Texas Leads SEC in Post-Spring Power Rankings, 7 Teams Vie for CFP in 2026

SEC post-spring power rankings: Texas leads pack while Texas A&M, Alabama headline fluid middle tier

The deepest conference in the country has at least seven teams with legitimate College Football Playoff hopes heading into 2026

By Brad Crawford

May 19, 2026 at 8:25 am ET • 15 min read

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Offseason power rankings are never easy. They always come with a mix of projection, optimism and controlled overreaction, and entering 2026, the SEC feels as wide open as it has in years. Spring practice doesn't hand out trophies, but it does reshape perceptions -- especially at quarterback, along the lines of scrimmage and inside the transfer portal trenches, where several contenders rebuilt their rosters.

At the top, the standard remains the same. The elites still set the pace because they combine heavy spending in recruiting with proven depth and high-end coaching stability. But the gap behind them is not as rigid as it once looked. Spring also clarified who might be ready to challenge the hierarchy. Several teams could emerge with legitimate playoff aspirations if quarterback play stabilizes and portal additions translate quickly.

Then there's the middle tier -- volatile, talented and the most difficult to handicap at this stage. Post-spring rankings are less about who is finished and more about who is forming. Depth charts are still fluid, portal pieces are still integrating and quarterback battles are far from settled in several SEC quarterback rooms.

Here's a look at the SEC's best from top to bottom entering the summer months:

Odds to win the 2026 SEC championship provided via  FanDuel Sportsbook .

1. Texas

If you were building an all-time Longhorns team during Steve Sarkisian's tenure, several 2026 starters would headline the roster -- that's how talented this group is on the Forty Acres. From Heisman Trophy frontrunner Arch Manning to national defensive player of the year candidate Colin Simmons and a loaded transfer haul headlined by Cam Coleman, Texas is loaded. The Longhorns fell short of the playoff last fall after consecutive CFP semifinal appearances, triggering a staff change with Will Muschamp returning to Austin to head up the Longhorns' defense.

The Longhorns boast the deepest wide receiver room in the country and reshaped their backfield with Hollywood Smothers (NC State) and Raleek Brown (Arizona State). Manning should have plenty of time to operate behind an offensive front that includes two high-end transfers alongside projected 2027 first-round picks Trevor Goosby and Brandon Baker.

Simmons commands much of the attention on defense, but Pittsburgh transfer Rasheem Biles adds punch at linebacker and Arkansas transfer Ian Geffrard was a major addition. Geffrard stands 6-foot-5, 378 pounds and started every game last fall for the Razorbacks. No national contender faces a more difficult schedule than Texas, but if any team can handle that grind, it's the Longhorns. Odds: +300

2. Georgia

This is Kirby Smart's Georgia we're talking about, and anything short of another CFP appearance will feel like underachievement despite losing eight starters to the NFL. Replacing a wave of next-level talent after winning the SEC is nothing out of the ordinary in Athens, and few programs are built to absorb personnel losses like the Bulldogs. The recruiting baseline remains absurdly high, especially along the defensive front and offensive line, where Georgia continues stockpiling future pros.

Still, there are a couple of legitimate questions exiting spring. Replacing veteran leadership is one thing. Replacing elite production at multiple positions simultaneously is another, especially for impact players like Zachariah Branch (wide receiver) and CJ Allen (linebacker). Elijah Griffin and Chris Cole are next up within the front seven and should ease pressure on a loaded secondary. Ellis Robinson and KJ Bolden return for what will likely be their final seasons before entering the NFL Draft.

If quarterback Gunner Stockton makes additional developmental strides, this offense could thrive. Expect balance with Nate Frazier handling most of the carries and Georgia Tech transfer Isiah Canion emerging as a go-to target downfield. Odds +330

3. LSU

Lane Kiffin has tempered Year 1 expectations, but maybe that's just a stay-focused warning to his all-star roster, most of which just arrived in Baton Rouge through the portal. This is an expensive group constructed like a legitimate championship threat throughout the two-deep, not just a dangerous offense masking defensive concerns.

LSU's previous regime was plagued by defensive inconsistency before the offense disappeared in 2025. Kiffin brings in top-five plug-and-play transfers like quarterback Sam Leavitt, offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen.

Physical upgrades matter, especially when the Tigers face Clemson, Ole Miss and Texas A&M within the first four weeks. The schedule lightens from there, leading into a critical November stretch that could impact CFP seeding. The reason LSU sits at No. 3 instead of higher comes down to trust. Texas and Georgia have already proven it. LSU still has to show it. The Tigers' ceiling absolutely belongs in that conversation. Odds +850

4. Ole Miss

The SEC title window is open for the Rebels after retaining Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy, who should calm some of the uncertainty surrounding the departures of Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. Breaking in seven new defensive starters could hurt Ole Miss if replacements like Luke Ferrelli and Keaton Thomas fail to mesh with returning stars Suntarine Perkins, Will Echoles and others.

