The SEC released its preseason All-SEC teams for the 2026 season following SEC Media Days, and two familiar powerhouses are running the show. Texas and Georgia absolutely crushed the voting. They secured eight of the 23 first-team selections across offense and defense. Both schools boast at least half of their starting lineups represented across the first, second, and third teams.
But the biggest shock sits at the quarterback position. Texas star Arch Manning didn’t receive first-team honors, landing on the Second Team instead. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss took the top honor following a 2025 campaign where he threw for 3,937 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Did the media get the quarterback order right?
The stats suggest they did. Chambliss taking the first-team quarterback spot over Texas QB Arch Manning follows a wild offseason for the Ole Miss signal-caller. Chambliss successfully sued the NCAA to secure an additional year of eligibility. He then chose to stay at Ole Miss under head coach Pete Golding rather than following Lane Kiffin to LSU.
You can clearly see how much faith the media has in these established programs. Chris Hummer at CBS Sports broke down the roster dominance. He noted that Texas and Georgia are essentially fielding all-star teams before the first snap.
The voting totals tell the rest of the story.
According to an official release by Texas Longhorns athletics, 11 Texas players earned preseason All-SEC honors. Georgia received 88 votes to win the SEC championship. Texas followed closely with 57 votes.
2024 SEC Title Rematch Appears Inevitable
These preseason selections heavily project a potential rematch of the 2024 SEC title game between Georgia and Texas. When two programs hoard this much elite talent across all three All-SEC teams, the rest of the conference faces an uphill climb. The 88 votes for Georgia indicate a strong belief in their defensive depth. Texas’s 57 votes show confidence in their offensive firepower despite Manning slipping to the second team.
If you’re tracking the conference standings, Chambliss’s return creates a roadblock for teams hoping to upset the top tier. Ole Miss retaining a 3,900-yard passer gives them the exact kind of veteran leadership needed to challenge the Georgia-Texas monopoly.