CBS Sports has turned its attention to the SEC’s coaching hierarchy for 2026, and Kirby Smart is still the man on top.
In the network’s annual rankings of all 16 SEC head coaches, Georgia’s Smart checked in at No. 1 heading into the 2026 season. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian landed at No. 2, followed by Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, LSU’s Lane Kiffin and Texas A&M’s Mike Elko to round out the top five.
Just behind that group, Tennessee’s Josh Heupel and Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz came in at Nos. 6 and 7, respectively.
CBS Sports College Football shared the full breakdown on Monday, with Brad Crawford putting together the list.
The biggest rise on Crawford’s board from 2025 to 2026 belongs to Florida’s new head coach, Jon Sumrall, who comes in at No. 10 after leading Tulane in 2025. Among coaches already in the league, Oklahoma’s Brent Venables made the most notable jump, climbing from No. 13 to No. 8.
Sumrall’s placement might look aggressive at first glance, but the list also has to account for five first-year SEC head coaches this season. Even with that turnover, Sumrall is the highest-ranked of the newcomers and slots ahead of South Carolina’s Shane Beamer at No. 11 and Mississippi State’s Jeff Lebby at No. 15.
Beamer, in particular, took the hardest tumble from last year’s rankings, sliding to No. 11 from No. 8. That drop only adds to the pressure heading into what is described as a crucial sixth season in Columbia.
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Recent court rulings have opened a narrow but intriguing lane in the transfer market, and LSU is one of the programs best positioned to take advantage of it. With roster building still very much in motion, the Tigers have the kind of flexibility that can matter when experienced college players suddenly become available again, especially the kind who can step into a rotation without much adjustment time.
That creates a rare chance for Will Wade and his staff to shop in a part of the portal that normally would not exist this late in the process. LSU already has enough room to be aggressive, and the Tigers are lining up to pursue several proven returners who could change the look of the roster quickly, even as the full shape of the incoming class is still being sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Camp Opens With A Defensive Battle Fans Will Want To Watch
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LSUs Reported Money Plan Could Change Everything For Tigers Athletics
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For now, the plan is still in the early stages. LSU is waiting on a third-party valuation and IRS guidance before deciding whether to proceed, and the specifics of what the LLC would actually buy or how it would function have not been made public. Even so, the concept alone suggests the Tigers are looking for a more flexible path to generate money around athletics without giving up the leverage that comes with running the show themselves. [Read more 🡒]