Alabama got a boost out of its Week 1 win over East Carolina, enough to climb into the middle of the SEC conversation after the opening weekend. ESPN’s Bill Connelly went into his Week 1 overreactions column and said the Crimson Tide “will be fine.”
He also pointed out that wasn’t really an overreaction at all, since before the game he had said that if Alabama “covered the four-touchdown spread”, it would be “a very good sign.” His takeaway after the game was, “Last year's issues might be fixed and the upside is obvious, but bigger challenges await.”
Fair enough.
And if these early rankings feel a little shaky, that’s part of the point. The SEC has enough depth that by October this whole list could look upside down.
Still, the first pass is here, and it starts at the top with Texas after a 59-7 win over Texas State. Steve Sarkisian might have college football’s best team.
Georgia comes in at No. 2 after turning Tennessee State into an easy target in a 63-3 rout. Kirby Smart may have his best team since 2022.
LSU grabs the No. 3 spot after a 51-10 win, though that placement comes with the caveat that Clemson might simply be that bad.
Then comes Alabama at No. 4.
The Tide’s slot is backed up by one simple note: Alabama is the fourth-highest-ranked SEC team in ESPN’s FPI. Go ahead and call it a homer pick if you want.
Ole Miss sits right behind at No. 5 after surviving Louisville 41-38 in a win over a good opponent. Even so, the secondary looks shaky enough that this ranking might be generous.
Oklahoma lands at No. 6 after blanking UTEP 51-0, and the Sooners are labeled sneaky good. Tennessee is next at No. 7 after a 56-9 win over Furman, followed by Texas A&M at No. 8 after shutting out Missouri State 50-0.
South Carolina checks in at No. 9 after a 57-0 win over Kent State. The prediction attached to the Gamecocks is that Shane Beamer’s team will land a big upset this season, with Tennessee or Texas A&M named as the likeliest candidates, and Alabama mentioned as the one to avoid.
Florida lands at No. 10 after a 66-21 win over FAU, with the Gators described as much improved. Missouri is No. 11 after beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 54-14.
Auburn comes in at No. 12 after a 17-16 win over Baylor that was not impressive, even though Golesh is viewed as a strong hire. Vanderbilt is No. 13 after a 28-9 win over Austin Peay, with the defense carrying the load and Jared Curtis expected to make the offense better once he settles in as QB1.
Kentucky is No. 14 after a 45-13 win over Youngstown State, and Mississippi State rounds things out at No. 15 after a 62-13 win over ULM. The Bulldogs’ 762 yards of offense against the Warhawks is described as “kinda” impressive.
That closes the first week of SEC rankings, with the reminder that the fans most likely to be unhappy can relax - it’s not personal, unless they cheer for Tennessee, LSU, or Auburn.
In Other News...
Tua Tagovailoa Just Got The Atlanta Chance Alabama Fans Wanted
For Alabama fans who kept wondering whether Tua Tagovailoa might finally get a fresh NFL stage, the Falcons have given him one. Atlanta announced that Tagovailoa will open the 2026 season as its starting quarterback after an offseason trade from the Miami Dolphins, putting him in line to lead a team that spent the summer sorting out its quarterback picture with Michael Penix Jr.
The assignment comes with an immediate test, too. The Falcons are set to begin the season on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers, so Tagovailoa will get his first chance to settle into the job under pressure and in front of a national audience. For Alabama backers, it is the kind of early-season storyline that ties their former star to a new opportunity and a new set of expectations right away. [Read more 🡒]
Keelon Russells Debut Left Alabama With One Clear Concern
Keelon Russells first Alabama appearance offered enough to see why the staff is so intrigued, but it also showed why the postgame film will matter. Against East Carolina, the freshman quarterback had stretches where he tried to make plays down the line instead of taking what was available underneath, and the overall snapshot was of a debut with some promise mixed with some decisions Alabama will want cleaned up quickly.
The same game also gave the Tide a useful look at other parts of the offense, from the tight ends working as both receivers and run blockers to concerns around Coleman-Williams mechanics. On the other side of the ball, freshman defensive back Jireh Edwards was around the action on the sideline even though he did not play after an August injury, leaving one more item for Alabama to monitor as the opener is absorbed and the depth chart keeps taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Cole Cubelic Saw One Encouraging Sign In Keelon Russells Debut
Week 1 of the 2026 college football season gave the SEC a clean opening weekend, and ESPN analyst Cole Cubelic spent much of it picking apart what he saw from each league team on social media. For Alabama, his attention naturally landed on Keelon Russells debut, which came in a conference that looked sharp overall and left plenty of room for early readjustments around the league.
Cubelic liked the way Russell handled the offense, noting the timing on his throws and the way he used his legs when it mattered. Even with that encouraging first impression, Alabama still has a bigger-picture checklist to work through, and Cubelic pointed to the need to do a better job managing the edges as the Tide move deeper into the season. [Read more 🡒]