Home Conferences FBS 2026 season

The weekly grind · 2026

SEC

The Standard

Georgia holds the SEC lead heading into this week's games.

SEC carries real selection-room weight with 8 teams inside the top 25 and Georgia driving a legitimate national ceiling.

#1Overall

#1In FBS

+24.4Conference strength

+28.4Upper strength

16Teams

8Top-25 teams

SEC, at a glance.

Top 10 by power rating — 2026 season, through the latest games.

Team Record Power

Georgia

7-1 +31.9

Texas

6-2 +30.6

LSU

6-2 +30.4

Alabama

6-2 +29.9

Ole Miss

6-2 +29.7

Tennessee

6-2 +26.8

Florida

5-3 +26.8

South Carolina

5-3 +26.5

Texas A&M

4-4 +26.3

Missouri

6-2 +26.0

Power snapshot Projected 2026 standing

The Standard

The SEC still fills the bracket, but the trophy has gone elsewhere since Georgia's 2022 title: Michigan won in 2023, Ohio State in 2024 and Indiana in 2025.

8 top-25 teams.

The depth argument for this conference rests on how many credible opponents are clustered behind the leader. The gap between the top and bottom is narrow — a sign of genuine parity.

Where things stand right now.

Georgia holds the SEC lead heading into this week's games.

Tools Matchup simulator Compare teams Playoff forecast Style map Head to head Power map

The Reclaimer

Georgia Is Built to Win It Back

Georgia won back-to-back national titles in the 2021 and 2022 seasons and still holds the SEC’s highest power rating entering 2026. Georgia’s 2026 schedule includes the games that could define whether this program is a dynasty or a window that’s closing.

Why it matters →

The Coaching Story

Vanderbilt’s Rise Has Changed What’s Possible

Vanderbilt went 10-3 in 2025. Clark Lea’s program has gone from conference doormat to legitimate nine-win contender in three seasons. What they do against Georgia and Alabama in 2026 will tell us whether it’s a trend or a year.

Why it matters →

The Question

Can Alabama Find Its Ceiling Again?

Alabama finished 2025 with an 11-4 record and an SP+ rank (#31) that doesn’t match a recruiting class ranked #3 nationally. The gap between raw talent and on-field production is the defining question for the program in the post-Saban era. If the coaching catches up to the talent in 2026, the SEC reclaims the conversation.

Why it matters →

Active arcs

Hot8wk ago

Louisville holds AP top 25 spot after Ole Miss loss

Can Louisville maintain its ranking despite the defeat?

Ole Miss

Hot7wk ago

Georgia-Oklahoma Kickoff Set For 3:30 p.m. - University of Georgia Athletics - U

Can Oklahoma rebound from their recent defeat?

Oklahoma

Hot4wk ago

Former TCU, Texas A&M and Alabama coach Dennis Franchione dies at 75

How will Franchione's passing impact the programs he led?

Texas A&MAlabama

Active4wk ago

Texas A&M's camouflage uniforms debut against Arkansas

How will Arkansas respond to Texas A&M's alternative uniforms?

Arkansas

Active5wk ago

Vanderbilt Football's Confidence on Display Entering Ole Miss Matchup

Can Vanderbilt sustain its momentum against Ole Miss?

Vanderbilt

All arcs →

Stories about the SEC this season

SEC bans former pros from playing Aug 26 · Whole sport
SEC announces TV networks for Week 5 games Sep 27 · Talked about
SEC files lawsuit against LSU Oct 13 · Small stir
SEC admits officiating error Sep 28 · Small stir

All SEC stories

Fan pulse Last 30 days · 36,610 mentions

16% positive 42% neutral 42% negative

Georgia

5,841

↓ negative

Florida

5,764

↓ negative

Texas

5,322

↓ negative

Alabama

2,929

↓ negative

Tennessee

2,897

↓ negative

Oklahoma

2,859

↓ negative

Fan confidence by FBS percentile

Where each SEC program stands nationally in fan sentiment (100th = most positive in FBS, 0 = least). Conference median: 34th percentile. The label is the band (Bullish, Leaning, Mixed, Souring); the number after it is the change in percentile points since the prior week.

