Trio of SEC stars listed in top 10 of ESPN’s top 100 players entering 2026
By Jacob Moss
Published:
College football finally returns this weekend, and with it, all of the nation’s top stars will be returning to the gridiron in hopes of securing both individual glory and overall success for their respective teams.
Like every year, the Southeastern Conference will once again boast some of the country’s most elite talent on both offense and defense, with several teams with legit National Championship aspirations.
ESPN just put out its list of the top 100 players entering the 2026 season, and the top 10 featured a trio of SEC stars that will be lighting things up on Saturdays this fall.
ESPN’s highest-ranked SEC player is elite Texas pass rusher Collin Simmons, who led the conference in sacks in 2025 and ranks No. 3 on the list. Here’s ESPN’s excerpt on Simmons:
Simmons established himself as one of the best pass rushers in the country as a sophomore last season, leading the SEC with 12 sacks — including a sack in each of the final five games to close out the season. A preseason All-America candidate, Simmons has played in 29 career games and has the experience and ability to lead a strong defensive front with big plans to help get the Longhorns back to the CFP.
The remaining 2 stars in the top 10 of ESPN’s rankings both hail from Ole Miss, and make up what is arguably the nation’s best backfield duo in star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (No. 5) and electric running back Kewan Lacy (No. 6).
Chambliss took the SEC by storm in his first season with the Rebels, throwing for 3,937 yards with 30 total touchdowns in 2025. A former Division II star at Ferris State, Chambliss had to win a court order to get a sixth year in college football. He should be even more comfortable in his second season leading the Rebels. His 29 big-time throws ranked fourth among Power 4 players last season, according to PFF, and he was second in passing grade against pressure.”
“As good as Chambliss was while leading the Rebels last season, Lacy was equally important in their surprising run to the CFP semifinals. He ranked third in the FBS with 1,567 yards and second with 24 rushing touchdowns. Lacy’s goals for 2026 are even bigger: He wants to become the SEC’s first 2,000-yard rusher since Alabama’s Derrick Henry had 2,219 yards in 2015. No wonder the Rebels worked extra hard to keep him away from LSU and former coach Kiffin.
