We are just one and a half months away from the start of the 2026 season where Georgia will look to win the SEC for the third year in a row. There are a handful of teams in the SEC that are capable of winning the conference, but the Texas Longhorns are the most likely by far.
As of now Georgia is the betting favorite to win the SEC. Texas however is not far behind, and after a successful court ruling that came down in favor of offensive lineman Cole Hutson, it's clear that Texas now has an even better chance to unseat Georgia at the top of the conference this year.
Cole Hutson ruling has major implications on Georgia's SEC Championship hopes
Hutson just wrapped up his fourth season at Texas last year. He finished his career playing in 48 games, but he did miss a handful of games during his sophomore season in 2023. Because of that injury Hutson went to court to try and earn an injunction to be eligible to play a fifth season this year, and the court granted him that this week.
Texas now gets a massive piece back on their offensive line who has more experience than most players in the SEC. This decision shores up what could have been a weak spot for Texas this season, but the Longhorns should now expect to be much better at protecting Arch Manning this season.
Texas may not have deserved to have this decision go in their favor though. Sure Hutson was injured, but he still played in 48 games in his career. This includes nine games in his sophomore season when he got hurt, but that's too many to count that year as a redshirt season.
But Hutson was able to get this extra year of eligibility which increases Texas's chances of winning the SEC. Georgia is still the favorite, but Texas will be better because of this ruling.
Georgia has a chance to end the Texas hype for the third year in a row
This will be the Longhorns third season in the SEC this year. In 2024 and 2025 Texas was the favorite to win the league, but it was Georgia who ended up on top. They were also the only reason that Texas failed to win the league because they went a perfect 3-0 against Texas during the last two seasons.
Georgia and Texas don't play in the regular season this year, but there is a good shot they will meet in the SEC Championship game. And if they do Georgia will have a chance to prevent them from winning the SEC for the third year in a row.
Both Georgia and Texas have a lot of work to do before they clinch their spot in the SEC Championship game, but all signs point towards that being the case. Hutson will be there waiting for Georgia with the Longhorns if that happens, but Georgia would love nothing more than to end his season for the third year in a row.
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