Georgia tops preseason media poll to win SEC championship in 2026
Georgia was the preseason pick to win the Southeastern Conference championship, according to voters attending the leagues annual media days event in Tampa.[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]The Bulldogs received 88 of 164 votes to reach the title game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in early December. Texas was the second choice, with 57 votes, and Mississippi a distant third with six. Texas A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma, LSU and Kentucky also received votes.Only 10 times since 1992 has the medias preseason predicted champion proceeded to win the SEC title game.Media also voted on preseason All-SEC teams, with Ole Miss Trinidad Chambliss edging Texas Arch Manning for first-team quarterback.Predicted order of finish1. Georgia, 2,510 points2. Texas, 2,4493. Mississippi, 2,0044. Texas A&M, 1,9675. LSU, 1,9616. Alabama, 1,9307. Oklahoma, 1,9148. Tennessee, 1,3209. Florida, 1,21710. Missouri, 1,10511. South Carolina, 95612. Auburn, 93613. Vanderbilt, 75114. Kentucky, 54615. Mississippi State, 46716. Arkansas, 262First-team offenseQB: Trinidad Chambliss, MississippiRB: Kewan Lacy, Mississippi; Ahmad Hardy, MissouriWR: Cam Coleman, Texas; Ryan Coleman-Williams, AlabamaTE: TreyDez Green, LSUOG/OT: Trevor Goosby, Texas; Cayden Green, Missouri; Jordan Seaton, LSU; Earnest Greene III, GeorgiaC: Drew Bobo, GeorgiaAll-purpose: Mario Craver, Texas A&MFirst-team defenseDL: Colin Simmons, Texas; Will Echoles, Mississippi; Dylan Stewart, South Carolina; Princewill Umanmielen, LSULB: Whit Weeks, LSU; Xavier Atkins, Auburn; Rasheem Biles, TexasDB: KJ Bolden, Georgia; Zabien Brown, Alabama; Bray Hubbard, Alabama; Ellis Robinson IV, GeorgiaFirst-team specialistsPK: Tate Sandell, OklahomaP: Grant Chadwick, LSUReturn specialist: Ryan Niblett, TexasKickoff specialist: Tate Sandell, OklahomaLong snapper: Ben Anderson, OklahomaSecond-team offenseQB: Arch Manning, TexasRB: Jadan Baugh, Florida; Nate Frazier, GeorgiaWR: Mario Craver, Texas A&M; Isaiah Sategna III, OklahomaTE: Lawson Luckie, GeorgiaOG/OT: Dontrell Glover, Georgia; Michael Fasusi, Oklahoma; Michael Carroll, Alabama; Lance Heard, KentuckyC: Mark Nabou Jr., Texas A&MAll-purpose: Ryan Niblett, TexasSecond-team defenseDL: David Stone, Oklahoma; Elijah Griffin, Georgia; Taylor Wein, Oklahoma; Quincy Rhodes Jr., ArkansasLB: Raylen Wilson, Georgia; Suntarine Perkins, Mississippi; Kip Lewis, OklahomaDB: Kelley Jones, Mississippi State; DJ Pickett, LSU; Ty Benefield, LSU; Eli Bowen, Oklahoma; Peyton Bowen, OklahomaSecond-team specialistsPK: Lucas Carneiro, MississippiP: Grayson Miller, OklahomaReturn specialist: Isaiah Sategna III, OklahomaKickoff specialist: Lucas Carneiro, MississippiLong snapper: Trey Dubuc, TexasThird-team offenseQB: Gunner Stockton, GeorgiaRB: DeSean Bishiop, Tennessee; Hollywood Smothers, TexasWR: Ryan Wingo, Texas; Nyck Harbor, South CarolinaTE: Willie Rodriguez, KentuckyOG/OT: David Sanders Jr., Tennessee; Patrick Kutas, Mississippi; Brandon Baker, Texas; Wendell Moe Jr., TennesseeC: Braelin Moore, LSUAll-purpose: Jaden Baugh, FloridaThird-team defenseDL: Kam Franklin, Mississippi; DJ Hicks, Texas A&M; Gabe Harris, Georgia; Jayden Woods, FloridaLB: Arion Carter, Tennessee; TJ Dottery, LSU; Yhonzae Pierre, AlabamaDB: Keon Sabb, Alabama; Champ Anthony, Auburn; Khalil Barnes, Georgia; Jelani McDonald, TexasThird-team specialistsPK: Alex McPherson, AuburnP: Ethan Pulliam, Mississippi StateReturn specialist: Vernell Brown III, FloridaKickoff specialist: Terry Bussey, Texas A&MLong snapper: Brett Le Blanc, Missouri