SEC 2026 preseason outlook spotlights LSU hire, Texas QB and ESPN ranking

College football’s SEC enters the 2026 season with several high‑profile storylines. LSU hired Lane Kiffin as head coach, backed by a reported $40 million NIL investment that helped secure a top transfer class led by quarterback Sam Leavitt. Texas returns Arch Manning as its starting quarterback, with a stable roster that positions the Longhorns among early season favorites.

ESPN’s preseason computer model released an order‑of‑finish projection for the conference. The model ranked Arkansas 16th overall, Mississippi State 15th, Kentucky 14th, Vanderbilt 13th, South Carolina 12th, Auburn 11th, Missouri 10th, Florida 9th and placed the remaining SEC teams lower in the power index. The rankings noted new coaches at Arkansas (Ryan Silverfield), Kentucky (Will Stein) and Auburn (Alex Golesh) among other changes across the league.