle of talented freshmen QB's in the middle of a HUGE rematch between the Vols and the 'Dores.)

Bottom line: Ah, everyone in the SEC deals with a tough schedule, so I'm not worried about that. However, Tennessee needs to make sure that their defense is better. And that whoever their starting QB is will be prepared for the grind. The Vols could be stuck in the middle of the SEC in 2026.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Pros for NIL- schools like Vanderbilt can get 5* QBs like Jared Curtis

Cons for NIL- Curtis is likely going to have to play immediately, and will see some growing pains Year 1

Highly likely that Tennessee does better defensively with Knowles on board, but the offense is up and down and they finish with the same number of wins last year…….and then they have to worry about paying to keep Curtis for Year 2.

And opening your season, on the road, against a top 25 team from the previous two seasons is not a way to ease Curtis in.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Alabama

Preview segment: The Alabama Crimson Tide

Last season: Hey, they smacked around all of their rivals (like Georgia and Tennessee and LSU and Auburn). And they got back into the playoff. That alone says that Kalen DeBoer has gotten a hold of the Alabama football program after a tough 2024.
But I do understand why the Tuscaloosa faithful are antsy. They saw what happened in that Rose Bowl game. The fact that Indiana went on to win the national title is of little condolence to Alabama; they got outclassed plain and simple. So in 2026, Tide fans really want their team to smash their opponents again.

Good news: There are no big worries on defense, as transfers should really shore up their D-line. And the secondary looks strong as hell, with Dijon Lee and Zabien Brown leading the way there. Alabama is still stockpiling 5-star talent; I'm expecting EJ Crowell to wake up a dormant Alabama run game.

Bad news: Give Ty Simpson credit; he actually stepped up to be a solid QB for the Tide in 2025. Now we're left to wonder if either Austin Mack or Keelon Russell will have the same luck as the starting QB. That won't be easy since the O-line is almost completely new; Michael Carroll is the only starter from 2025 coming back over there.

Key games:
9/19 vs. Florida State (This game is just for Alabama to exorcise some demons; FSU got them last year 31-17 and STILL went 5-7 in 2025. That has REALLY got to sting for the Tide.)
10/10 vs. Georgia (If Alabama is not 5-0 by the time this game takes place, Crimson Tide fans will not be happy. If Alabama loses this "rubber match" against the Bulldogs, Crimson Tide fans will not be happy.)
10/24 vs. Texas A&M (After the Georgia game [and then a visit to Knoxville], the Tide will then host the Aggies. Then again, Alabama has only lost 1 home game against A&M in their entire history.)
11/7 @ LSU (Alabama has dealt with Lane Kiffin many times. Dealing with Lane Kiffin at LSU in a night game could be a different animal entirely.)
11/28 vs. Auburn (Another "Iron Bowl". Yawn.)

Bottom line: The Crimson Tide is still a uber-talented team, so they'll always be a threat to the SEC and national titles. And I'm sure that the defense will get Alabama back to the CFP. But if the Tide wants to do some actual damage once they get there, Kalen DeBoer will have to work his offensive magic and get the running game going.

 

[Xeliou66]

I think Bama could be really good this year if whoever their QB is plays well. Their D looks like the SEC’s best D probably. I know Georgia and Texas are getting most of the focus but Bama could be the SECs best team. And their schedule is more manageable compared to some other SEC teams, LSU is a tough road game but the other two top tier SEC teams they face are at home - Georgia and A&M, plus the Iron Bowl is in Tuscaloosa. Tennessee might give them trouble in Knoxville but their other SEC road games are Miss St, Vandy and Kentucky, very manageable. Bama should definitely be a playoff team again unless their QB play is really bad.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Louisiana State

Preview segment: The LSU Tigers

Last season: When LSU decided to fire Brian Kelly 8 games into the 2025 season, everyone was shocked. Everyone including me. But later on, we found out that Brian had mentally checked out of the gig. It turns out that Brian was thinking about retirement while at Notre Dame, but then he took the LSU job... mostly because of the money LSU was going to give him.
And that is why LSU went and poached Lane Kiffin out of Ole Miss and into Baton Rouge.

Good news: We all know Lane Kiffin is one of the KINGS of the transfer portal; he should be able to get all of these new players to work together. Expect better play in the secondary and at wide-receiver. And Sam Leavitt is set to be LSU's new starting QB.

Bad news: Sam Leavitt is coming off a foot injury, and he missed most of spring ball. And depth behind Sam at QB isn't great. In fact, depth across the whole team isn't really great.

