Rating each SEC crew coming into faculty soccer's Week 1

The 2026 faculty soccer season is right here, and Faculty Soccer Playoff hopes span throughout the SEC. All 16 groups within the convention take the sector for the primary time this week, which means questions stay for every program. Six new coaches enter the image, every optimistic that they’ll flip round their packages and compete within the SEC.

Nevertheless, earlier than the primary recreation is performed and groups have an opportunity to determine who they’re on the sector, we have to set up the place every program begins the season in our preliminary energy rankings.

Right here is how we rank all 16 SEC groups coming into Week 1.

1. Georgia Bulldogs

• 2025Document: 12-2 (7-1 SEC)
• Document: 0-0 (0-0 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: Tennessee State Tigers

The No. 1 spot was no debate. The Georgia Bulldogs are the back-to-back SEC champions and return 68% of their roster from the earlier season. Mix roster continuity with one of the best coach within the sport, and UGA ought to stay on the high of the facility rankings. Not solely did they preserve an excellent portion of their roster, however in addition they added two key gamers on the offensive facet of the ball to spotlight their switch portal class: broad receiver Isiah Canion and working again Dante Dowdell.

2. Texas Longhorns

• 2025Document: 10-3 (6-2 SEC)
• Document: 0-0 (0-0 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: Texas State Bobcats

Texas will enter the 2026 season because the No. 2 crew in our energy rankings. After spending a season growing and studying the offense, Arch Manning lastly took over the Longhorns' offense in 2025. Manning had his ups and downs in his first 12 months as a starter, however he actually confirmed promise following their upset loss to Florida on Oct. 4.

After that loss, Manning went on to finish 62% of his passes and throw for 15 touchdowns and solely two interceptions in an eight-game span, together with his 2025 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl efficiency in opposition to the Michigan Wolverines that noticed him throw for 221 yards and two touchdowns, whereas including one other two on the bottom. Texas additionally made a splash transfer this offseason, bringing Cam Coleman to Austin to offer their star quarterback extra choices within the passing recreation.

3. Oklahoma Sooners

• 2025Document: 10-3 (6-2 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: Texas-El Paso Miners

Oklahoma is available in at No. 3 in our SEC energy rankings, with the Sooners bringing again loads of expertise from a protection that helped set up them as one of many convention’s hardest groups final season. Brent Venables is a defensive savant, all the time giving Oklahoma a powerful basis on that facet of the ball.

The Sooners additionally strengthen their talent rooms by bringing in three broad receivers and three tight ends from the portal, giving quarterback John Mateer extra weapons to work with. Mateer was on his solution to turning into a Heisman Trophy finalist earlier than struggling a hand harm final season, however his return got here ahead of anticipated, and he by no means fairly appeared like the identical participant afterward.

If Mateer can return to his pre-injury kind, Oklahoma has the defensive basis and offensive firepower to compete with the SEC’s finest groups.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

• 2025Document: 11-4 (7-1 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: East Carolina Pirates

Alabama enters the 2026 season because the No. 4 crew in our SEC energy rankings. Alabama's streak of 17 consecutive top-10 appearances within the AP preseason ballot has ended this 12 months with their No. 13 rating. That might imply that head coach Kalen DeBoer has much less to show than he did throughout his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa.

Nonetheless, the Crimson Tide will all the time have expertise suiting up for this system, and none is extra necessary than their beginning quarterback. DeBoer not too long ago introduced that Keelon Russell would be the beginning quarterback over Austin Mack. Russell now has the chance to guide an Alabama offense seeking to return to its place among the many SEC's elite, however how rapidly he settles into the position may go a good distance towards figuring out the Crimson Tide's ceiling this season.

5. Texas A&M Aggies

• 2025Document: 11-2 (7-1 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: Missouri State Bears

Texas A&M is available in at No. 5 in our SEC energy rankings. Offensive standouts Marcel Reed and Mario Craver return to this system, giving the Aggies much-needed continuity following their 11-0 begin final season. Reed confirmed loads of promise all through the vast majority of final season, serving to Texas A&M set up itself as one of many SEC's higher groups and a solidified CFP contender.

Nevertheless, the Aggies might want to preserve the consistency they confirmed for many of final season whereas placing the best way 2025 ended behind them. Reed struggled in his last two video games of the season, together with the Faculty Soccer Playoff first-round matchup in opposition to Miami, throwing two interceptions and failing to report a landing. If Reed can put that end behind him and return to the shape he displayed for many of the season, Texas A&M has the expertise to compete within the convention.

6. LSU

• 2025Document: 7-6 (3-5 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: Clemson Tigers

LSU enters the 2026 season at No. 6 in our energy rankings. LSU made an enormous transfer on the finish of final season, hiring Lane Kiffin, and with that, expectations rose from the 7-6 season that they had final 12 months. There’s a lot to be enthusiastic about: the Tigers revamped their roster, bringing within the high switch portal class, together with Sam Leavitt and Josh Seaton, to develop into pillars of the offense.

