SEC places nine teams in Oct. 18 polls

Nine SEC teams appeared in both national Top 25 polls released Oct. 18, 2026, with Georgia leading the conference in each ranking. The Bulldogs, 6-1, were No. 5 in the AP Top 25 with 1,382 points and No. 4 in the US LBM Coaches Top 25 with 1,469 points.

Ole Miss ranked No. 7 in both polls at 5-1. Tennessee, 6-1, held the No. 11 spot in each, while 6-1 Kentucky was No. 12 in both.

Alabama and LSU were both 5-2, with Alabama ranked No. 13 in both polls and LSU No. 18 in the AP ranking and No. 17 in the coaches poll.

Texas carried a 4-2 record into rankings of No. 19 from the AP and No. 18 from the coaches. Florida’s rankings: No. 20 AP, No. 24 coaches, at 5-2. Missouri, 5-2, completed the SEC’s ranked group at No. 22 in the AP and No. 21 in the coaches poll.

The coaches poll’s previous-ranking column showed several SEC changes. Georgia moved from No. 1 to No. 4, Alabama from No. 7 to No. 13, Texas from No. 6 to No. 18 and Missouri from No. 13 to No. 21. Climbs included Ole Miss from No. 10 to No. 7, Tennessee from No. 14 to No. 11, Kentucky from No. 17 to No. 12 and LSU from No. 21 to No. 17. Florida entered at No. 24 after being unranked.

Auburn and Mississippi State remained outside each Top 25 but received votes in both. Auburn drew 61 AP points and 55 coaches points, while Mississippi State received 30 AP points and 32 coaches points.

Why it matters

The SEC had nine teams ranked in each poll, including four among the top 12. Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Kentucky occupied those four positions in both rankings.