2026 AFC South division preview: Overview, odds and predicted winner

With two teams that made the playoffs last season and another that came agonisingly close, the AFC South is one of the most fascinating divisions in football.

The Jacksonville Jaguars finished first, with first-year head coach Liam Coen and quarterback Trevor Lawrence delivering the franchise's best record since 1999.

The Houston Texans placed second with their best record since 2012, largely thanks to heroics from wideout Nico Collins and a dominant defense featuring the best edge rusher duo in football.

Quarterback Daniel Jones had the Indianapolis Colts playing like one of the best teams in the league at 8-2 before his Achilles gave out and their season came crashing down.

And while the Tennessee Titans couldn't wait for the season to be done, they know the future is bright with ascending young gunslinger Cam Ward at the helm.

As we look ahead to the 2026 season, here's the full breakdown of how the AFC South looked last year, what's changed this offseason, who wins the division in 2026, and where DAZN Bet has the odds right now.

2025 AFC South division standings

AFC South 2026 outlook by team

Houston Texans

There's genuine hope that the Houston offense can match the efforts of their defensive counterparts in 2026, or at least come a little closer.

Defense

Money talked in Houston this offseason, and both of their elite edge rushers got paid within weeks of each other.

Danielle Hunter picked up a one-year extension worth $40.1 million before Will Anderson Jr. signed a three-year deal worth $150 million, $100 million of it guaranteed.

Alex Slitz / Staff

As the tone setters for the defense, they form the core of a strong front seven featuring linebacker and defensive captain Azeez Al-Shaair, who made his debut in the NFL Top 100 this offseason.

That defense finished first in yards allowed, second in points allowed and seventh in sacks a year ago, comfortably the best unit in this division by any measure.

And with second-round rookie DT Kayden McDonald joining in April, and standout corners Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter returning to lead a secondary bolstered by safety Reed Blankenship and the returning Calen Bullock, there's every reason to believe Houston's defense will be just as dominant in 2026.

Offense

Quarterback C.J. Stroud enters a prove-it year after finishing the season with four interceptions in a divisional-round exit to New England, the low point of an up-and-down year under new playcaller Nick Caley.

Rob Carr/Getty Images

But there's renewed hope, starting with the offensive line, which should be improved following the additions of guard Wyatt Teller, tackle Braden Smith and first-round rookie Keylan Rutledge.

The running game received a shot in the arm too, with David Montgomery arriving via a trade with Detroit to help the Texans improve on their 28th-ranked 3.9 yards per carry mark from last year.

Nico Collins is pushing elite territory at wideout, and word on the street is that Jayden Higgins is poised to build on his encouraging rookie year as the WR2 in what could be a deep room.

Tank Dell is looking to rediscover his explosiveness after an injury, and Jaylin Noel is tipped to push on, but there's time, with tight end Dalton Schultz proving a reliable outlet for Stroud in the meantime.

If the young guys improve and the new pieces come together, Houston should have a much more settled offense in 2026.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Back-to-back playoff appearances would be new territory for Jacksonville, something the franchise hasn't managed since 1999.

Offense

Liam Coen gets another shot at it after a first season that delivered career numbers for quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the division title for the Jaguars.

Both coordinators stuck around to help, with OC Grant Udinski turning down interest from elsewhere to remain with the team where his offense set franchise records last year in points, touchdowns and first downs.

Among his weapons are Brian Thomas Jr., breakout candidate Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and tight end Brenton Strange, who just committed his future to the team with a three-year extension worth up to $48 million.

Replacing Travis Etienne Jr. in the backfield falls to a committee of Bhayshul Tuten and his new running mate, Chris Rodriguez Jr., both of whom are unproven. How they fare could have a sizeable impact on the offense.

Up front, the building blocks are there for a solid offensive line if tackle Cole Van Lanen can prove last year wasn't a fluke and Anton Harrison and Ezra Cleveland play as they did last season.

Defense

DC Anthony Campanile also opted to stick with Jacksonville and attempt to run it back with the defense that led the league in run defense a year after ranking 25th.

Despite having two high-profile edge rushers in Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, the pass rush remains the obvious hole, with Jacksonville managing only 32 sacks, ranking 27th.

Walker was to blame for much of that, taking a step back after back-to-back seasons with double-digit sacks. Not that you'd know it after he received a mammoth contract extension this offseason.

The secondary receives a boost with the return of Travis Hunter, back from the knee surgery that ended his rookie year in October, whose coverage skills should buy the front four more time to get home.

Ezra Shaw / Staff

He'll be helped by Montaric Brown, who re-signed on a three-year, $33 million contract, and safety Antonio Johnson, who excelled in coverage.

There's a change at linebacker, where Ventrell Miller steps into the big shoes vacated by Devin Lloyd's departure, looking to prove he has what it takes to remain on the field on passing downs alongside defensive captain Foyesade Oluokun.

Indianapolis Colts

Few teams flipped as hard as Indianapolis did last season, racing to an 8-2 start before Daniel Jones tore his Achilles and the whole thing came apart.

Seven straight losses closed out the year, but ownership stuck with both Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard, betting that the collapse said more about injuries than direction.

