As for who won't be competitive in the SEC this season, USA TODAY Sports predicts Alabama opponents on the 2026 schedule will occupy five of the last six spots in the final conference standings: Vanderbilt (11th), South Carolina (12th), Auburn (13th), Mississippi State (14th) and Kentucky (15th).

Blame Alabama and Georgia. Point fingers at Auburn, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas, too. The Southeastern Conference, once the most dominant league in the land, lost its stranglehold on college football over the last three years.

Alabama football's 2026 season is nearing, and all the Crimson Tide has been focused on is itself. The Crimson Tide found its quarterback. It's now finalizing position battles on both offense and defense,

Alabama is set to be among the SEC's top teams in 2026. Let's make some preseason picks for Alabama, including record, breakout stars, and more.