Way-too-early 2026-27 SEC bowl projections

Dec 7, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart reacts after defeating the Texas Longhorns in overtime in the 2024 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

By Chris Marler

It’s never too early to look ahead to 2026. Okay, maybe it is, but we’re doing it anyway. With 200 days until Week 1, there’s no better time to start predicting who’ll be bowling.

Let me explain

I have said repeatedly all offseason that I think this is going to be a much better year top to bottom for the SEC. That may seem dumb considering five SEC teams made the CFP last year, but most SEC fans, and college football fans in general, could recognize that those were five really good teams. None of them were elite, however. This year I expect that to change.

Georgia will always be in the conversation, as long as Kirby Smart is in Athens. I love what Georgia is returning and this year’s defense may be the best one they’ve had in the last four or five years.

Texas will also take a step forward this season with Arch coming into year two as a starter and the $40 million they’re spending on this year’s roster.

Speaking of $40 million rosters, LSU is going to contend for a title immediately. They might not emerge as the conference’s highest-ranked team given the grind of their schedule, but I fully expect them to reach the 12-team playoff and contend for a national title in Year 1 under Lane Kiffin.

After that I think there are several teams that can compete for a spot. That tier of teams in alphabetical order would be Alabama, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas A&M. South Carolina could absolutely make a big leap this year, but I’ve still got a little August-induced PTSD after buying in last season and watching the Gamecocks finish 4–8.

College Football Transfer Portal Winners, via @PeteNakos✅

Read: https://t.co/tzDUXHHk0p pic.twitter.com/GV2FC1CJsi

— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) January 29, 2026

There are three teams that have the fewest questions to answer between their schedule, roster and what they have returning this season. That short list is Tennessee, Oklahoma, Ole Miss.

Of those three teams, only two return their head coach, quarterback and a top-15 roster. Sorry, Ole Miss. It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Rebels make the 12-team field at all with Trinidad Chambliss being eligible, but give me Oklahoma and Tennessee. I think Joey Aguilar will be back and even if he’s not I love the combination of Josh Heupel’s offense with Jim Knowles as a defensive coordinator.