SEC Powerhouses Skyrocket in Updated College Football Preseason Rankings

What a difference an offseason makes, as two overlooked SEC football factories just took a massive jump in the latest preseason rankings for 2026.

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Two of the most recognizable football factories in the SEC have taken a hit in their reputations recently amid subpar on-field performance, but some very consequential offseason moves have seen them take a big jump in the preseason rankings.

Bringing on a couple of high profile head coaches will do just that, as LSU and Florida found themselves the two single biggest positive movers in the updated 138 team college football rankings as revealed by CBS Sports analysts this week.

Florida saw the biggest jump, with an increase of 49 spots to the No. 22 position nationally, and LSU was right behind, rising 43 places to emerge as the No. 10 team in college football, according to the most recent vote ahead of the release of the AP preseason rankings.

Why the jump for LSU?

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Perhaps you heard that Lane Kiffin changed jobs this offseason, jumping over from the Ole Miss program he helped develop into a playoff hopeful and taking the top job over from Brian Kelly in the Bayou.

Since then, everything has gone right for LSU, which ended a very active offseason by landing the No. 1 transfer class in college football, a group buoyed by top quarterback Sam Leavitt, offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, and edge rusher Princewill Umanmeilen.

Now the pressure is on Kiffin to at least make the College Football Playoff, and doing that will involve preserving and building on defensive improvements from a year ago, and radically improving LSU’s blocking and rushing output, which ranked just 126th nationally last season.

LSU will be tested out of the gate, with a home opener against Clemson before a massive trip back to Ole Miss two weeks later and against Texas A&M right after that, an early slate that will saddle Kiffin with a very strong first impression, good or bad.

Why the jump for Florida?

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Despite never coaching in a Power Four conference, the Gators’ new head man comes with massive upside and potential, as Jon Sumrall comes over from Tulane, which he led to the playoff last season, to revive this proud program.

Sumrall has been successful wherever he’s been, racking up a 43-12 overall record in four seasons as a head coach, going 12-2 in his debut at Troy and winning consecutive Sun Belt titles, then going 11-3 with the Green Wave, and booking a spot in the playoff.

Talent-wise, there’s little to quibble with what Florida has on the field. Enough to contend for an SEC championship? That may still be out of reach as Sumrall finds his bearings, but there’s enough coming back combined with what the Gators brought in through the transfer portal to stay well on the right side of .500 and in the rankings.

CBS Sports preseason rankings

1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Notre Dame
4. Texas
5. Georgia
6. Indiana
7. Miami
8. Texas Tech
9. Oklahoma
10. LSU

(CBS)