Well, here we go again.
Two weeks into the 2026 season and I’m prepared to make some incontrovertible, well-thought-out conclusions about 16 teams based on approximately 120 minutes of meaningful football.
What could possibly go wrong?
We have one legitimate heavyweight result in the books, a couple of teams that have looked really good against questionable competition, and several teams that I still have absolutely no idea what to make of.
Texas has the obvious marquee win, beating Ohio State 24-23 after looking not particularly scary for three quarters. LSU destroyed Clemson before sleepwalking through the first half against Louisiana Tech. Georgia has scored 133 points in two games. Texas A&M just put 48 on Arizona State. Alabama got a first half scare in Lexington. Tennessee extended Georgia Tech’s losing streak.
Then there’s Oklahoma, which lost to Michigan…in regulation no less.
I guess it’s time to rack ‘em and stack ‘em. I’ll get more dialed in as the season goes along…I promise.
1. Texas
I’ll hold my nose and do it.
I don’t think they’re going to stay here forever, but they had the stones to schedule a home and home with OSU and they did beat the #1 team in the country. Other than the 4th quarter, it wasn’t particularly impressive, but let’s give them their flowers for the time being.
For now, they get the top spot.
2. LSU
I’m not going to make any more friends with this one.
To begin, I don’t think Clemson is good…at all. But, give credit to LSU for demolishing them in Week 1 because at least they are a P4 opponent who “should” have a pulse. The Louisiana Tech game left something to be desired if you’re an LSU fan, but they showed they can hit the on switch when needed.
We all know this could change this week with some appointment viewing television when Lane Kiffin returns to Ole Miss. Much like Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech, I’d like for neither team to win…but it’s going to be fun to watch.
3. Georgia
If you want to put Georgia higher, I can make the same argument and wouldn’t fight you. In terms of complete dominance, Georgia has convincingly looked the part…and that’s with second and third teamers playing most of the first two games.
The obvious disclaimer is competition level. Now we get Arkansas, a step up, but not a team that anyone could call elite at the moment.
If we make the Hogs look like a completely overmatched team on the road, it’s going to be hard for me to keep them at #3 based on a three week body of work.
4. Texas A&M
I guess we’ll put them at #4..
That Arizona State win looks better than on the scoreboard than reality…game was only 24-20 going into the 4th quarter.
I never know what to do with these guys. They consistently fooled me last year, both good and bad. They’ve got plenty of talent, but like many other teams in the conference, I need to see a little more.
Let’s see if Kentucky can offer them any resistance.
5. Alabama
I don’t love putting Bama this low.
I hate to say it, but I think a lot of college football pundits are underestimating the Tide. They’ve still got a TON of talent when it comes to their blue chip ratio and while DeBoer may not be Saban, I don’t think he’s as bad as some would suggest.
That first half against Kentucky wasn’t their best look, but they rebounded and won very comfortably on the road in a conference game.
I’d love to believe they’re going back to pre-Saban years, but until I see it get to that level, I’m not going to poke the bear.
6. Ole Miss
I don’t know about these guys. We’ll quickly find out if Chambliss is as good as his 2025 version, or if Lane Kiffin is that damn good when it comes to quarterback development and coaching.
That Louisville game gave me plenty of reasons to think they’re not what they were last year, but it was also the first game of the season and a lot of improvement can be made. For now, #6 seems pretty fair.
Saturday will tell us a lot more about Ole Miss and what kind of team they have.
7. Tennessee
Beat up a Georgia Tech team that appears to be trending in the wrong direction. Freshman QB who looks the part, but hasn’t faced great opposition to this point.
A potential trap situation this week against Kennesaw State could be interesting if Tennessee is caught looking ahead to Texas in two weeks.
8. Florida
If Georgia hasn’t played anyone of note, then Florida definitely hasn’t played anyone of note.
Very curious to see how they perform at Auburn this weekend for a night kickoff. Auburn got a serious scare against Baylor before taking care of business against Southern Miss, but we all know that strange things can happen at night on the Plains.
Screw it…I’m gonna go ahead and call it…Gators are going down this weekend.
9. Missouri
I wasn’t a big believer in them last year and I don’t feel like starting now.
But, kudos to taking care of Kansas on the road and not letting the conference down.
10. Oklahoma
How could you do this to us?
Look at everything we’ve done for you guys. We bring you in, give you a nice conference home to play in, cut you in on revenue sharing, give you marquee matchups during conference play…and this is how you repay us?
11. South Carolina
How much do you really know after beating Kent State and Towson?
One word of caution, when South Carolina has zero expectations, they can be dangerous.
Would love for MSU to win this one and kill off any momentum South Carolina is trying to build because I don’t want them to have anything left to play for by the time we visit Columbia later in the year.
12. Mississippi State
Think I might be going a little too low for these guys?
Definitely have a chance to jump at least one spot after this weekend’s game.
QB looks like a legitimate star in the making and I like seeing Anthony Evans do well, even if it’s in a different uniform.
They’re looking at a brutal 6 game stretch ahead, do not envy their position right now.
13. Auburn
They’re 2-0 and have an opportunity to beat Florida this weekend.
The Baylor game did them no favors, about a half a foot from losing that one.
Gotta put ‘em somewhere.
14. Kentucky
You had me believing in that first half. You really did. I even sent a couple of texts out to a friend who is a Kentucky alumnus to let him know I was pulling for them.
Guess I jinxed the hell out of that…sorry Cameron.
15. Vanderbilt
Because Diego Pavia isn’t walking through that door anymore.
And I just heard Jared Curtis decommitted from us for the 16th time.
16. Arkansas
You’ll always have WalMart.