The SEC is well-represented in the Dodd Trophy preseason watch list, which was released on Thursday morning.
Six coaches from the SEC made the 20-person list. The Dodd Trophy is handed out each year to the coach who “successful season on the field and equally as important, stresses the importance of academic excellence and desire to give back to the community,” per the award’s mission statement.
Here are the six SEC coaches who made the preseason watchlist:
- Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer
- Texas A&M coach Mike Elko
- Tennessee coach Josh Heupel
- Texas coach Steve Sarkisian
- Georgia coach Kirby Smart
- Oklahoma coach Brent Venables
Here’s the full list of 20:
Like our coverage? Make SDS a preferred source in your searches!
SEC coaches have rarely won this award. The last to do so was Alabama coach Nick Saban back in 2014. Texas coach Mack Brown and Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops won it while representing the Big 12 in 2008 and 2003, respectively. Prior to Saban, the last SEC coach to win the Dodd Trophy was Bill Curry in 1989.
Georgia‘s Vince Dooley won the inaugural Dodd Trophy in 1976. Last season, the award was captured by Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti.
All 6 of the SEC coaches listed above have led their respective programs to the College Football Playoff. They’ll be hoping to do so again in 2026.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