Bullish+19

Leaning+19

Leaning+9

Leaning+13

Mixed+12

Mixed+3

Mixed+3

Mixed+11

Mixed+6

Mixed0

Mixed-2

Souring-6

Souring-11

Souring+3

Souring-11

Souring-4

Most volatile: Florida

Fan confidence has swung 72 percentile points in the last 8 weeks — currently at the 30th percentile nationally.

Rivalry face-offs

The coaching premium

Recruiting class rank vs. SP+ performance — where coaches add or subtract value

Above line = coaching premium

Below line = underperforming

Gap = recruiting rank minus SP+ rank

Positive gap means the coaching staff won more than the recruiting class predicted. Data: SEC teams, 16 programs.

Coaching premium ↑

Kentucky

+22

Ole Miss

+13

LSU

Missouri

Georgia

Underperforming ↓

Mississippi

-67

Arkansas

-63

Vanderbilt

-47

Auburn

-23

Oklahoma

-20

Standings

2026 season, in progress — sorted by power rating. The tag beside a team is its long-run program standing.

#	Team	Record	Power	Resume
1	Georgia Blue Blood#3	7-1	+31.9	+98.2
2	Texas Power Program I#9	6-2	+30.6	+99.4
3	LSU Blue Blood#10	6-2	+30.4	+97.8
4	Alabama Blue Blood#1	6-2	+29.9	+98.5
5	Ole Miss Power Program I#14	6-2	+29.7	+99.0
6	Tennessee Power Program II#19	6-2	+26.8	+97.2
7	Florida Power Program II#15	5-3	+26.8	+97.5
8	South Carolina Power Program III#29	5-3	+26.5	+92.8
9	Texas A&M Power Program II#18	4-4	+26.3	+49.3
10	Missouri Power Program III#27	6-2	+26.0	+96.4
11	Oklahoma Power Program I#8	4-4	+24.2	+85.6
12	Kentucky National Program II#43	7-1	+23.9	+100.0
13	Auburn Power Program III#25	4-4	+21.4	+97.0
14	Vanderbilt Regional Program I#76	3-5	+18.3	+51.4
15	Mississippi State National Program II#59	4-4	+17.0	+96.7
16	Arkansas National Program II#60	3-5	+15.0	+89.2

Projected standings · SEC · 2026

Win projection

Odds of winning at least N conference games from current power ratings — full slate played out, not locked to results. Avg = expected wins; W-L = most-likely record.

#	Team	W-L	Pwr	Avg	≥9	≥8	≥7	≥6	≥5	≥4	≥3	≥2	≥1
Favorites
1	Georgia	6-3	+6.6	6.0	2	14	38	66	87	97	99	✓	✓
2	LSU	6-3	+5.2	5.6	1	9	27	54	79	93	99	✓	✓
3	Texas	6-3	+5.3	5.6	1	8	26	53	78	93	99	✓	✓
Challengers
4	Alabama	6-3	+4.6	5.5	1	7	24	51	76	92	98	✓	✓
5	Ole Miss	6-3	+4.4	5.4	1	7	23	49	75	91	98	✓	✓
6	Tennessee	5-4	+1.5	5.0		4	15	36	63	84	96	99	✓
7	South Carolina	5-4	+1.2	4.9		3	14	35	62	84	95	99	✓
8	Florida	5-4	+1.5	4.6		2	10	28	54	78	93	99	✓
The field
9	Missouri	5-4	+0.7	4.7		2	11	30	57	81	94	99	✓
10	Texas A&M	4-5	+1.0	4.5		2	8	24	50	75	92	98	✓
11	Oklahoma	4-5	−1.1	4.1		1	5	17	38	65	86	97	✓
12	Kentucky	4-5	−1.3	4.0		1	4	15	36	62	85	96	✓
13	Auburn	4-5	−3.9	3.7			2	10	28	55	81	95	99
Rebuilding
14	Vanderbilt	3-6	−6.9	3.2			1	5	17	40	68	89	98
15	Mississippi State	3-6	−8.3	2.8				2	10	28	56	83	97
16	Arkansas	2-7	−10.3	2.3				1	6	18	43	73	94

How they play

Six advanced-stat dimensions per team, ranked against all 134 FBS programs, 2026 season. Every column reads higher-is-better. Click a column to sort.

