Not much changed my mind about what to expect this year after SEC Media Days. It was four days full of takes, content and coach speak. But not much really changed in what we felt like we know from the teams. At least not enough to change anything significantly.
What we learned
The rich got richer. Perhaps the biggest bombshell that was dropped the entire time we were there was that Texas got even better before the season started. The Longhorns already had what is widely considered the most loaded roster in the conference if not the country. That was only bolstered on Thursday when Steve Sarkisian announced that five star recruit John Meredith would be reclassifying from the 2027 class to 2026 and be available this Fall. Meredith was the No. 2 overall player in the recruiting cycle for next year and reportedly garnered a $1.7 million per year NIL deal for two years to sign with Texas. Meredith’s addition gives the Longhorns six former five stars in their secondary.
Outside of Texas it was business as usual everywhere else. There were no bombshells or roster hits that were given by the head coaches. Everyone else seems full go and ready for the 2026 season.
The one team that did move (back) up my personal ballot was Tennessee. I was prepared to ask Josh Heupel a question this week with several stats I found from a deep dive on his success with first year quarterbacks. There was no need. Heupel rattled off a bevy of stats right out of the gates about his success with first year quarterbacks. Over the last nine years they’ve averaged 262 pass ypg, 31 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in year one. It’s also not his first rodeo with a first year starting quarterback. This will be the eighth time in ten years he’s had one and the fifth consecutive at Tennessee. In the previous nine years his teams finished with a top ten scoring offense in seven seasons.
My Ballot
1. Texas*
2. UGA*
3. LSU*
4. Oklahoma*
5. Tennessee
6. South Carolina
7. Texas A&M
8. Alabama
9. Ole Miss
10. Auburn
11. Mizzou
12. Florida
13. Miss State
14. Kentucky
15. Vanderbilt
16. Arkansas
*denotes a CFP team
