2025 College Football Preview: SEC

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In the SEC, it just means more.

It especially means more now, as we are going on two straight years with an SEC team not only not winning a national championship, but not even being in the title game.

And for a conference that has a lot of pride in how they are the best of the bunch, that simply isn’t going to cut it.

But this year, there are plenty of possibilities that can end that title drought.

Tier 1: Title Contenders

Texas Longhorns

Last year, the Longhorns were one of the final four teams left in college football, and played future national champion Ohio State incredibly tough, ultimately falling short.

In steps Arch Manning.

While Quinn Ewers was fine at quarterback last year, it does feel like head coach Steve Sarkisian’s offense will take another leap forward with Manning at the helm.

If they do, Texas might officially be back, folks.

Georgia Bulldogs

Outside of the Ohio State loss, Texas had two losses in the season.

Both of which came at the hands of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Georgia is what they always are under head coach Kirby Smart.

The defense is excellent. The offensive line is dominant. Quarterback Gunnar Stockton is a question mark, but Georgia won national championships with Stetson Bennett, so I don’t think that matters too much.

They’ll be more than fine.

Alabama Crimson Tide

The Tide “struggled” last year under Kalen DeBoer, if you can consider a 9-3 season a struggle.

But a large chunk of it was a clash between the offense DeBoer wanted to run, and the quarterback he had.

Jalen Milroe was a great athletic runner, but not the prototypical pocket passer that DeBoer is used to.

Now, it will likely be Ty Simpson taking over, who has had a full season and fall camp to work with what DeBoer specifically wants, and has star sophomore Ryan Williams to help him get his feet wet.

As for the defense, well, it’s Alabama.

The defense is a monster.

It was top 5 in the nation last season in points per drive, and returns lots of starters.

That “slump” should be over.

Tier 2: Dark Horses

LSU Tigers

Is LSU talented?

Hell yes.

They might be one of the most talented teams in the entire conference, and likely have the best quarterback in Garrett Nussmeier.

But I didn’t love the Brian Kelly fit in Baton Rouge when he went there, and they’ve gotten worse and worse since a surprise SEC title game appearance in his first season as the coach.

LSU will be fine, obviously.

But is “fine” good enough to win the SEC?

I don’t think so.

South Carolina Gamecocks

The Gamecocks started slowly (almost losing to Old Dominion) but ended red hot (beating Texas A&M and Clemson).

The play of LaNorris Sellers and Rocket Sanders really turned South Carolina into a force at years end.

Sanders is gone, but Sellers remains, and if he continues to get better, South Carolina is a great threat.

Then again, I had lots of faith in a hot end of the year when Spencer Rattler finished red hot and came back, and they fell on their faces, so that’s a possibility.

But I don’t think this is the same situation.

Tennessee Volunteers

The Vols were part of one of the noisiest offseason stories, with quarterback Nico Iamaleava wanting out and transferring to UCLA

So quarterback play is a massive problem this year for Tennessee.

But part of the reason that Iamaleava wanted out was because Josh Huepel’s offense is very easy for a QB to run, and doesn’t necessarily get his guys pro ready.

So as long as new QB Joey Aguilar is decent, Tennessee will be a contender.

The running game and defensive line make sure of that.

Texas A&M Aggies

Last year, I loved that Mike Elko kept Texas A&M’s offseason quiet, after tons of noise and boasting from Jimbo Fisher and Aggie fans.

The result was a solid season in the first year under Elko, and a lot of excitement for year two.

And yet, once again, there is no noise coming out of Aggie camp.

This is a good thing.

A&M is going to try to control the line of scrimmage, run the ball, and get to Atlanta.

Controlling the line is the most important part of the game.

Tier 3: Bowl Game Bound?

Ole Miss Rebels

This is probably surprising.

Lane Kiffin’s high explosive offense usually makes Ole Miss a staple in Tier 2.

But after so many years of seeing the Rebels defense struggle time and time again, and Kiffin having to replace quarterback Jaxson Dart, I can’t do it.

This team isn’t a contender for the SEC, and won’t be until the defense gets it together.

Florida Gators

DJ Lagway might have saved Billy Napier his job last year.

And now, he will try to build off of that success and take another step forward.

And while the schedule is just as daunting this year as it was a year ago, hopefully there are less injuries to derail the season.

Missouri Tigers

This sounds mean, and I don’t intend for it to be, but last year’s Missouri team was likely the most overrated in college football.

They were good, don’t get me wrong, but they had as easy of a schedule as you could get in the SEC, went 10-3 but had extremely close wins against teams noticeably worse than them, and lost to every team they played that was better than them, yet was ranked in the top 25 for a hefty majority of the season.

This year, the schedule isn’t so nice.

So, while I think Missouri will be good again, expecting another 10 win season is asking too much.

Oklahoma Sooners

The defense, unsurprisingly, was good.

The offense, unsurprisingly, was bad.

Coming into this year, the defense will once again be very good, and the offense brings in former Washington State quarterback John Mateer to try and turn things around on that side of the ball.

This very well could be a break out year for head coach Brett Venables.

The problem is, the schedule is brutal.

So while the Sooners might be better, and go bowling, they won’t be playing in Atlanta.

And that’s the expectation in Norman.

Auburn Tigers

Hugh Freeze just isn’t working on the plains.

The pieces are there on paper, but the results aren’t showing that.

And we have absolutely no idea who their quarterback is going to be this year.

Still, this team is talented enough that they should win 6 games.

And if they don’t…

That seat might come wide open.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Last year, I thought Bobby Petrino was in the coaching room at Arkansas to eventually take Sam Pittman’s job.

Instead, he revitalized the Hogs offense to get them bowl eligible.

Petrino is back, Taylen Green is back, Sam Pittman knows how to build up an offensive line.

I’m pretty bullish on Arkansas, this season.

Tier 4: Better Luck Next Year

Vanderbilt Commodores

I have said for years and years that I like what Clark Lea is doing at Vandy.

Last year, it all came to fruition, as Vandy went 7-6 and not only made, but won a bowl game over Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl.

Oh, they also upset number 1 Alabama.

So it brings me no joy to put them here, but I have to.

I won’t get fooled off of one good year.

I like Clark Lea. I like Diego Pavia.

But I need to see them do it again before I automatically assume Vandy is out of the basement in the SEC.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Mississippi State should be better this year, as it’s hard to be worse than the 2-10 they were a year ago.

Head coach Jeff Lebby went out and raided to portal in a desperate attempt to improve the Bulldogs, and it might just work.

But this conference is hard, man. And State’s schedule is hard once again.

Arizona State, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas, just to name a few.

Even if the portal additions hit, and QB Blake Shapen stays healthy, I don’t see 6 wins here.

Kentucky Wildcats

Remember when Mark Stoops all but signed the contract to be the new Texas A&M head coach, then Aggies fans got mad about it and forced A&M to back out and end up with Mike Elko?

Since then, Kentucky went 4-8 and is now relying on former SEC quarterback Zach Calzada to turn around the tides of the Wildcats.

But the offense that wasn’t good last year and now has the same offensive coordinator in Bush Hamden, a slew of new pieces, and Kentucky faces on of the hardest schedules in the conference.

Stoops has had some good years at Kentucky, but I don’t think this is one of them.

And I think the relationship with Kentucky now might be sour enough where this is just it in Lexington.