ScoringConvertsBig playsDefensePacePass rate

Team	Scoring	Converts	Big plays	Defense	Pace	Pass rate	Identity
Georgia	+0.30	51.4%	+1.17	−0.00	61.6	44.6%	Efficient offense
Texas	+0.07	41.5%	+1.23	+0.03	65.5	43.3%	Lockdown defense
LSU	+0.27	50.9%	+1.21	+0.10	79.5	47.0%	High-tempo
Alabama	+0.25	47.0%	+1.30	+0.04	62.6	45.1%	Lockdown defense
Ole Miss	+0.25	50.2%	+1.20	−0.11	71.9	53.2%	Efficient offense
Tennessee	+0.17	45.2%	+1.13	+0.07	69.9	37.0%	Lockdown defense
Florida	+0.22	44.4%	+1.25	−0.06	70.0	43.9%	Balanced
South Carolina	+0.21	45.9%	+1.29	−0.11	71.4	46.1%	Balanced
Texas A&M	+0.07	42.0%	+1.11	−0.00	68.1	44.6%	No explosive plays
Missouri	+0.18	40.5%	+1.38	−0.00	68.1	46.8%	Big-play offense
Oklahoma	+0.00	37.8%	+1.12	+0.05	65.0	48.3%	No explosive plays
Kentucky	+0.22	49.3%	+1.10	−0.05	64.0	45.7%	No explosive plays
Auburn	+0.10	39.3%	+1.35	−0.09	69.8	47.3%	Big-play offense
Vanderbilt	+0.08	40.4%	+1.33	−0.16	62.9	50.3%	Balanced
Mississippi State	+0.10	43.1%	+1.22	−0.14	69.1	45.2%	Balanced
Arkansas	+0.02	41.7%	+1.12	−0.15	68.9	50.4%	No explosive plays

Identity is the single dimension where a team is most above or below the FBS average (pace, defense, big plays, or converting drives) — "Balanced" means nothing stands out either way. CFBD 2026 advanced stats, excludes garbage time.

Top players

SEC's highest CFB Zeitgeist Scores, 2026 season so far.

#	Player	Team	National
1	Rasheem BilesLB	Texas	#3 of 567
2	Princewill UmanmielenEDGE	LSU	#4 of 405
3	Elijah MelendezLB	Auburn	#6 of 567
4	Jordan CastellS	Kentucky	#3 of 537
5	Dejuan LaneCB	Tennessee	#6 of 344
6	Ty BryantS	Kentucky	#4 of 537
7	Jordan RossEDGE	LSU	#8 of 405
8	C.J. HeardS	Vanderbilt	#5 of 537
9	Xavier GilliamEDGE	Tennessee	#9 of 405
10	Deuce GeraldsIDL	LSU	#7 of 300

Where SEC stands nationally

Conference strength, as a round-robin adjusted power rating.

1 SEC SEC

+24.4

2 B10 Big Ten

+23.3

3 IND FBS Independents

+21.7

4 B12 Big 12

+21.5

5 P12 Pac-12

+20.8

6 ACC ACC

+20.5

7 AAC American Athletic

+18.3

8 SB Sun Belt

+17.3

9 MW Mountain West

+16.5

10 CUSA Conference USA

+16.4

SEC title odds

Best available American odds · sportsbook consensus.

#	Team	Odds
1	Georgia	−135
2	Texas	+300
3	LSU	+600
4	Ole Miss	+650
5	Alabama	+750
6	Oklahoma	+950
7	Texas A&M	+1400
8	Tennessee	+1700
9	Florida	+2700
10	Missouri	+2700

The SEC in History

Alabama beats Georgia in overtime for the national title, and its coach says he thought the team had to throw the ballGame · Jan 8, 2018
South Carolina upsets Georgia in double overtime, and Georgia's coach says his team did not play physicalGame · Oct 12, 2019
South Carolina fires Will Muschamp and names Mike Bobo interim coachCoach change · Nov 15, 2020