Key games:
9/5 vs. Clemson (Of course, this is a big challenge match between the SEC and the ACC. But I think Lane Kiffin will spend this game finding out what his new batch of players can do.)
9/19 @ Ole Miss (Uh... yeah. This SEC opener could be very awkward for Lane.)
9/26 vs. Texas A&M (And LSU also has to deal with Texas A&M in September, too? Don't forget, LSU fired Brian Kelly after A&M took out the Tigers 49-25.)
11/7 vs. Alabama (By this time, LSU's new roster should be jelling. And LSU will have to work together to snap a 3-game skid against the Crimson Tide.)
11/14 vs. Texas (LSU and Texas will fight in an SEC game for the 1st time ever here.)

Bottom line: I was tempted to make LSU my "ultimate wild-card team" of 2026. But the LSU faithful is expecting Kiffin to work his magic and get the Tigers to the CFP, so no, I will not do that.
But LSU IS the big wild-card of the SEC. They got the talent, but depth is a little suspect. And there's always the risk of things becoming a circus over in Baton Rouge. Regardless, we'll all be watching to see what happens. And Lane, good luck in Oxford on September 19th!

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Florida

Preview segment: The Florida Gators

Last season: Too bad. After surviving 2024, people in Gainesville thought that Billy Napier had a team that can compete for a CFP berth. As it turns out, all Billy did was buy himself another year. The offense was still awful, and Billy wouldn't take advice from people who were trying to help him. And so, Florida let him go and then finished 4-8.
Enter Jon Sumrall, fresh off of getting Tulane a CFP berth. Can HE be the one to get Florida back to the top?

Good news: The skill positions on offense look REALLY good for Florida; the WR group is deep and fast, and RB Jadan Baugh has returned to Gainesville. The D-line is deep and looks very good.

Bad news: The offensive line, though, is another matter entirely. Positions battles are still going on over there, and Jake Slaughter is now in the NFL. Also up for grabs is the starting QB spot, as both Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. had good springs.

Key games:
9/19 @ Auburn (Florida will have 2 easy games to sort everything out. And let's hope they do, because Auburn is hungry for a bounce-back season of their own.)
10/17 @ Texas (Oh! I just remembered something that the Gators did in 2025! They ruined Texas' shot at the national title! ...Wait, that means Texas will want revenge in this game.)
10/31 vs. Georgia [in Atlanta] (Great. Not only does Florida have a 5-game losing streak in this rivalry, but now they have to play a de-facto road game against the Bulldogs.)
11/7 vs. Oklahoma (This is the first time ever that Florida and Oklahoma will face off in the regular season.)
11/27 @ Florida State (Hmm... Maybe Florida can get Mike Norvell fired here.)

Bottom line: It's gonna be hard for the Gators to compete for the SEC title in 2026, but they do have some individual pieces to work with. And the defense should hold it's own against the monsters in this conference. Florida should be back in the bowl picture this year. Anything bigger than that? It really depends on the new coach, doesn't it (and his new O-line, also)?

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Texas

Preview segment: The Texas Longhorns

Last season: On paper, Texas' 2025 season doesn't look too bad. They did beat playoff teams like Oklahoma and Texas A&M [when the Aggies were ranked #3], and Arch Manning started to look like a superstar QB after a couple of rough moments early on. Trouble for Longhorn fans is, Arch's improvement came a little too late for their taste, as they missed out on the playoff. Now in 2026, the school wants to get to Allegiant Stadium for that national title game.

Good news: Okay, THIS time we'll see Arch Manning be the Heisman-level QB we know he'll be! And Arch will have people like WR Cam Coleman [from Auburn] to throw to. Expect the defense to be more aggressive under new coordinator Will Muschamp, and expect Jelani McDonald to really help out the Texas secondary.

Bad news: People like left-tackle Trevor Goosby [and Arch] are coming off offseason surgeries; rebuilding continuity will be important for Texas during summer practice. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt the Longhorns to be more explosive in the running game.

Key games:
9/12 vs. Ohio State (Lee Corso didn't expect the score to be 14-7, but he did see Ohio State outmuscling Texas in last year's showdown. Texas is hoping to get some big payback in this monster game.)
10/10 vs. Oklahoma [in Dallas] (Last year's "Red River Rivalry" gave us a great defensive showing from the Longhorns, and Texas wants to do it again this year.)
10/17 vs. Florida (This one is all about revenge for Texas, pure and simple. Losing to the Gators last year crippled Texas' national title hopes.)
11/14 @ LSU (The schedule is actually a bit chill for Texas in September and October, but as a consequence their November slate will be HARD. After visiting Missouri, Arch Manning and crew will visit Lane Kiffin in Baton Rouge. Then after hosting rival Arkansas...)
11/28 @ Texas A&M (...the Longhorns will visit Texas A&M. Who is still mad over Texas costing them an SEC title shot on Black Friday last year.)

