AFC South Futures: Who Will Win the AFC South This Year?
Updated September 14, 2026
Updated September 14, 2026
The AFC South features a difference between recent results and current market expectations. Jacksonville won the division at 13-4 last season, Houston finished only one game behind at 12-5, and Indianapolis remained competitive before ending 8-9. Tennessee finished 3-14 but made major changes around second-year quarterback Cam Ward. Even with Jacksonville holding the crown, Polymarket traders currently prefer Houston, leaving the Jaguars and Colts in the next tier and treating Tennessee as a clear longshot.
Houston carries the highest valuation in the Polymarket AFC South market. That feels appropriate for a team whose defense gives it one of the highest floors in the division while its offense still has something to prove. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter remain the centerpiece of a defense capable of winning games even when C.J. Stroud and the offense are off.
The Texans spent much of the offseason trying to make life easier for Stroud. David Montgomery arrived in a trade with Detroit after producing 2,506 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns across 45 games with the Lions. Houston also added Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith while retaining Ed Ingram as part of another offensive line overhaul. There is already a concern, however, with Smith placed on reserve/injured on September 1.
The Jaguars went from 4-13 to 13-4 in Liam Coen's first season, won the AFC South and closed the regular season with an eight-game winning streak. Trevor Lawrence finished 2025 with a career-high 38 total touchdowns as Jacksonville averaged a franchise-record 27.9 points per game. Despite that production, Polymarket still places Jacksonville clearly behind Houston entering 2026.
There are reasonable explanations for some caution. Jacksonville must show that last year's jump was sustainable rather than the high point of one exceptional season. Lawrence has had productive stretches before without carrying that level of play into the following year. This time, however, he remains in the same offensive system under Coen, and his receiving group gives him several legitimate options in Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington. Travis Hunter also entered training camp healthy after knee surgery ended his rookie season early.
Indianapolis occupies a sort of middle ground. The Colts are priced well below Houston and Jacksonville but remain close enough to the leading group that the market clearly sees a division-winning path for Indy. That path begins with Daniel Jones. Jones was playing well before suffering a torn Achilles after 13 games last season, and he reported to training camp cleared to participate fully. Indianapolis needs him to regain his pre-injury level quickly if it wants to stay with the top two teams.
Jonathan Taylor gives the Colts an established offensive foundation after leading the NFL with 323 rushing attempts in 2025. Indianapolis has discussed reducing his workload, though Taylor remains the player most capable of controlling games for this offense. The larger issue is on defense. The Colts finished 31st against the pass last season, an obvious weakness in a division containing Stroud and Lawrence. That leaves Indianapolis dependent on better defensive play while also hoping Jones returns from a major injury without a lengthy adjustment period.
Tennessee sits far behind the other three teams in the Polymarket market, which is understandable after a 3-14 finish. Still, the Titans are more interesting than a typical long shot because almost every major offseason decision focused on creating a better environment for Cam Ward. Robert Saleh took over as head coach, Brian Daboll became offensive coordinator, and the organization added considerably more receiving talent around its young quarterback.
The biggest addition is Carnell Tate, selected No. 4 overall after catching 51 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns during his final Ohio State season. Tennessee also signed Wan'Dale Robinson and added more depth to a receiving group that needed help badly. Reports from camp indicated Ward was playing cleaner football, and Daboll has praised how quickly the quarterback absorbed the new offense. If Ward takes a significant second-year jump, Tennessee could be far more competitive than last year's record suggests.
Jacksonville is my pick to win the AFC South. Houston's defense makes the Texans a logical favorite, but the market appears to be charging a sizable premium for that defensive strength while discounting what Jacksonville accomplished last season. The Jaguars won 13 games, produced one of the best offenses in franchise history and return Lawrence for a second year in Coen's system. That combination gives Jacksonville a strong chance to repeat.