Roster turnover may finally catch up to the Rebels in several critical areas, but Pete Golding's portal strategy deserves the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. That's why Ole Miss lands at No. 4 here as the final projected SEC playoff team. That said, volatility feels more likely in Oxford than at the three programs ahead of the Rebels exiting spring. Watch the wide receiver replacements closely, including Horatio Fields, Darrell Gill Jr. and Johntay Cook. Ole Miss must replace significant production there. Odds +950

5. Texas A&M

Four new starters along the offensive line keep the Aggies outside the elite tier. Yes, Marcel Reed returns at quarterback alongside Mario Craver, Terry Bussey and Ashton Bethel-Roman at wide receiver, but this rebuilt group of portal blockers must gel quickly to keep Texas A&M in contender status.

The Aggies should again field one of the SEC's nastiest defensive fronts despite losing All-American Cashius Howell. Sophomore Marco Jones is poised for a breakout season as Howell's replacement alongside Northwestern transfer Anto Saka at edge. Paired with returning talent like DJ Hicks and T.J. Searcy, the newcomers entering Mike Elko's scheme give Texas A&M a weekly advantage few teams nationally can match when healthy.

Despite last season's playoff appearance and 11-0 start, the Aggies are not carrying overwhelming national title pressure. Instead, this feels like a well-constructed roster with playoff upside if the offense continues evolving around Reed. Odds +800

6. Alabama

Pressure at Alabama exists unlike anywhere else in college football, and in 2026, Kalen DeBoer enters the season facing the first real wave of skepticism in Tuscaloosa. Not because Alabama lacks talent -- far from it -- but because the standard remains unchanged while the roster ceiling may have dipped.

The Crimson Tide no longer overwhelm opponents with unmatched trench depth. They just watched 10 starters become NFL Draft picks from a roster once stacked two-deep at nearly every position. There is particular concern at offensive line, wide receiver and defensive line following several departures, including James Smith, Qua Russaw (both transferred to Ohio State) and Isaiah Horton (transferred to Texas A&M). Alabama still recruits at an elite level, but doesn't cast the same intimidating shadow it did under Saban. Opponents now believe they can go toe-to-toe with the Crimson Tide offensively, and that matters.

Quarterback uncertainty could become a weekly storyline if Alabama fails to establish consistency early with either Austin Mack or Keelon Russell. DeBoer's system works best with balance and efficiency, but the SEC punishes finesse teams.

Nine or 10 wins get celebrated almost everywhere else. In Tuscaloosa, that sparks questions about whether the dynasty can return. That's the burden DeBoer inherited. And if Alabama slips defensively or fails to develop a physical rushing attack, regression becomes less of a hot take and more of an expectation. Odds +850

7. Oklahoma

This is where the playoff hopeful cut line begins, separating the upper half of the SEC from the conference's middle tier. There's a gap between the Sooners and the teams below them, though margins remain thin between Oklahoma, Alabama and Texas A&M.

Brent Venables' transfer portal reconstruction at wide receiver and tight end, paired with the return of quarterback John Mateer, should pay immediate dividends. After navigating the weekly brutality of the SEC during last season's playoff run, Oklahoma spent the offseason addressing the weaknesses that kept it from becoming a true contender following a first-round loss to Alabama.

Most importantly, Oklahoma looks stable at quarterback. Mateer's return gives the Sooners one of the conference's more dynamic offensive leaders after flashes of brilliance last season, before a broken bone in his throwing hand slowed his progress. He's dangerous outside the pocket, plays with confidence and gives offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle a facilitator capable of stressing defenses vertically and as a runner.

Adding experienced offensive linemen like E'Marion Harris (Arkansas), Caleb Nitta (Western Kentucky) and Fred Hinton (Eastern Kentucky), along with proven defensive contributors, was mandatory -- not optional. The Sooners also upgraded their speed at wide receiver after signing Trell Harris (Virginia) and Parker Livingstone (Texas), which should help Mateer push the ball downfield more consistently. Odds +1200

8. Tennessee

Along with the arrival of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, former Penn State starters Xavier Gilliam (defensive tackle), Chaz Coleman (EDGE), Amare Campbell (linebacker) and Dejuan Lane (safety) provide Tennessee with an athletic boost to pair with returning standouts Daevin Hobbs and Arion Carter. Ty Redmond was an all-conference cornerback as a freshman, but he's the only returning starter in the secondary. Kayin Lee (Auburn) and TJ Metcalf (Michigan) are among the transfers expected to play significant snaps.

Josh Heupel's offense is quarterback-friendly in theory, but it still requires precision, timing and the ability to punish defenses vertically. There is downside risk at quarterback with George MacIntyre and five-star freshman Faizon Brandon, but Heupel has earned the benefit of the doubt, thanks to his track record at the position.

The rushing attack could ease some pressure as Tennessee leans on a talented offensive line featuring former five-star tackle David Sanders and senior guard Wendell Moe. All-SEC running back DeSean Bishop returns, and Tulane transfer Javin Gordon impressed during the spring. Odds: +1900

9. Florida

The Gators want year-to-year stability under Jon Sumrall, and he believes that process begins immediately. Florida should be defense-driven with most of its starters returning alongside impact transfers Cam Dooley and DJ Coleman in the secondary. The Gators' wide receiver room gives whoever wins the quarterback job -- either Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo or Tramell Jones -- plenty of options. Vernell Brown and Dallas Wilson enter their second seasons in Gainesville, while Eric Singleton reunites with offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner after previously playing for him at Georgia Tech.

Outside of

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/sec-power-rankings-texas-texas-a-m-alabama/)._