Several SEC offensive lines turned in disappointing 2025 campaigns. Few things can sink an offense as fast as an inconsistent line. LSU learned that lesson last fall. Alabama and Texas had their share of struggles, too. So did South Carolina, which fired its offensive line coach in October.
On paper, 2026 looks stronger across the conference. Multiple programs spent heavily in the portal to upgrade the trenches, while several already-solid units return with production. Improvement should be real across the SEC.
Any team with legitimate CFP, SEC, or national title aspirations needs a quality offensive line. Here's how every SEC offensive line ranks heading into the 2026 season.
16. Mississippi State
Mississippi State's offensive line wasn't good last year. No single
qualified OL posted a PFF grade above 75. They allowed too much pressure and defensive lines created havoc vs. the run. Entering 2026, there's some upside at the tackle positions, but it's hard to see a major step forward.
Jahkeem Shumpert-Perkins projects to start at left tackle. He's a toolsy player with a JUCO background. He's supposedly taken a step forward, but that's hard to project. On the right side, Blake Steen should get the nod. He was productive at Virginia in 2024 but missed most of 2025 with an injury. The MSU OL can be better than it was last year, but it still will be near the bottom of the SEC.
15. South Carolina
The Gamecocks' offensive line has been near the bottom of these lists throughout the Shane Beamer era. They've struggled to build a consistent unit, despite recruiting talented players. Beamer overhauled the offensive staff and hopes it will be enough to flip the script.
To make matters worse, both projected starting tackles suffered injuries in the spring. Jacarrius Peak is on track to be ready for Week 1, but Josiah Thompson is out for the year. Peak's health is critical for this unit. The NC State transfer was one of the best linemen on the market and has an All-SEC ceiling.
Beyond Peak, questions remain across this line. Carter Miller and Emmanuel Kojo Poku project to start on the interior, but they're G6 transfers, and we don't know what to expect. At center, Hank Purvis is a Purdue transfer on his third school in three years.
14. Vanderbilt
The Vanderbilt offensive line has punched above its weight over the last two seasons. A unique scheme and strong scouting allow Vandy to make the most of players that don't exactly match the talent level of SEC defensive linemen. Cade McConnell returns at guard, which is good news. He's a decent player.
But McConnell will be joined by four new starters. Vanderbilt hit the portal again to build the group, signing Beau Johnson from North Dakota State and Lyndon Cooper from Pitt. Johnson and Cooper have upside and are arguably more talented than the players they're replacing.
I think this group can be better than expected, but I can't justify a top-10 ranking yet. It's hard to build offensive lines through the transfer portal, and just because Vandy did it once doesn't mean it's a lock to happen again.
13. Auburn
Auburn's OL doesn't have many blue-chip recruits, which is rare for an offensive line. Questions remain about whether this unit has the talent to block SEC defensive lines. Cole Best, who came with head coach Alex Golesh from USF, is a dependable veteran at center. I like the upside at the tackle positions with Jo Simmons and Stanton Ramil.
But Simmons is jumping up from the G6, and Ramil is coming off an injury-riddled 2025. On the interior, Deryc Plazz is a Miami transfer who didn't play much with the Canes. Was he not good enough to play at the power conference level, or was he just buried behind some good players? The range of outcomes for this group is wide, so for now, I don't feel comfortable putting them in the top 10.
12. Alabama
Alabama's offensive line was a problem in 2025. The group was fine in pass protection, but struggled to get a consistent push run blocking. Alabama ranked 14th in the SEC in line yards and 11th in power success rate.
Heading into 2026, the Crimson Tide will rely on four new starters to fix the problem. Left tackle Kadyn Proctor departs, as does center Parker Brailsford. Jackson Lloyd, the projected starter at left tackle, needs to step up. He's talented, but lacks experience. At right guard, Michael Carroll has a chance to develop into an All-SEC player after starting in 2025, but that's a projection, not proven production.
