Alabama
LSU
Ole Miss
Lead Story: Rebels Turn Playoff Pain Into Fuel Against Louisville
No. 9 Mississippi enters the week with a chip on its shoulder and the spotlight to itself. Per ESPN, the Rebels' matchup with Louisville stands as the week's lone ranked-vs-ranked contest, and the sting of last season's playoff exit has been a constant theme in Oxford's preparation.
The message inside the Ole Miss facility has been a simple one: let the disappointment sharpen the work rather than linger as a distraction. For a Rebels team ranked in the top 10 to open the 2026 season, the Louisville date offers an immediate chance to bank a marquee result — the kind of resume-defining win that playoff committees weigh heavily when December arrives.
With no other ranked teams colliding this week, all eyes across the SEC and beyond will be on how Ole Miss responds. A statement performance would validate the offseason edge; a stumble would hand the doubters fresh material before conference play even begins.
Quick Hits
- No. 5 Texas opens with eyes on a playoff return. Arch Manning and the Longhorns begin the season against Pac-12 newcomer and in-state neighbor Texas State, insisting per ESPN that their focus is squarely on getting back to the playoff.
- No. 3 Georgia wants to win in the trenches. The Bulldogs' emphasis heading into their opener against Tennessee State is unambiguous: run the ball and stop the run, a champion's formula Georgia intends to establish from the first snap.
- No. 9 Texas volleyball sweeps No. 15 USC. The Longhorns rallied from a six-point deficit in the third set to complete the sweep in their home opener, playing in front of the seventh-largest crowd in Gregory Gym history.
- No. 17 Florida pushes No. 5 Wisconsin to the brink. The Gators fell in five sets (21-25, 25-20, 19-25, 26-24, 13-15) at UW Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening — a heartbreaker that came on the heels of Tuesday's win over No. 11 Minnesota.
- Georgia volleyball drops a five-set thriller at No. 14 Purdue. The Bulldogs lost 25-27, 25-19, 10-25, 26-24, 14-16 at Mackey Arena on Wednesday, coming within two points of stealing the match in both the fourth and fifth sets.
Portal Watch
The transfer portal was quiet over the last 12 hours, but LSU women's basketball made roster news of a different kind. According to ESPN, Ukrainian center Kate Koval issued a statement on Instagram on Wednesday explaining her decision to leave LSU after the Tigers signed a Russian recruit, saying she chose to "remain true to myself, my values and my country" and calling the situation "deeply personal." Koval's departure reshapes the Tigers' frontcourt picture as LSU points toward its first practice later this month.
Recruiting Buzz
Ole Miss added to its future on the recruiting trail as well: three-star prospect Case Thomas committed to the Rebels. It's a double dose of momentum for Mississippi in a week where the program is already commanding the national stage.
Games to Watch
No SEC football is on the schedule today, but the volleyball slate delivers. Alabama opens play in the first-ever Big Ten/SEC Challenge in Starkville, Mississippi, facing Northwestern this afternoon at 2 p.m. CT before taking on Iowa at the same time Friday — the Crimson Tide's first road trip of the season.
Looking ahead, the football weekend is loaded: No. 9 Ole Miss and Louisville square off in the week's only ranked matchup, No. 5 Texas hosts Texas State in Arch Manning's season debut, and No. 3 Georgia opens against Tennessee State with a mandate to dominate on the ground. And for LSU women's basketball fans, mark the calendar — the Tigers' first practice on September 21 will be open to the public.
