The first glimpse of the 2026 SEC football race has arrived following the conclusion of media days. Georgia was selected as the preseason favorite to win its third consecutive SEC Championship, according to the annual media poll released on Friday.

The Bulldogs received 88 votes to capture the conference title and are projected to face Texas in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Longhorns, who reached the SEC title game in their first season as a conference member in 2024, received 57 votes to win the league.

Eight of the SEC’s 16 teams received at least one vote to win the conference championship.

Texas finished second behind Georgia in the predicted order of finish, with the Bulldogs earning 2,519 total points compared to Longhorns’ 2,449.

History suggests the preseason favorite faces a difficult challenge. Since the league began holding its championship game in 1992, the team picked to win the SEC prior to the season has gone on to claim the title just 10 times. Texas received the most champion votes prior to last season and missed the College Football Playoff.

So what did the media in attendance get right? And where did they miss? Here are some takeaways from the 2026 SEC Preseason Media Poll.

No. 3 Ole Miss — Overrated

Nobody’s arguing Pete Golding can’t coach. Guiding Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season, despite the chaos of Lane Kiffin’s exit, should absolutely factor into how the Rebels are judged entering 2026. But three games is a small sample, and it’s asking a lot to expect that level to hold up as Golding begins his first full season in charge.

The schedule doesn’t help the case. Ole Miss opens SEC play against LSU, then is on the road three of the next four games with a trip to Texas being the last. That doesn’t even account for Georgia and Oklahoma in November.

The return of Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy as preseason first-team All-SEC selections gives Ole Miss arguably the best quarterback-running back duos in college football, and it’s easy to see why voters are enamored. But this is still a bit of a mystery team and one that may be getting the benefit of the doubt of being picked to finish third in the league.

No. 15 Mississippi State — Underrated

You’re probably asking: How can a team with just one SEC win over the past two seasons be underrated? I’ll give you one reason: Kamario Taylor. The Bulldogs’ talented young quarterback has the makings of a breakout star after flashing in limited action last season. Taylor is one of the most elusive quarterbacks in college football, giving Mississippi State a dynamic playmaker to build around.

The biggest question is whether the offensive line can hold up. The Bulldogs enter 2026 with four new starters up front, and Taylor’s development will depend on whether that group can give him enough time to operate. If it can, Mississippi State has the quarterback to make a significant jump.

There is also reason for optimism on defense with former head coach Zach Arnett returning to Starkville as defensive coordinator. Mississippi State allowed 38.4 points per game against SEC opponents over the past two seasons, but the Bulldogs were far better defensively during Arnett’s previous stint in charge from 2020-22, allowing 28.1 points per game against conference foes. A return closer to that standard would give Mississippi State a chance to surprise.

No. 5 LSU — Underrated

Are we sure LSU didn’t receive a few spite votes because Lane Kiffin has now spurned two SEC teams? Surely the unbiased media members filling out the SEC preseason poll were able to separate their feelings from their ballots. All jokes aside, Kiffin is one of the most accomplished offensive minds in college football and has consistently shown an ability to build explosive offenses. Assuming transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt is healthy, the Tigers have the type of playmaker under center who can help Kiffin’s system reach its full potential.

The rest of LSU’s top-rated transfer portal class provides additional optimism. Edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen and linebacker T.J. Dottery followed Kiffin to Baton Rouge as key additions for defensive coordinator Blake Baker.

Just 43 points separate LSU from Ole Miss in the predicted order of finish, meaning a small shift in the voting would have pushed the Tigers into the top four.

No. 10 Missouri — Overrated

Missouri could be due for another step backward in 2026. After one of its best defensive seasons in more than a decade, the Tigers are almost starting from scratch on that side of the ball. Defensive tackle Marquis Gracial is the only returning player who started at least six games last season, and just 26.5% of Missouri’s defensive snaps are back — the second-lowest mark in the SEC ahead of only Arkansas.

The Tigers are also hoping another unproven transfer quarterback can provide stability. Austin Simmons opened last season as Ole Miss’ starter before eventually losing the job to Trinidad Chambliss. A fresh start in Columbia could help Simmons unlock the talent that made him a highly regarded recruit, but there are still questions about whether he can consistently lead an SEC offense.

Then there is the biggest question mark surrounding Missouri’s 2026 season: Ahmad Hardy’s availability. The star running back and top returning rusher in the FBS is recovering after being injured in an offseason shooting at a Mississippi concert that required emergency surgery. It was a traumatic event, and there is no way to know how quickly Hardy will be able to return to his previous form until he is back on the field.

2026 SEC Champion

Predicted order of finish