Bottom line: In terms of the roster, there are no big issues. Plus, nearly everyone has laid off of Arch Manning and is now on Steve Sarkisian and his staff. They know that if the coaches keep everything together, Texas will waltz into the playoff berth that eluded them last season. But will they win it all?
I honestly don't know, but for the Longhorn fans, it's "Vegas or bust".

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

South Carolina

Preview segment: The South Carolina Gamecocks

Last season: Once again, South Carolina entered a season with high expectations. And once again, South Carolina ended up disappointed. But I expected the Gamecocks to at least get a good bowl out of 2025, and NOT go 4-8!
But at least I know what happened to cause it? That crappy offensive line, pure and simple.

Good news: At least QB LaNorris Sellers gets another year to redeem himself, and a new offensive coordinator should help get his numbers back up. The defensive line has no issues, as Dylan Stewart is back to lead the way. Forcing turnovers should be no problem again for this team.

Bad news: The secondary has a couple of question marks (freshmen are competing for spots over there), and Nyack Harbor is still trying to reach his full potential at WR. But the biggest worry is still that damn O-line; it MUST do better at protecting Sellers.

Key games:
9/19 vs. Mississippi State (Everyone in Columbia will be watching that O-line very carefully in this SEC opener. If it struggles here, the Gamecocks could be toast the following week when they go to Alabama.)
10/3 vs. Kentucky (A perfectly winnable game in SEC for South Carolina.)
11/7 vs. Texas A&M (Oh, the Gamecocks had Texas A&M last year. They HAD them! But they let the Aggies squirm off the hook! SC is praying that they finish the job this time.)
11/21 vs. Georgia (South Carolina will have a VERY tough November. Not only will they deal with A&M, but later they'll deal with mighty Georgia...)
11/28 @ Clemson (...before finishing at their in-state rivals from Clemson.)

Bottom line: Coach Shane Beamer is entering a VERY important 6th year at South Carolina. He is looking to improve that offensive line so that Sellers can work, and he's hoping that the defense holds up as well. The Gamecocks is hoping to return to a bowl game, and shock some SEC heavyweights along the way.
And if they fail? Well, then Shane Beamer could be going bye-bye.

 

[Justin Tyme]

Most LSU fans weren't shocked. Most were saying, get him the hell out of here.
Not much depth. Yep. Players got where they didn't believe in BK and left.
BK left too big a hole. Kiffin has work to do. Even with the portal and NIL, too much is needed. Not even looking at the playoffs. Just get the ship pointed in the right direction.
IMO, 9-3 is tops. 8-4 more likely. Lose the qb, 7-5 is in play. The best thing LSU has going is a lot of the SEC teams are down. They do have bama and Texas back to back tho, but both at home.
This prolly will be a "meh" season. Hope I'm wrong.
We'll see.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Most LSU fans weren't shocked. Most were saying, get him the hell out of here.
Not much depth. Yep. Players got where they didn't believe in BK and left.
BK left too big a hole. Kiffin has work to do. Even with the portal and NIL, too much is needed. Not even looking at the playoffs. Just get the ship pointed in the right direction.
IMO, 9-3 is tops. 8-4 more likely. Lose the qb, 7-5 is in play. The best thing LSU has going is a lot of the SEC teams are down. They do have bama and Texas back to back tho, but both at home.
This prolly will be a "meh" season. Hope I'm wrong.
We'll see.

Not a bad theory. Maybe everyone is just caught up in the "Lane Kiffin" hype and is just expecting LSU to be in the playoff right away. Both of the CFB magazines I have wants LSU in the playoff, but you're right. Let's wait and see.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Texas A&M

Preview segment: The Texas A&M Aggies

Last season: Aggies fans were delighted when Texas A&M started 11-0 in 2025 and then went on to make the playoff. They were like "FINALLY! YES! Mike Elko and Marcel Reed has us living up to our potential! Yes!". Oh, I'm sure that 1st-round loss to Miami stinks, but A&M still left 2025 very happy.
But now in 2026, Aggies fans are like "We want more! We love winning, and WE WANT MORE! We want a CFP redo!" But A&M will have to go through a tough road to do it.

