Preseason AP Top 25 unveiled, Georgia and Texas set the early pace for SEC’s depth

The preseason AP Top 25 for the 2026 season is out, and it begins with Georgia and Texas positioned as the teams to beat. In the initial edition of the poll, the SEC is especially prominent, landing nine programs in the ranked group as the sport heads toward fall camp and the start of nonconference play.

Georgia and Texas leading the rankings indicates how voters are treating both programs as national contenders before any results are on the field. The preseason AP poll, selected by a nationwide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, is built to reflect expectations for the upcoming season, accounting for returning production, coaching stability, recruiting momentum, and the perceived strength of each team’s overall setup.

For the SEC, the presence of nine ranked teams is the headline. It points to a league with multiple realistic championship-track paths, not just one or two expected frontrunners. Even without knowing every team’s exact preseason position from this report alone, the league-wide footprint matters because it shapes how quickly conference games can separate contenders from pretenders.

Georgia’s early standing reinforces the standard that comes with the Bulldogs’ national profile. Texas, appearing at the top tier, also underscores the league’s continued repositioning and competitive broadening, with SEC matchups likely drawing maximum attention each week from voters, players, and fans.

The important caveat with any preseason AP ranking is that it is a forecast, not a measure of what has actually happened. Early-season results can compress or expand the gap between top teams, especially when the first ranked versus ranked matchups occur. Voters typically reassess heavily once nonconference slates conclude and conference play begins in earnest.

What to watch next is how the poll holds up once games are played and how the “middle” of the SEC poll picture settles. With nine teams ranked, the league’s internal attrition will be significant, and the second and third AP releases often reflect which programs translate preseason expectations into September and October performances.

If Georgia and Texas remain near the top, the SEC’s overall nine-team presence could translate into a strong postseason résumé. If one or more teams underperform relative to preseason billing, it could also affect how many SEC teams stay in the national conversation as the season moves toward championship-week and the final AP regular-season vote.