Alabama has position battles across the offensive line and the depth chart is far from settled. That's not always a good sign as fall camp goes on. Alabama's run game should be better than it was last year, but the pass protection could take a step back. There's not enough to have lofty expectations for this group yet.
11. Florida
I like where Florida's offensive line stands entering year one under head coach Jon Sumrall. Offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner made the most of his OL at Georgia Tech, and Gators OL coach Phil Trautwein did solid work at Penn State.
Harrison Moore transfers from Georgia Tech and will start at center. He's a good player, but what will make or break this unit will be the offensive tackles, where competition remains. Eagan Boyer, Caden Jones, Emeka Ogorji, and Bryce Lovett are competing for multiple tackle spots. All are talented players, but are unknowns at the SEC level.
With Moore at center, joined by TJ Shanahan and Knijeah Harris at the guard spots, the IOL could be above average in the SEC. If the tackles step up, this can be a decent OL. However, that's a big if, and I would temper expectations for now.
10. Kentucky
Again, we have another offensive line built through the transfer portal, which raises questions. Kentucky signed Tennessee transfer Lance Heard to play left tackle. Heard brings over 1,800 snaps of SEC experience and posted a 70.5 PFF grade in 2025. Heard is a talented player with All-SEC upside.
Next to Heard, Tegra Tshabola transfers in from Ohio State. He brings over 1,400 snaps of experience and was on some pretty good Ohio State teams. He didn't grade out well, but Heard and Tshabola give the left side of this line plenty of upside. At center, Coleton Price was a coveted transfer.
The right side of the line could be a problem. Olaus Allen and Malachi Wood are both unproven, but the UK staff has liked what it's seen from Allen. If Allen pans out, along with the talented players on the left side, this unit will overperform. Still, it's expecting a lot for this group to gel in one offseason.
9. Arkansas
The Arkansas OL was among the SEC's most productive last year. As a whole, the Razorbacks didn't win many games, but offense wasn't the problem. Ryan Silverfield takes over as head coach. Silverfield is an OL coach by trade and will build the program's foundation in the trenches.
Arkansas returns Caden Kitler at center and Kobe Branham at guard. Both were solid players for the Hogs in 2025 and have a chance to take a step forward this fall. From the transfer portal, Arkansas welcomes Bryant Williams. Williams brings significant experience from Louisiana. He's promising, but jumping from the Sun Belt to the SEC doesn't always come easy.
I think there's a solid baseline talent level here; the culture in the room is strong, and the group will be well coached. Arkansas will struggle against the SEC's top defensive lines, but this unit should be competent against most opponents.
8. Oklahoma
The Oklahoma offensive line has struggled to replicate the elite units of the 2010s. This group has been a weakness for much of the Brent Venables tenure in Norman. The ceiling of this unit entering 2026 will be determined by how much OU gets from two talented rising sophomores -- Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje.
Fasusi was a five-star recruit who played as a true freshman. He looked the part, but he made freshman mistakes. He enters 2026 with superstar potential, and Oklahoma needs elite talent to be an All-SEC player. Fodje was another blue-chip recruit in the class of 2025 who saw immediate playing time. He was solid protecting the passer, but needs to be a better run blocker.
The offensive line has experience, and it projects to be the best OL Oklahoma has had under Venables. Oklahoma will take a step forward here, but how big that step is remains to be seen.
7. LSU
I debated between LSU and Ole Miss for this spot. I really think it's a toss-up. So don't read too much into the Rebels being one spot ahead of the Tigers. LSU's offensive line wasn't good last year, and fixing the unit was a top priority for head coach Lane Kiffin upon arriving in Baton Rouge.
LSU poured resources into this group, signing transfer Jordan Seaton, the top-ranked tackle on the market. LSU also worked to bring back center Braelin Moore while adding former Maryland starter Alio Bah. Now, the talent level in the room matches the top teams in the SEC. The question is whether the coaching staff can gel the group in one offseason.
LSU's OL will have its growing pains as it gets used to playing together in a new scheme, but by the end of the season, I think this group will be pretty good.