Bad news: For one, A&M has to replace 14 starters from last year (10 of which are now in the NFL). On defense, Cashius Howell will be missed. The O-line is missing 4 starters, and the special teams need to be better. Oh, and we have 2 new coordinators on the coaching staff.

Good news: At least A&M found some guys with SEC experience to try to fill in those gaps on the O-line. Besides, QB Marcel Reed has returned to College Station, and he'll have a deep group of WR's to throw to (Mario Craver is a stud, and Isaiah Horton was a weapon at Alabama).

Key games:
9/12 vs. Arizona State (So Rueben Owens II is stepping in as the Aggies' top RB after Le'Veon Moss left. Let's see what he can do against a tough Big 12 school like Arizona State.)
9/26 @ LSU (I wonder... Are we overhyping LSU in Lane Kiffin's 1st year? Texas A&M should help give us the answer in this big game.)
10/24 @ Alabama (Will A&M survive this latest trip to the Alabama "Fail Room"? They've haven't done so since 2012.)
11/21 @ Oklahoma (The end of A&M's 2026 season will look like the good old days of the Big 12. A&M will deal with Josh Mateer and a playoff-hungry Oklahoma squad...)
11/27 vs. Texas (...and then will seek revenge against the team that ended their shot at the SEC title last year.)

Bottom line: Right now, there are 7 legit playoff contenders [Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and LSU] in the SEC. And of those 7, A&M has the toughest road. The conference schedule will ramp up big-time, plus the team has to replace all of those starters. At least with Marcel Reed still here, Texas A&M will have a chance.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Missouri

Preview segment: The Missouri Tigers

Last season: Missouri started 2025 with a bang, going 5-0. But when the competition stiffened up, the Tigers didn't do so hot and they finished the year at 8-5. But at least Eli Drinkwitz has raised the bar in Columbia to the point where 8 wins feels like a disappointment. Plus, their defense was very good, so there was that.

Bad news: Most of that awesome defense (okay, nearly EVERYONE on that defense) is gone now. Corey Batoon (the defensive coordinator) has earned the benefit of the doubt, but he's gonna be VERY busy this season. Injuries plagued the O-line during spring ball; considering that Missouri doesn't have good depth over there, that is quite the bad omen.

Good news: Despite losing QB Beau Pribula to Virginia, nobody at Missouri is crying. That's because Austin Simmons has come in from Ole Miss, and he should be better than Beau was. Plus, Ahmad Hardy has foregone the NFL draft to stay and terrorize SEC defenses once again.

Key games:
9/11 @ Kansas (Missouri handled their old rivals from Lawrence, Kansas last year 42-31. Let's see them do it again, this time at Kansas.)
10/10 vs. Texas A&M (A&M handed Missouri their worst loss of the 2025 season, beating them 38-17. Time for Missouri to get revenge.)
10/17 @ Ole Miss (Wow. Missouri has only lost 1 game all-time against the Rebels, and that was in 1974.)
11/7 vs. Texas (Missouri will face Texas in a conference game for the first time since 2011.)
11/28 vs. Oklahoma (Ooof. Not a good way to spend a Senior Day, going up against a playoff team like this.)

Bottom line: Wait. So Missouri is replacing their entire defense from a year ago? And they also must deal with Georgia and Florida on the schedule? I think Missouri should be happy if they get 8 wins this time. And it'll be up to Ahmad Hardy and Austin Simmons to lead the way for them.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Hopefully Ahmad Hardy is healed and recovered from the gunshot wound. We saw Brian Robinson and Ricky Pearsall come back relatively quickly, but this appears different. Not a lot of information is out there but it is the upper leg, and a week after it happened, Drinkwitz said it would be a couple of months before they had a return mapped out.

If he misses a chunk of the season, which is likely, Missouri is going to be in trouble.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Most LSU fans weren't shocked. Most were saying, get him the hell out of here.
Not much depth. Yep. Players got where they didn't believe in BK and left.
BK left too big a hole. Kiffin has work to do. Even with the portal and NIL, too much is needed. Not even looking at the playoffs. Just get the ship pointed in the right direction.
IMO, 9-3 is tops. 8-4 more likely. Lose the qb, 7-5 is in play. The best thing LSU has going is a lot of the SEC teams are down. They do have bama and Texas back to back tho, but both at home.
This prolly will be a "meh" season. Hope I'm wrong.
We'll see.

With a lot of the coaching changes across the board, this is going to be a reset year for a lot of programs, but if you had to bet on one to do better than the rest, I’d bet on Kiffin.