Ranking SEC 2026: Toughest to Easiest Schedules for New Coaches
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is gearing up for a big shakeup as the 2026 college football season approaches. Nearly half of the SEC teams have brought in new head coaches, and the conference is rolling out a new schedule format—upping the number of conference games from eight to nine.
For the six first-year coaches—Lane Kiffin, Pete Golding, Jon Sumrall, Will Stein, Alex Golesh, and Ryan Silverfield—this means a mix of fresh chances and some serious headaches. Let’s get into what these changes actually mean for them, and maybe for the whole future of SEC football.
Contents
New Faces, New Challenges
The SEC is famous for its intensity, and now six new coaches are jumping into the fray. They’re coming in with different backgrounds and, honestly, different levels of pressure.
What are they up against? Let’s break it down coach by coach.
Ryan Silverfield at Arkansas
Ryan Silverfield is taking over at Arkansas, and, wow, it’s not going to be easy. The Razorbacks didn’t win a single conference game in Sam Pittman’s last year, and the 2026 schedule isn’t doing them any favors.
- Five home conference games
- Road trip to Utah
- Games against Georgia, Texas A&M, Tennessee, and LSU
Six of Arkansas’s nine SEC opponents are already in the way-too-early top 25. Silverfield’s got his work cut out for him if Arkansas is going to escape the bottom of the conference.
Will Stein at Kentucky
Will Stein’s first year at Kentucky doesn’t look much easier. The Wildcats get thrown right into the fire with back-to-back games against Alabama and Texas A&M at the start of the season.
- Early challenges against Alabama and Texas A&M
- Mid-season games with LSU and Oklahoma
- Season-ending rivalry game with Louisville
Stein has a top-10 transfer class to work with, which is something. Still, turning around last year’s losing record is going to be a real test.
Pete Golding at Ole Miss
Pete Golding is stepping into Ole Miss with a bang. The Rebels’ season opener against Louisville is already getting a lot of attention.
- Season opener against Louisville
- Early games with LSU and Florida
- Matchups against Texas and Georgia
Golding will have to survive a gauntlet of tough games early on. If he can, Ole Miss could stay in the playoff conversation.
Opportunities for Success
Some first-year coaches are staring down brutal schedules, but a few have a little more breathing room. Let’s see what Jon Sumrall, Alex Golesh, and Lane Kiffin are working with.
Jon Sumrall at Florida
Jon Sumrall’s first year at Florida is a mixed bag. There’s a nasty three-game stretch in the middle of the season—Texas, Georgia, and Oklahoma—but there are also some winnable games sprinkled in.
- Rough mid-season stretch against Texas, Georgia, and Oklahoma
- Chances for a strong start and finish
- Maybe a shot at the College Football Playoff bubble?
If things break right, Florida could be in the mix for a conference title. It’s a long shot, but not impossible.
Alex Golesh at Auburn
Alex Golesh’s Auburn squad actually has a shot at a bounce-back year. The opener against Baylor will be a good measuring stick, but after that, a lot of their swing games are at home.
- Season opener against Baylor
- Home games with Florida, Vanderbilt, LSU, and Arkansas
- Could be Auburn’s best season in years
If Golesh can take advantage of the home field, Auburn fans might finally have something to cheer about again.
Lane Kiffin at LSU
Lane Kiffin’s situation at LSU is, well, pretty ideal for a first-year coach. The Tigers skip Georgia and Oklahoma on the schedule, and they get Texas A&M, Alabama, and Texas all at home.
- No games against Georgia or Oklahoma
- Home matchups with Texas A&M, Alabama, and Texas
- Best transfer portal class in the country
With a manageable slate and a loaded roster, Kiffin has a real chance to make noise right away. LSU fans are probably already dreaming about the playoff.
Conclusion
The 2026 SEC football season is shaping up to be something special. There are new coaches, a fresh scheduling format, and matchups that you just know will get people talking.
Some of these first-year coaches? Well, they’re staring down some tough schedules. Others might’ve lucked out a bit, at least on paper. It’s hard not to wonder who’ll surprise us and who might stumble in this wild, always-competitive conference.
If you want a closer look at the full SEC 2026 schedule and what each new coach is up against, the full breakdown is over at CBS Sports.
