SEC Preseason Forecast: Predicted Order and Player Honors
The Southeastern Conference unveiled its preseason media poll on Friday, outlining how league insiders expect the 2026 football season to unfold. The projection places Georgia at the top, followed by Texas, then Ole Miss, Texas A&M, LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Florida, Missouri, South Carolina, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Arkansas.
Alongside the order of finish, the conference announced its all‑conference teams, recognizing standout players from each program. Several Rebels and Bulldogs earned spots on the first, second, or third teams, highlighting the depth of talent returning to the league.
Rebels' Recognition
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss earned a first‑team offense nod, while running back Kewan Lacy also made the first‑team list. Guard/Tackle Patrick Kutas received a third‑team offense selection, and defensive lineman Will Echoles was placed on the first‑team defense. Linebacker Suntarine Perkins garnered a second‑team defense spot, and defensive lineman Kam Franklin was named to the third‑team defense. Placekicker/punter Lucas Carneiro and Ethan Pulliam from Mississippi State were recognized on the specialists list.
Opening Week Matchups
The Rebels will open their season on September 6 in Nashville, Tennessee, facing Louisville in a neutral‑site contest. The Bulldogs begin their campaign a day earlier, traveling to Starkville, Mississippi, to take on Louisiana‑Monroe on September 5.
Both teams are slated to play in front of enthusiastic crowds, with the games serving as the first test of the preseason expectations set by the league’s media. Coaches and players alike are eager to see how the early rankings translate into on‑field performance.