Spring Vibes Check: Finish with a flourish

Georgia

Georgia is once again re-loading for another SEC championship contention and playoff push in 2026. And they’ve been doing so fairly quietly, or at least as quietly as a two-time defending SEC champion and a program that has won two of the last five national championships reasonably can. In Athens, reloads have become routine, expectations permanent, and double-digit win seasons feel more like a baseline than an achievement. True to form, Kirby Smart stuck to his usual blueprint this off-season. While much of the country sprinted toward the transfer portal like it was a clearance sale, Georgia treated it more like a specialty shop. Smart brought in just nine portal additions to offset 15 outgoing players, good for 32nd in the 247 portal rankings. On paper, that might look modest compared to some of the portal-heavy rosters around the league, but that’s never been the Georgia way. Instead, the Bulldogs leaned once again into their recruiting muscle, hauling in the nation’s 8th-ranked high school class. Smart has always preferred stacking five-stars, developing them internally, and keeping the locker room culture intact rather than chasing free agents every off-season. Because he once again managed to do exactly that, the vibes in Athens remain steady and predictably positive. Part of that confidence stems from continuity at quarterback. Gunner Stockton returns as the starter after turning heads in 2025 with his toughness and reliability. He wasn’t always flashy, but he was steady, willing to take hits, extend drives, and keep Georgia’s offense on schedule. That kind of quarterback presence matters in a program built on physicality and discipline, and Stockton’s leadership alone nudges the vibes up another notch. Still, beneath the confidence sits a subtle edge. Two straight seasons ending in earlier-than-expected playoff exits have left a sense of unfinished business lingering around Athens. The vibes are good-to-very good, but they’re tinged with urgency, or at least slight frustration. Compared to some of the sky-high buzz surrounding a few other teams on Missouri’s schedule, Georgia’s vibes might not feel quite as loud. But they are, as always, ample, steady, and pointed firmly in the right direction. ****Official Spring 2026 Georgia Vibes Rating:** A**–

Kentucky

After firing the dean of SEC football coaches in Mark Stoops over the winter, change and newness have brought a whole new shade of positive vibes for Kentucky football. Stoops had become a fixture in Lexington, delivering a level of stability the program had not seen in decades. But with that stability came a sense that the ceiling had been reached. Enter new head coach Will Stein, who has injected a jolt of energy into the program that really has not been felt in years, even during Kentucky’s more successful stretches under Stoops. Much of Stein’s early momentum has come from his work in the portal, backed by a noticeable increase in NIL spending from Wildcat boosters. Kentucky ranked 11th nationally in the 247 portal rankings, bringing in 29 players while losing 26. That is not just churn for the sake of churn. Many of those incoming transfers are expected to step into starting roles immediately, giving the roster a fresh look and a faster timeline toward competitiveness. The high school class took the expected hit that often follows a coaching change, slipping into the 70s nationally, but early returns on the 2027 class are already encouraging, currently sitting at 9th and giving fans reason to believe the long term foundation is being laid correctly. For the 2026 squad specifically, the offensive rebuild stands out as the clearest reason for optimism. Stein has reshaped that side of the ball through the portal, bringing in talented skill players like receiver Nic Anderson from Oklahoma and LSU and presumed starting quarterback Kenny Minchey from Notre Dame. Those additions alone signal a philosophical shift toward a more aggressive, modern offense that Kentucky fans have been craving. There will almost certainly be growing pains on the field in Stein’s first season. New systems, new personnel and a new staff rarely produce instant polish. Still, the vibes in Lexington feel undeniably different. Among SEC programs projected to hover around or below the .500 mark, Kentucky’s vibes stand far and away above the rest, fueled by change, ambition, and the promise of something new. ****Official Spring 2026 Kentucky Vibes Rating:** A**

Oklahoma

In 2025, Oklahoma finally broke through on a national scale in Brent Venables’ fourth season. The Sooners qualified for the playoff despite a less than impressive offensive showing for much of the year, leaning heavily on defense, special teams and situational football to grind their way into the field. Even though the season concluded with a fairly embarrassing home loss to Alabama after jumping out to a commanding 17-0 lead early, the bigger picture still mattered. For many Oklahoma fans and boosters, 2025 served as a long-awaited proof of concept that Venables’ vision can work at the highest level, even in the weekly gauntlet that is the SEC. What was a bit surprising, though, was how little Oklahoma capitalized on that playoff momentum in the portal relative to expectations. The Sooners finished 21st nationally in the 247 portal rankings, losing 27 players while bringing in just 16. That is not inactivity, but it does fall short of what many expected from a program fresh off a playoff appearance and looking to take the next step. Still, there were targeted additions on offense, including Texas receiver Parker Livingstone, who arrives with the expectation of injecting some much-needed explosiveness into a unit that struggled to consistently generate points last season. The high school recruiting class also landed slightly below what Oklahoma fans have come to expect, finishing 16th nationally. That is still strong by most national standards, but in Norman, recruiting rankings are often measured against playoff aspirations, not bowl eligibility. Even so, the overall vibe remains steady and quietly positive, thanks in large part to continuity at quarterback. John Mateer returns after a season that began with a Heisman candidacy before a hand injury derailed both his rhythm and the Sooners’ offensive momentum. A healthy Mateer alone changes the outlook significantly. Defensively, Oklahoma does lose several NFL draft picks, but plenty of talent remains from one of the most intimidating units in the country. Under Venables, that side of the ball has become the program’s identity. That consistently strong defense, combined with returning experience at quarterback and the proven belief that Oklahoma can win in the SEC and reach the playoff, keeps the vibes in Norman steady, grounded, and pointed in a positive direction. ****Official Spring 2026 Oklahoma Vibes Rating:** B+**