7. Ole Miss Rebels

• 2025Document: 13-2 (7-1 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: Louisville Cardinals

Ole Miss lands at No. 7 in our SEC energy rankings, which is decrease than the place the Rebels seem in lots of preseason projections. Ole Miss established itself as a reliable SEC contender in the previous few seasons, successful not less than 10 video games within the final three years; nonetheless, there are causes to imagine this system may take a step again in 2026. The Rebels moved ahead with Pete Golding following Lane Kiffin’s departure, and sustaining the identical success after a coach leaves shouldn’t be a assure, particularly if it's an in-house rent.

All that being stated, Ole Miss nonetheless has loads of expertise, together with working again Kewan Lacy and quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who has been thought-about one in all, if not one of the best, at his place. Regardless of the expertise on the roster, I’m anticipating the Rebels to take a step again this season in comparison with the heights they reached underneath Kiffin.

8. s

• 2025Document: 4-8 (2-6 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: Florida Atlantic Owls

Florida is available in at No. 8 in our SEC energy rankings. The Gators enter the 2026 season underneath new head coach Jon Sumrall. Florida returns 66% of its roster, which is wealthy with expertise throughout their talent positions, together with All-SEC working again Jadan Baugh.

Sumrall has by no means gained fewer than 9 video games in a school soccer season throughout his teaching profession, and now he will get the chance to check that success within the SEC. The Gators have sufficient returning expertise and training stability to be the convention's largest shock, however so much will depend upon how rapidly Sumrall can translate his success to Gainesville.

9. Missouri Tigers

• 2025Document: 8-5 (4-4 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions

Missouri lands at No. 9 in our SEC energy rankings. The Tigers have been some of the constant groups within the SEC since Eli Drinkwitz has taken over this system. Since 2020 this system has competed in 5 bowl video games, successful two of them, which embrace a Cotton Bowl victory in 2023.

Mizzou seems to stay constant and at last recover from the hump and be a part of the SEC's premier groups and has positioned themself to take action, including 30 commits from the portal that embrace quarterback Austin Simmons to pair with their dynamic working again, Ahmad Hardy.

10. South Carolina Gamecocks

• 2025Document: 4-8 (1-7 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: Kent State Golden Flashes

South Carolina enters the season because the No. 10 crew in our SEC energy rankings. The Gamecocks have by no means gained over 9 video games within the Shane Beamer period, however that appears to alter underneath new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles. Briles seems to lastly unlock star quarterback LaNorris Sellers and assist him attain his potential.

Defensively, South Carolina ranked among the many high 50 within the nation, principally partly resulting from NFL draft prospect Dylan Stewart, who ought to proceed to carry down their entrance 4.

11. Auburn Tigers

• 2025Document: 5-7 (1-7 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: Baylor Bears

Auburn enters the brand new marketing campaign ranked No. 11 in our SEC energy rankings. The Tigers have been one of many six groups within the convention to rent a brand new head coach, bringing Alex Golesh from South Florida. Golesh was energetic within the portal, securing a top-10 class within the switch portal, together with his quarterback from South Florida, Byrum Brown, to assist flip across the program as they did at USF.

12. Tennessee Volunteers

• 2025Document: 8-5 (4-4 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: Furman Paladins

Tennessee begins the season ranked No. 12 in our SEC energy rankings. The Volunteers will begin five-star freshman Faizon Brandon this season at quarterback, marking the primary time this system has began a real freshman in Week One since 2004. The crew will probably lean on working again Desean Bishop to be a safety blanket for the freshman as he goes via rising pains. UT's protection additionally seems to be properly skilled, retaining veterans in the course of their unit.

13. Mississippi State Bulldogs

• 2025Document: 5-8 (1-7 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks

Mississippi State is available in at No. 13 in our SEC energy rankings. The Bulldogs will begin Kamario Taylor at quarterback this season full-time. The sophomore confirmed promise final season, contributing 13 whole touchdowns and one interception. This system seems to lastly be aggressive underneath Jeff Lebby, failing to achieve not less than six wins in every of his first two seasons.

14. Vanderbilt Commodores

• 2025Document: 10-3 (6-2 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: Austin Peay Governors

Vanderbilt will enter the 2026 season because the No. 14 crew in our energy rankings. The Commodores misplaced their veteran quarterback Diego Pavia to the NFL and hoped that the successor could be five-star Jared Curtis. Nevertheless, Curtis misplaced the quarterback competitors to senior Blaze Berlowitz. Will probably be powerful for the Commodores to return to their 10-3 kind from 2025, solely retaining 44% of their manufacturing.

15. Kentucky Wildcats

• 2025Document: 5-7 (2-6 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: Youngstown State Penguins

The Kentucky Wildcats rank No. 15 in our SEC energy rankings. Will Stein takes over this system as his first-ever head teaching alternative. Beforehand, Stein served as Oregon's offensive coordinator, which ranked high 15 within the nation. The previous quarterback ought to positively deliver new air to this system, however it would take time to achieve the SEC's elite groups.

16. Arkansas Razorbacks

• 2025Document: 2-10 (0-8 SEC)
• Up Subsequent: North Alabama Lions

Arkansas enters the 2026 season because the No. 16 crew in our SEC energy rankings. Arkansas employed Ryan Silverfield from Memphis, the place he by no means had a dropping season. There could also be little to no expectations for this program as they face the hardest schedule in your entire nation.

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