Defense

Defensively, there's something of a rebuild, with Indianapolis potentially starting five new players in 2026.

Second-round rookie CJ Allen is expected to start from the off at middle linebacker, and first-year safety A.J. Haulcy could be thrown into the fire early, too.

Slot corner Justin Walley and edge rusher JT Tuimoloau are expected to take on bigger roles after limited snaps as rookies.

The biggest news, however, will be the return of a healthy Sauce Gardner, whose arrival in a midseason blockbuster trade was undermined by injuries that limited him to just 196 defensive snaps in the final seven games.

Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Walley and Gardner will combine with safety Cam Bynum to form what should be an above-average secondary.

Upfront, standout DT DeForest Buckner is back from a neck injury, and ascending edge Laiatu Latu is looking to build on his impressive 8.5 sacks from 2025 as he goes into his third year.

Offense

Quarterback Daniel Jones appears to be recovering well from his Achilles injury, telling reporters he's "cleared to do everything" ahead of training camp.

He'll be down one weapon in 2026 after Michael Pittman Jr. was traded to Pittsburgh, leaving Alec Pierce as the No. 1 receiver after Indianapolis re-signed him to a two-year, $20 million deal.

Josh Downs should inherit plenty of Pittman's vacated targets, and Tyler Warren has a chance to vault into the upper echelon of tight ends after a very promising rookie showing.

When the offense doesn't run through Jones, it leans on running back Jonathan Taylor, who has combined for 32 touchdowns and more than 3,000 rushing yards over the last two years.

However, with right tackle Braden Smith leaving in free agency, Taylor and Co. might have to do more with less this year unless Jalen Travis plays as he did toward the end of last season.

Tennessee Titans

Robert Saleh walks into the toughest rebuild in the division after back-to-back 3-14 seasons broke whatever patience Nashville had left.

He brought Brian Daboll in to run the offense and Gus Bradley in to run the defense, beating out interest from San Francisco and Arizona to land Bradley after a lengthy coordinator search.

Offense

Everything hinges on what Daboll can get out of Cam Ward in year two, and the comparison being drawn around Nashville is Daboll's early work with Josh Allen in Buffalo.

Ward gets more to work with in 2026, with free-agent acquisition Wan'Dale Robinson and fourth-overall pick Carnell Tate joining a receiving corps that also includes a healthy Calvin Ridley for the first time in years.

Mike Carlson / Stringer

There will be a new starter at tight end, with Gunnar Helm leading the way after Chig Okonkwo left to join the Commanders in free agency.

But will any of this group reach their potential given the state of the offensive line? Guard Peter Skoronski is excellent, and center JC Latham is solid, but the rest are subpar.

Defense

Robert Saleh's arrival alone should lift a defense that ranked 28th in points allowed last year.

There's no T'Vondre Sweat, of course, after he was traded to the Jets in exchange for edge rusher Jermaine Johnson.

But with standout DT Jeffery Simmons manning the middle, Johnson on one edge and the versatile John Franklin-Myers capable of playing inside or out, the defensive line looks improved.

Cedric Gray and Cody Barton return at linebacker, but the latter will be pushed hard by second-round rookie Anthony Hill, who has the talent to become a starter in quick order.

Tennessee spent big on cornerbacks Cor'Dale Flott and Alontae Taylor, and they join safety Kevin Winston Jr., who provides real physicality in the secondary.

2026 AFC South division winner odds

All odds provided by DAZN Bet. Check out all of their American football markets here.

Odds correct as of July 15, 2026. Recommended bets are advised for over-18s.

Our AFC South predicted winner: Houston Texans

DAZN's NFL writer Jason Abbey weighs in

The Jaguars deserve the utmost respect after their incredible turnaround, and with both coordinators back, Coen has a real shot at back-to-back titles in Duval.

Indianapolis should push them hard, even with Pittman out of the picture and lingering doubts about Buckner's health. I'm a big believer in Warren, Latu, and Bynum - the latter of whom could produce more 'superhero' moments when the Colts visit London in October.

I like where the Titans are heading, and while the offensive line may sink any chances they have of keeping up this year, a handful of shrewd signings or improvement from the current crop will have them competing.

Ultimately, I believe this division runs through the Texans in 2026, whose dominant defense and improvements on the offensive line give Stroud the best chance - and no more excuses - to deliver the goods.

With that said, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw the Jaguars and Colts join Houston in the playoffs.

DAZN Bet overview

DAZN Bet offers pre-kickoff wagers and in-play markets that react as the game unfolds, providing a streamlined way to engage with the NFL while watching every snap live on DAZN.

As always, betting should be done responsibly, but for sports fans who enjoy adding an extra layer of interest, DAZN Bet brings the action closer than ever.

Sign up with DAZN Bet here to add even more excitement to your NFL gameday.

You can also unlock the ultimate sports betting and casino experience by downloading the DAZN Bet app.

iOS users can download it from the App Store by following this link.

Android users can download it from Google Play by following this link.

Safer Gambling

If you are concerned about your gambling, call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.

See DAZN BET T&Cs here.