Former Alabama coach Nick Saban has made his early call on the top programs in the Southeastern Conference, and the Crimson Tide did not crack his top two.
Speaking Thursday on ESPN’s “Get Up,” the seven-time national champion and current College GameDay analyst named Georgia and Texas as the clearest favorites heading into the 2026 season. Saban was careful to note that July rankings can change quickly once games begin.
“Well, I think Texas and Georgia on paper, at least right now. But in July, nobody really knows what might happen in the season,” Saban said.
He pointed to his own experience with Alabama’s 2019 roster as a reminder of how injuries and adversity can reshape a year.
“One of our best teams was in 2019, when Tua broke his hip the 10th or 11th game of the season. We didn’t even get in the playoffs, but that was one of the best teams we ever had,” Saban said.
“So you really don’t know what’s going to happen during the season and how you’re going to be able to overcome those obstacles that you might have to overcome. I think right now on paper, those two teams are the best teams based on what they have coming back and what they’ve added to their roster.”
Georgia enters the year as the two-time defending SEC champion. Quarterback Gunner Stockton is back after starting every game last season, throwing for nearly 2,900 yards and accounting for 34 total touchdowns. The Bulldogs lost several key receivers but added portal talent and return a core of experienced defenders.
Texas, meanwhile, is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. Arch Manning returns for his junior year after throwing for more than 3,100 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2025. The Longhorns brought back several offensive line starters and added experienced transfers to strengthen the roster further. Edge rusher Colin Simmons, who led the team in sacks a year ago, anchors a defense expected to be aggressive under new coordinator Will Muschamp.
Saban’s ranking comes just weeks before preseason practices begin across the conference. Media days this week have already generated plenty of discussion about which programs are positioned best. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer delivered his remarks with Saban in the room, but the legendary coach’s public comments focused elsewhere.
After Georgia and Texas, Saban listed LSU and Texas A&M among the next group of contenders. Oklahoma and Ole Miss also drew mention before Alabama entered the conversation. For a program that spent years as the clear standard in the league, the lower placement stands out.It has been a long time since preseason projections treated the Crimson Tide as anything other than a top contender.
Fans and observers are left wondering whether the ranking reflects a temporary dip or simply the reality of a deep and competitive conference.
Saban has made a similar pairing before. In 2024 he projected Georgia and Texas to meet in the SEC Championship Game, and the teams did face off in Atlanta that December, with the Bulldogs winning in overtime. His latest comments reinforce the sense that both programs remain built for deep runs.
College football’s landscape shifts quickly once the pads come on. Injuries, chemistry and coaching adjustments all play major roles.
Still, the former Alabama coach’s assessment carries weight because of his track record and the sheer amount of talent both Georgia and Texas return.
As camps open in the coming weeks, those two programs will carry the highest expectations in the league. Whether they live up to Saban’s early endorsement remains to be seen, but few voices in the sport carry more authority when ranking the best teams on paper.
