Athlon Sports has already thrown a fresh log on the SEC fire, and the projections are bold enough to get everybody talking.
On Friday, Athlon laid out its College Football Playoff forecast for 2026, slotting SEC teams into two very different buckets: the ones it believes will be playing for a title, and the ones it thinks will be headed to a standard bowl game instead. That alone is enough to stir up debate across the league, because SEC fans do not need much encouragement when it comes to arguing about who belongs where.
The biggest eyebrow-raiser in the bunch is Alabama. Athlon has the Crimson Tide missing the Playoff entirely and winding up in the Gator Bowl.
For a program with expectations that never really dip, that kind of projection is the sort of thing that can hang on a wall and get remembered. Ole Miss was also left out and assigned to a regular bowl game.
Still, Athlon didn’t exactly shut the door on the SEC. It projected five league teams into the Playoff, with Georgia leading the way. The Bulldogs, who are the 2-time defending conference champion, were pegged for the No. 2 seed, which would mean a 3-peat as SEC champs in Athlon’s view.
Texas came next at No. 3, giving the SEC another high-end Playoff presence near the top of the bracket. Athlon’s list also included Oklahoma at No.
8, Texas A&M at No. 9 and LSU at No. 10.
That LSU pick would send the Tigers into the Playoff in Lane Kiffin ‘s first season as head coach in Baton Rouge.
Of course, these are only projections. The real answers won’t come until the games start in late August, when every SEC team begins sorting itself into one of three lanes: the Playoff, a regular bowl game, or no bowl game at all.
Athlon’s forecast is one version of the picture. The Kalshi market has its own read on which SEC teams are sitting best right now for a December Playoff run.
In Other News...
Ole Miss And LSU Are Headed For A Rivalry Fight Off The Field
A brewing off-field dispute is adding another layer to the Ole Miss-LSU rivalry, with athletic director Keith Carter weighing legal action over unpaid transfer buyouts. The issue traces back to two players who had signed contracts to return to Ole Miss for the 2026 season before later recommitting to LSU, leaving the Rebels to consider their next move as the game between the schools approaches.
The money at stake is significant, but so is the message Ole Miss sends in how it handles the case. A lawsuit could take years to work through, and the Rebels also have to decide whether to pursue LSU, the players individually, or both, all while trying to avoid any recruiting fallout from being seen as taking transfer disputes into court. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Judge Is Becoming A Huge Weapon In Ole Miss Recruiting
Joe Judges rise at Ole Miss has been one of the quieter but more important developments around the program. Since arriving as a senior analyst, he has moved into the quarterbacks coach role and then into being head coach of the offense, a climb that has mirrored the Rebels own ascent into the College Football Playoff picture. Along the way, he has become more than a former NFL coach on the staff sheet. He has helped shape the offense, and his presence has started to matter in living rooms and on recruiting visits as much as it does on the practice field.
The recruiting side is where Judges footprint is becoming harder to miss. Ole Miss has already added notable quarterback talent with his help, and the staffs work at the position has only deepened as it looks ahead. Trinidad Chambliss has been among the players to notice, praising Judges coaching and mentorship, while the broader picture suggests the Rebels see him as a real asset in selling the programs future. The next question is how far that influence can stretch as Ole Miss keeps chasing high-end quarterback commitments. [Read more 🡒]
Jackson Suber Heads Into A Career Defining Sunday At The Open
Jackson Subers run at the Open Championship took a small step back Saturday with an even-par round, but the Ole Miss product is still very much in the mix heading into the final day. At six under for the tournament, he slipped outside the top five, yet he remains within striking distance of the leaders and has positioned himself for a meaningful Sunday at one of golfs biggest stages.
The round had a few moments that could have changed the picture, including a makeable par putt on 17 and a birdie look on 18 that would have left him even higher on the board. Instead, Suber now heads into a career-defining final round four shots behind Sam Burns, with plenty still to play for as he tries to turn a strong week into something even bigger. [Read more 🡒]