Quarterbacks have grabbed the majority of the offseason headlines around the SEC this year. That and rage-filled drama between Ole Miss and LSU. One of the things that hasn’t been talked about enough are the less sexy units that will have just as big, if not more, of an impact on the SEC and national title races.
Here are the five most important position units in the SEC for teams expected to be in a title hunt this fall.
5. Texas A&M offensive line
Texas A&M lost four of their five starters from their 2025 offensive line. Those five players up front combined for 177 starts a season ago. That was the most in the nation, by far.
Texas A&M went into the portal and brought in several new pieces to take their place. Most of their projected new starters come from the Power Four ranks, including several from the SEC. The word around College Station seems extremely positive about this year’s unit. It will need to be good if A&M has any chance at returning to the college football playoff.
4. Ole Miss wide receivers
Ole Miss lost five of their top six pass catchers from a season ago. But, they still have the best 1-2 offensive punch in America in Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy.
Ole Miss is devoid of talent and has two players in particular that people in Oxford seem to be ecstatic about this season. Two former five-stars Johnny Cook and Caleb Odom each have unique skillsets and have taken different paths to get to Oxford. Their production, and ceilings, in this year’s offense should be huge.
If they can pick up where the aforementioned five players from 2025 left off, then Ole Miss could have massive success in year one of the Pete Golding era.
3. Alabama offensive line
Everyone loves to bring up the negative three yards rushing that Alabama had in last year’s SEC Championship game. But, their offensive line was still horrid in the 12 games prior to that debacle in Atlanta.
Alabama recorded their worst rushing offense in a season in over 60 years in 2025. They lost four starters from that line and to think they will just be better because of addition by subtraction is foolish. They lost a three year starter at center and a top-12 pick in last year’s NFL Draft at left tackle. Alabama has already suffered multiple injuries at the running back position in fall camp. That won’t help alleviate any of the pressures on Kalen DeBoer or this offensive line.
2. LSU defensive line
The LSU defensive line is one of the most intriguing units in the entire country. The line lost multiple players to graduation and/or injury since last season. The staff went into the portal and brought in several players from Power Four programs like Malik Blocton and Stephiylan Green.
The upperclassmen were expected to hold the starting positions at least for the start of the season. The freshman recruits on the line have had different plans. Deuce Geralds and Lamar Brown have turned heads repeatedly in fall camp. At this point it seems like Geralds not starting would be more of a surprise than him starting.
The sky is the limit for these three, but how well they can adjust against SEC offensive lines will be a big determining factor in how far this year’s LSU team can go.
1. Texas Offensive Line
It’s easy to hate Texas. Their fans make it extremely easy. One of the side effects of hating Texas is that the talk around their failures from a season ago are inaccurately addressed.
One of those failures was their inability to run the ball. During Steve Sarkisian’s first four years, Texas averaged over 2,400 yards on the ground. Last season that number dropped to just over 1,600. Part of that issue was that they lost four starters off the offensive line from 2024.
This year, they enter the season with one of the best units in the entire country that includes multiple returning starters including a potential top 15 pick at left tackle in next year’s draft. If this year’s Longhorns can open up some holes for the ground game and keep Arch Manning protected they could very well win the national championship.
