Football Picked to Finish Third in SEC, Earn Numerous Preseason All-Conference Nods

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southeastern Conference released their preseason media polls and all-conference teams on Friday, selecting Ole Miss to finish third in the SEC standings while handing the Rebels eight individual preseason all-SEC honors.

Ole Miss was predicted to finish third in the preseason poll by the media, while Georgia and Texas were selected at first and second, respectively. Following the Rebels in order, Texas A&M, LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Florida, and Missouri rounded out the top 10.

The trio of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, running back Kewan Lacy, and defensive lineman Will Echoles were selected to the preseason all-SEC first team. Kicker Lucas Carneiro earned a spot on the preseason all-SEC second squad at both kicker and kickoff specialist, while linebacker Suntarine Perkins was selected to the second team as well. Earning third team honors for Ole Miss was offensive lineman Patrick Kutas and defensive lineman Kam Franklin.

Coming off a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance a season ago, the Ole Miss football team is set to kickoff the 2026 season on Sunday, September 6 against Louisville at 6:30 p.m. CT at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

PRESEASON SEC FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL

Predicted Order of Finish
1. Georgia – 2,519 points
2. Texas – 2,449 points
3. Ole Miss – 2,004 points
4. Texas A&M – 1,967 points
5. LSU – 1,961 points
6. Alabama – 1,930 points
7. Oklahoma – 1,914 points
8. Tennessee – 1,320 points
9. Florida – 1,217 points
10. Missouri – 1,105 points
11. South Carolina - 956 points
12. Auburn - 936 points
13. Vanderbilt - 751 points
14. Kentucky - 546 points
15. Mississippi State - 467 points
16. Arkansas - 262 points

2025 PRESEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAM

OFFENSE

First-Team
Quarterback - Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
Running Back - Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss
Running Back - Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
Wide Receiver - Cam Coleman, Texas
Wide Receiver - Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama
Tight End - Trey'Dez Green, LSU
Offensive Guard/Tackle - Trevor Goosby, Texas
Offensive Guard/Tackle - Cayden Green, Missouri
Offensive Guard/Tackle - Jordan Seaton, LSU
Offensive Guard/Tackle - Earnest Greene III, Georgia
Center - Drew Bobo, Georgia
All-Purpose - Mario Craver, Texas A&M

Second-Team
Quarterback - Arch Manning, Texas
Running Back - Jadan Baugh, Florida
Running Back - Nate Frazier, Georgia
Wide Receiver - Mario Craver, Texas A&M
Wide Receiver - Isaiah Sategna III, Oklahoma
Tight End - Lawson Luckie, Georgia
Offensive Guard/Tackle - Dontrell Glover, Georgia
Offensive Guard/Tackle - Michael Fasusi, Oklahoma
Offensive Guard/Tackle - Michael Carroll, Alabama
Offensive Guard/Tackle - Lance Heard, Kentucky
Center - Mark Nabou Jr., Texas A&M
All-Purpose - Ryan Niblett, Texas

Third-Team
Quarterback - Gunner Stockton, Georgia
Running Back - DeSean Bishop, Tennessee
Running Back - Hollywood Smothers, Texas
Wide Receiver - Ryan Wingo, Texas
Wide Receiver - Nyck Harbor, South Carolina
Tight End - Willie Rodriguez, Kentucky
Offensive Guard/Tackle - David Sanders Jr., Tennessee
Offensive Guard/Tackle - Patrick Kutas, Ole Miss
Offensive Guard/Tackle - Brandon Baker, Texas
Offensive Guard/Tackle - Wendell Moe Jr., Tennessee
Center - Braelin Moore, LSU
All-Purpose - Jadan Baugh, Florida

DEFENSE

First-Team
Defensive Line - Colin Simmons, Texas
Defensive Line - Will Echoles, Ole Miss
Defensive Line - Dylan Stewart, South Carolina
Defensive Line - Princewill Umanmielen, LSU
Linebacker - Whit Weeks, LSU
Linebacker - Xavier Atkins, Auburn
Linebacker - Rasheem Biles, Texas
Defensive Back - KJ Bolden, Georgia
Defensive Back - Zabien Brown, Alabama
Defensive Back - Bray Hubbard, Alabama
Defensive Back - Ellis Robinson IV, Georgia

Second-Team
Defensive Line - David Stone, Oklahoma
Defensive Line - Elijah Griffin, Georgia
Defensive Line - Taylor Wein, Oklahoma
Defensive Line - Quincy Rhodes Jr., Arkansas
Linebacker - Raylen Wilson, Georgia
Linebacker - Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss
Linebacker - Kip Lewis, Oklahoma
Defensive Back - Kelley Jones, Mississippi State
Defensive Back - DJ Pickett, LSU
Defensive Back - Ty Benefield, LSU
Defensive Back - Eli Bowen, Oklahoma*
Defensive Back - Peyton Bowen, Oklahoma*

Third-Team
Defensive Line - Kam Franklin, Ole Miss
Defensive Line - DJ Hicks, Texas A&M
Defensive Line - Gabe Harris, Georgia
Defensive Line - Jayden Woods, Florida
Linebacker - Arion Carter, Tennessee
Linebacker - TJ Dottery, LSU
Linebacker - Yhonzae Pierre, Alabama
Defensive Back - Keon Sabb, Alabama
Defensive Back - Champ Anthony, Auburn
Defensive Back - Khalil Barnes, Georgia
Defensive Back - Jelani McDonald, Texas

SPECIALISTS

First-Team
Placekicker - Tate Sandell, Oklahoma
Punter - Grant Chadwick, LSU
Return Specialist - Ryan Niblett, Texas
Kickoff Specialist - Tate Sandell, Oklahoma
Long Snapper - Ben Anderson, Oklahoma

Second-Team
Placekicker - Lucas Carneiro, Ole Miss
Punter - Grayson Miller, Oklahoma
Return Specialist - Isaiah Sategna III, Oklahoma
Kickoff Specialist - Lucas Carneiro, Ole Miss
Long Snapper - Trey Dubuc, Texas

Third-Team
Placekicker - Alex McPherson, Auburn
Punter - Ethan Pulliam, Mississippi State
Return Specialist - Vernell Brown III, Florida
Kickoff Specialist - Terry Bussey, Texas A&M
Long Snapper - Brett Le Blanc, Missouri

*Indicates a tie

RebelsCalendar

Players Mentioned

Lucas Carneiro

Trinidad Chambliss

TJ Dottery

Will Echoles

Kam Franklin

Patrick Kutas

Kewan Lacy

Suntarine Perkins

Princewill Umanmielen

The University of Mississippi Athletics