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SEC Media Days are taking place this week, and hosts of the show Crain & Cone have ranked the top 10 defenses in the country heading into 2026. The rankings come after four SEC teams finished in the top 20 of scoring defenses in the country last year.
In 2025, Oklahoma was the top defense in the SEC, finishing first in the conference in scoring and total defense. That’s not a big surprise, as head coach Brent Venables had success as a defensive coordinator at Oklahoma and Clemson.
But are the Sooners the top defense in the SEC this year? Here’s a look at the top-10 ranking from Crain & Cone.
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10. Tennessee Volunteers
The Vols did not have a strong defense in 2025, and that led to some big changes. Tim Banks was fired as the DC, and former Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was brought in to turn things around.
That led to a slew of former Penn State players coming to Knoxville, including edge rusher Chaz Coleman. He played in nine games last year and tallied three sacks and two fumble recoveries.
9. Missouri Tigers
Missouri’s defense played a big role in the team finishing 8-5 last year. However, the Tigers’ biggest challenge this season will be experience, as only two of the 15 defenders who played the majority of the snaps return.
Missouri finished third in the SEC behind Georgia and Oklahoma last season in scoring defense (18.9 points per game). The team also finished second behind Oklahoma in total defense (277.3 yards per game).
8. Ole Miss Rebels
As great as Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy were for Ole Miss last year, the defense helped the team make a run in the College Football Playoff. The Rebels return a strong defensive front that will be anchored by Will Echoles.
Last year, Ole Miss finished ninth in the SEC in total defense (348 yards). The program also finished ninth in scoring defense (21.1 points).
7. Auburn Tigers
One of the biggest moves Auburn made during the offseason was keeping defensive coordinator DJ Durkin after Alex Golesh was hired as the head coach. Durkin led an Auburn defense that showed promise in 2025.
Speaking of last season, the Tigers finished seventh in the SEC in scoring defense in 2025 (20.7 points). As for yards allowed, Auburn finished seventh in total defense (329.2 yards).
6. Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M clinched a spot in the College Football Playoff because it got after the quarterback. The Aggies finished fourth in the nation in sacks, but SEC Defensive Player of the Year Cashius Howell is gone.
Safeties Marcus Ratcliffe and Dalton Brooks should help the Aggies be strong in the secondary. In 2025, Texas A&M finished third in the SEC in pass defense.
5. Alabama Crimson Tide
The blowout loss to Indiana was not a good look for Alabama’s defense last year. But overall, the Crimson Tide had a strong season defensively, which led to an SEC Championship appearance and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Alabama finished fourth in the SEC in points allowed per game (19.2). The Crimson Tide also had the top passing defense in the conference, allowing 170 yards per contest.
4. LSU Tigers
LSU grabbed some top defensive players in the portal because of Lane Kiffin. But if there is a defensive player to watch on the Tigers’ roster, it would be linebacker Whitt Weeks.
Weeks played in just eight games last year due to an injury, but still registered 31 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack. He was named to the All-SEC First Team in 2024 after posting 125 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one interception.
3. Georgia Bulldogs
If Georgia ever falls out of being a top-five defense in the SEC, that would probably mean Kirby Smart is no longer there. The Bulldogs return eight defensive starters from last season, including safety K.J. Bolden, who could be a first-team All-American by the end of 2026.
In 2025, Georgia finished second in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 17.6 points per game. The Bulldogs also finished fourth in total defense, surrendering 298 yards per contest.
2. Texas Longhorns
Texas allowed 18.1 points per game in the last three seasons. But head coach Steve Sarkisian decided to let go of defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, and he hired Will Muschamp.
Muschamp was previously the Longhorns’ DC from 2008 to 2010. He previously spent the last five seasons on Georgia’s coaching staff helping the team win national championships in 2021 and 2022.
1. Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma was the top defense in the SEC last year, and it should hold on to that title in 2026. LB Kip Lewis returns, after leading the Sooners in tackles last year.
Two other players to watch are Oklahoma’s version of Peyton and Eli. S Peyton Bowen and CB Eli Bowen return after recording two interceptions each last year.
