Ten of the SEC's 16 teams are in the AP Top 25, more than any other conference, as the league seeks to end a three-year national-title drought. Florida jumped from No. 21 to No. 8, while Mississippi State rose from No. 24 to No. 16.
The previous three national champions were Big Ten teams: Michigan in 2023, Ohio State in 2024 and Indiana in 2025, its first title. The article identifies Florida, Mississippi State, Texas, Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Kentucky and LSU as possible challengers beyond Alabama and Georgia.
The SEC schedule will pit its teams against one another. The article says it is too early to know whether their early-season results will translate into success in the College Football Playoff.
