SEC Media Days have come and gone. All the biggest names in college football media made appearances and gave their thoughts on the conference this upcoming year.
Arguably the biggest name in college football media. Josh Pate made an appearance at SEC Media Days and gave his thoughts on the conference and the sport overall.
While on the “That SEC Podcast” hosted by Michael Bratton and Cousin Shane, Pate dropped his boldest take regarding the SEC this upcoming year. The take was definitely bold: a 9-3 SEC team will make the CFP.
A three-loss team has never made the CFP, and for that to change, the conference would have to be a bloodbath where everyone beats each other up to the point where that’s at most one 11-1 team, if any.
Pate didn’t name any candidates to fit that mold, though, so which SEC program could be a 9-3 CFP team? Three schools come to mind.
Texas Longhorns
Jul 23, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
This may be bold considering the Longhorns are one of the most highly anticipated teams in the country. Regardless, they don’t have a light schedule like they did last year; they have a true SEC schedule.
Not only do they match up against the likes of Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Tennessee, but Texas also plays Ohio State in Week 2, the current national title favorite.
The Longhorns have one of the most talented offenses in the country on paper, but their offensive line remains a question mark. Even with their astronomical expectations, nine wins against that schedule. Would be impressive.
Oklahoma Sooners
Jul 20, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Crossing over to the other side of the Red River, Oklahoma once again faces a gauntlet of a schedule. A Week 2 road matchup against Michigan, along with games against Texas, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M.
That schedule is a complete grind, and nine wins with that schedule mean that Oklahoma will probably be more impressive than a Big 12 team that had a cupcake schedule and went 11-1.
The Sooners should have the best defense in the SEC, and probably one of the 5-10 best defenses in the country, which will keep them in every game.
LSU Tigers
Jul 23, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Not just from a football perspective, but from a ratings perspective and just what will get fans buzzing, LSU being in the big dance will be cinema.
Of all the SEC teams, the Tigers seem like the hardest to read. This is mainly since their entire program is new, from the roster to the coaching staff; everyone is experiencing LSU for the first year.
Along with those factors, LSU’s schedule has some difficult matchups. Games against Texas, Ole Miss on the road, Alabama, and Texas A&M will be the deciding factors for this season.
