NCAAF SEC 2026 Season Preview

Since 2026, Alabama has been the dominant force in the SEC. The Crimson Tide have won six conference crowns since that point, and four of the last five.

Unsurprisingly, they’re the favorite to do it once again. Can any of the other squads in arguably the best conference in NCAAF breakthrough in 2026? Let’s take a look and find out.   

Favorites to Win the SEC in 2026

Alabama Crimson Tide

The Crimson Tide enter 2026 with the extra motivation of being crushed by Clemson in last year’s title tilt. Tua Tagovailoa and Jerry Jeudy lead the way for what looks like a prolific offense.

The defense should be about what we expect from an Alabama squad. Nick Saban and company are the rightful favorites for the SEC and a top contender for the national title.

Alabama Regular Season Wins

To Make CFB Playoffs

Georgia Bulldogs

The Bulldogs were really close to taking the conference last year, but a furious comeback by Alabama in the championship game put a rest to that. The loss had a lingering effect as Georgia would go on and lose its bowl game to Texas.

Jake Fromm is looking like a potential stud at QB. The program has a legitimate shot at a College Football Playoff berth.

Georgia Season Wins

Georgia to Make Playoffs

SEC Contenders to Watch

Florida Gators

There’s a lot of preseason love for the Gators as the team came in 8th in the preseason AP poll.

The team is loaded with talent and coming in off of a 10-win campaign - as well as a thrashing of Michigan in the Peach Bowl - so we understand the love. However, we’re not sure there’s enough there to get past Georgia in the SEC East.

Gators Season Over/Under

LSU Tigers

According to the AP and Coaches poll, the Tigers are the #6 team in the nation heading into the year. They’re poised to be a big factor in the SEC West, but they have a similar problem as Florida.

Advancing to the SEC title tilt means they would have to get past Alabama. The defense should be lethal and there may be an improvement on offense, but it may not add up to enough.

Season Wins for LSU

Auburn Tigers

It was a pretty disappointing year for Auburn in 2026. The club finished up at 7-5 for the regular season, but they did bounce back and shellack Purdue in the Music City Bowl.

Head coach Guz Malzahn was on the hot seat, but he’ll be back for another run. This team should improve in 2026, but the daunting SEC schedule makes that far from a sure thing.

Auburn Season Wins

Texas A&M Aggies

The Aggies are looking like a team on the rise in the SEC. Jimbo Fisher did a stellar job in his first year on the sidelines in College Station.

For his second year at the helm, Texas A&M is loaded with talent and looking a squad that could be a big factor this year. To get to the next level, improvement in the secondary is the top item on the agenda.

A&M Season Wins

The Rest of the SEC

East Division Winner

West Division Winner

This conference is absolutely loaded, but there is a dropoff after the top six. For the remaining eight programs, odds range from a low of +500 for Kentucky to a low of +50000 for Arkansas and Vanderbilt.

In between those two extremes are clubs that few want to play, including Mississippi State. As per the norm, the SEC regular-season should be quite the ride. 

Bottom Line on the SEC in 2026

Alabama and Georgia are favored to meet in the SEC championship game, and there’s not much to suggest that oddsmakers are off the mark.

There are intriguing squads to keep an eye on in both divisions if they happen to stumble, but we don’t see that happening. In the end, we like the Crimson Tide to add to their vast hardware collection.

Another national title wouldn’t stun us either.