Saturday, October 24, 2026
By Jim Baxter
If last weekend taught us anything, it’s that nobody in the Southeastern Conference is safe.
Georgia lost. Alabama lost. Texas lost. And suddenly, the SEC championship race looks a whole lot different than it did just a couple of weeks ago.
This weekend brings six conference matchups, and several teams are facing games that could determine whether they’re legitimate championship contenders or just pretenders.
Here’s how I see Saturday playing out.
🔥 No. 18 LSU at Auburn
Kickoff: Noon ET
Auburn pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season by knocking off Georgia in Athens. Now the Tigers return home with an opportunity to build on that momentum.
LSU, meanwhile, is coming off a convincing victory over Mississippi State.
The question for Auburn is whether last weekend represented a turning point or simply one of those Saturdays when everything fell into place.
I expect Auburn to come out swinging, but I like LSU’s ability to make adjustments and generate enough offense to survive a difficult road environment.
JB’S PICK: LSU 30, AUBURN 27
🔥 Texas A&M at No. 13 Alabama
Kickoff: 3:30 PM ET
Alabama has some serious questions to answer after Tennessee handed the Crimson Tide a 26-10 loss.
The offense struggled, and the Tide simply didn’t look like the Alabama teams we’re accustomed to watching.
Texas A&M hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire, either.
I expect Alabama to play with considerably more urgency this weekend. The Crimson Tide have too much talent to continue playing the way they did against Tennessee.
The Aggies will have trouble sustaining drives against Alabama’s defense.
JB’S PICK: ALABAMA 34, TEXAS A&M 17
🔥 Oklahoma at Mississippi State
Kickoff: 3:30 PM ET
This is an interesting matchup because both teams have shown flashes of being considerably better than their records suggest.
Oklahoma has been inconsistent offensively, while Mississippi State has struggled since losing some key offensive personnel.
I’ve been impressed with Kamario Taylor this season, but his absence has made a significant difference in what Mississippi State can accomplish offensively.
Oklahoma’s defense should control this game, and I expect the Sooners to take advantage of a Bulldogs offense that has struggled to generate points.
JB’S PICK: OKLAHOMA 27, MISSISSIPPI STATE 17
🔥 No. 11 Tennessee at South Carolina
Kickoff: 3:30 PM ET
This might be the most difficult game on the SEC schedule to predict.
Which South Carolina team shows up?
The one that looked completely lost against Alabama and Kentucky, or the one that went into Gainesville and played its best football of the season?
LaNorris Sellers looked like a different quarterback against Florida. He played with confidence, made better decisions, and demonstrated why so many people were excited about him entering the season.
But here’s my problem.
I haven’t seen enough consistency from this football team to believe that performance represents a permanent turnaround.
Tennessee is coming off an impressive victory over Alabama, and the Volunteers have plenty of momentum.
South Carolina has the advantage of playing at Williams-Brice Stadium, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Gamecocks made this a four-quarter football game.
But until Shane Beamer’s team demonstrates that it can put together consecutive quality performances, I’m not ready to buy in.
JB’S PICK: TENNESSEE 27, SOUTH CAROLINA 24
🔥 Vanderbilt at No. 12 Kentucky
Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET
What Will Stein has accomplished at Kentucky deserves some serious recognition.
The Wildcats are 6-1 and coming off an impressive road victory over Oklahoma.
Kentucky is playing disciplined football, protecting the football, and finding ways to win games that might have slipped away in previous seasons.
Vanderbilt has struggled to find consistency, and I don’t see the Commodores having enough offensive firepower to keep pace.
Kentucky continues its surprising season.
JB’S PICK: KENTUCKY 34, VANDERBILT 17
🔥 No. 7 Ole Miss at No. 19 Texas
Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET
JB’S GAME OF THE WEEK
This is the matchup I’m most interested in watching.
Texas has become one of the biggest mysteries in college football.
The Longhorns have enough talent to beat practically anybody in the country, yet they continue finding ways to lose games they should win.
Arch Manning has been inconsistent, and the pressure on Steve Sarkisian is beginning to mount.
Ole Miss, meanwhile, is playing some outstanding football and coming off a dominant performance against Missouri.
I’ve been impressed with what Trinidad Chambliss has brought to the Rebels’ offense.
Texas has the home-field advantage, but I trust Ole Miss more right now.
The Rebels are playing with confidence, and I think their offense will create problems for the Texas defense.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this game comes down to the final possession.
JB’S PICK: OLE MISS 31, TEXAS 28
🏆 JB’S WEEK 8 SEC PICKS
Matchup
Predicted Winner
LSU at Auburn
LSU
Texas A&M at Alabama
Alabama
Oklahoma at Mississippi State
Oklahoma
Tennessee at South Carolina
Tennessee
Vanderbilt at Kentucky
Kentucky
Ole Miss at Texas
Ole Miss
🎯 JB’S UPSET SPECIAL
Ole Miss over No. 19 Texas
The Rebels are ranked higher, but Texas has been favored at home. I’m taking Ole Miss to leave Austin with a victory.
👀 TEAM UNDER THE MOST PRESSURE
TEXAS
Another loss would raise serious questions about the direction of the Longhorns’ season and the development of Arch Manning.
🔥 TEAM TO WATCH
SOUTH CAROLINA
The Gamecocks have an opportunity to change the narrative surrounding their season.
A victory over Tennessee would be enormous for Shane Beamer and his football program.
But can they finally put together two consecutive impressive performances?
That’s the million-dollar question.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The SEC is beginning to look like a conference where anybody can beat anybody on a given Saturday.
That’s entertaining football, but it also makes evaluating these teams considerably more difficult.
We’re getting deeper into the season, and the teams that can consistently execute, protect the football, and avoid self-inflicted mistakes are going to separate themselves.
Talent alone isn’t going to win this conference.
Execution will.
