Aug 29, 2026 · 56 min
Five SEC and Big Ten contenders face defining seasons
Team Previews: Oklahoma + Texas A&M + Penn State + Alabama + Tennessee
Josh Pate’s previews test whether Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Penn State, Alabama, and Tennessee can convert talent and expectations into playoff-level seasons.
- 1Oklahoma enters with confidence in John Mateer and Brent Venables’ program direction.
- 2Texas A&M and Penn State face playoff questions shaped by difficult schedules and unsettled expectations.
- 3Alabama and Tennessee reach pressure points as Kalen DeBoer and Josh Heupel seek clarity about their programs’ next phases.
Don't miss
The Alabama preview frames Kalen DeBoer’s tenure as an inflection point, with the program’s distance from the Nick Saban era and its lower preseason ranking in focus.
The brief
Oklahoma opens the discussion with confidence in John Mateer and Brent Venables’ direction, while stability, expectations, and the Sooners’ season outlook remain central questions.
Texas A&M’s upward trajectory raises a sharper test: can the Aggies reach the playoff, or produce a strong season that still ends outside the field?
Penn State begins a new season under Matt Campbell, with last year behind it, playoff whispers ahead, and Rocco Becht central to the quarterback conversation.
Alabama becomes an inflection point for Kalen DeBoer as the program operates below its familiar preseason standing and searches for a special opportunity.
Tennessee closes the preview with a changing outlook for Josh Heupel: once a possible gap year, the season now carries higher expectations and immediate stakes.