6. Ole Miss
Again, Ole Miss and LSU were interchangeable, but I put the Rebels at No. 6 because this group was decent last year and they return some pieces from an OL that made the College Football Playoff. Ole Miss' interior offensive line is among the best in the SEC, headlined by center Brycen Sanders and guards Delano Townsend and Patrick Kutas. All three have All-SEC potential.
The tackles are the question mark, but Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding is confident in what Terez Davis can be at left tackle. Davis transferred to Ole Miss ahead of 2025 and this program is pretty good at scouting transfer tackles.
Right tackle is a question mark. Tommy Kinsler is battling former LSU tackle Carius Curne. If that battle stretches deep into fall camp, it may be cause for concern at the position.
5. Texas A&M
I'm uneasy about putting Texas A&M at No. 5 because the offense is replacing a bevy of starters, but it's hard to overlook the track record of offensive line coach Adam Cushing. Center Mark Nabou is A&M's lone returning starter on the offensive line and gives the Aggies an anchor on the interior.
A&M's success up front will hinge on how its transfer portal tackles perform. Tyree Adams and Wilkin Formby arrive from LSU and Alabama, respectively. Both bring extensive SEC experience, but neither was consistent at their previous stop. Texas A&M is betting on the talent. Trovon Baugh is another talented transfer with SEC experience.
A&M trusts its ability to evaluate these players and has spent a good amount of money to build this group. That's enough for me to overlook the questions and put the Aggies in the top five.
4. Tennessee
We're in the top four now, and you could make a case for any of the remaining teams to be No. 1, including Tennessee. The headline piece is left tackle David Sanders, a five-star recruit now entering his sophomore campaign. Sanders took some lumps as a freshman, but he looked the part and flashed star potential.
On the interior, Jesse Perry is one of the better guards in the SEC and a potential all-conference player. The same could be said for Wendell Moe. Starting opposite of Sanders is likely LSU transfer tackle Ory Williams. He's raw and struggled with the Tigers, but Williams has talent.
If Williams doesn't win the job, the Vols have a couple of other options they feel good about. This unit has depth and should be strong overall.
3. Missouri
Good offensive line play has been a hallmark of the Eli Drinkwitz tenure at Missouri. Year in and year out, the Tigers are one of the SEC's better groups. Few offensive lines execute wide zone runs better than this group. The unit is poised to be a strength again in 2026.
Left tackle Cayden Green is a potential first-round pick, and right tackle Josh Atkins was one of the top transfers available. It's one of the better tackle duos in the SEC -- talented and experienced. There's no lack of experience on the interior, led by center Dominick Giudice, and the line returns three starters on the whole.
Missouri's OL should be able to handle the SEC's better defensive lines.
2. Georgia
Georgia and Texas make up the final two spots, and it was a toss-up for No. 1. I think Texas has a higher ceiling, so I gave the Longhorns the nod, but Georgia's OL is elite, too. Left tackle Earnest Greene is one of the most experienced blockers in the SEC. Projected right tackle Juan Gaston is a top-100 recruit and on the verge of a breakout year.
On the interior, Georgia has no shortage of options at guard and center; Drew Bobo is one of the best in the SEC. Look for Zykie Helton, a true freshman, to make an immediate impact at guard.
It's hard to see a scenario where Georgia's OL isn't very good this fall. This is a high-floor, dependable group.
1. Texas
Texas' offensive line was a problem in 2025, but the Longhorns enter 2026 with a high ceiling. Left tackle Trevor Goosby is a potential All-American and first-round draft pick. He has the physical tools and finished 2025 looking polished in the run game and in pass protection.
At right tackle, Melvin Siani transfers from Wake Forest. He was a top-rated OL in the portal and displays strong hands and feet on tape. He's got the chance to be a legit NFL prospect.
At guard, Brandon Baker is talented and will be more comfortable on the interior after struggling at tackle. Texas also signed transfer Laurence Seymore from Western Kentucky, who looked good vs. P4 competition with the Hilltoppers.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Ranking all 16 SEC offensive lines entering 2026 season
