From shocking upsets to viral internet memes and rekindled rivalries, the 2024 SEC season was memorable but ultimately unfulfilling. The conference sent three teams to the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, yet none managed to capture the national title — the first time since 2013-14 that the SEC went back-to-back seasons without a champion. With top contenders strengthened through the transfer portal, the league will once again look to bring a trophy back down south, though the fiercest battles may come from within its own ranks.
- Texas
The Longhorns begin the season ranked atop the AP poll after an impressive debut campaign in the SEC. They finished 13-3 with appearances in both the SEC Championship game and the College Football Playoff semifinals, where they fell to Ohio State. Much of the hype in Austin is centered around quarterback Arch Manning, who is taking over as the full-time starter. Manning’s dual-threat talent and legendary last name will assuredly keep Texas in the spotlight each week. He will be supported by a strong cast of returning talent, including star running back Quintrevion Wisner, who rushed for over 1,000 yards last season.
Texas opens its 2025 season with a high-stakes rematch against defending National Champion No. 3 Ohio State in Columbus this weekend — a stern early test for the Longhorns.
- Georgia
The reigning SEC champions enter 2025 ranked No. 5 in the country. While Georgia fell short in last year’s national quarterfinals, the Bulldogs return with a strong foundation and a winning culture under head coach Kirby Smart. With only one starter back on offense, Smart will lean on talented but unproven players like junior quarterback Gunnar Stockton, tight end Lawson Luckie and running back Nate Frazier.
On defense, however, the Bulldogs look as intimidating as ever. Defensive tackle Christen Miller and linebacker C.J. Miller anchor a unit stacked with future NFL talent. Due to a favorable early schedule, this Georgia squad should have time to build chemistry before conference play. If the offense can catch up to the defense, the Bulldogs should again be in the national title hunt.
- Alabama
The Crimson Tide are coming into this season looking to rebound from a disappointing 9-4 campaign that included upset losses to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma. Head coach Kalen DeBoer is still working to establish his culture in his second season, but pressure from the Alabama faithful to return to championship contention is building.
After a heated quarterback battle in training camp, redshirt junior Ty Simpson will get the starting nod and open the season in a marquee matchup against Florida State. He will be throwing to star sophomore wideout Ryan Williams, the 18-year-old phenom whose speed and run-after-catch ability make him one of the SEC’s most dangerous playmakers. Alabama boasts defensive talent across the board, with a defensive line expected to give opponents problems all year. If DeBoer can rally his locker room, the Crimson Tide have the pieces to reclaim their former glory.
- LSU
Perhaps no SEC team is more eager for the upcoming season than LSU. Head coach Brian Kelly reeled in the nation’s No. 1-ranked transfer class this offseason. Even more encouraging for Tiger fans is the return of Heisman-contending quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who threw for over 4,000 yards a year ago.
While LSU’s offense is loaded with firepower, the Bayou Bengals are determined to shore up their defense after recent struggles. Linebacker Whit Weeks, one of the most reliable tacklers in college football, will anchor a unit intent on reestablishing LSU’s defensive identity. The Tigers open their season in another Death Valley, traveling to face No. 4 Clemson in a high-stakes showdown as they look to shake off their recent history of slow starts.
- South Carolina
The Gamecocks are riding high off of their momentum from last season, where they finished with a six-game winning streak. Head coach Shane Beamer’s squad seems poised for success after returning much of its core. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers has emerged as a rising star thanks to his dynamic running ability, while receiver Nyck Harbor’s blazing speed makes the pair one of the nation’s most explosive duos. The offense is further bolstered by fan-favorite running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, who, alongside Sellers, averaged nearly 200 rushing yards per game a year ago.
South Carolina lost several key pieces on defense but returns star edge rusher Dylan Stewart, fresh off a Freshman All-American campaign. Special teams should also be a weapon, fueled by speed across the roster and Beamer’s trademark creativity. With talent, momentum and playmakers across the board, the Gamecocks appear poised for a special run in 2025.
- Florida
The upcoming season is a pivotal one for Florida head coach Billy Napier, who has managed just a .500 record through his first three years in Gainesville. Florida’s roster remains young and largely unproven, so a championship run may be a stretch. Still, the Gators have the talent to push for a playoff berth.
In a year that’s being billed as the season of quarterbacks in the SEC, Florida may have the best of the bunch in sophomore DJ Lagway. His arm strength and football IQ separated him from the pack as a first-year, and he now faces the challenge of leading the Gators through one of the nation’s toughest schedules, as eight of their opponents begin the year ranked in the preseason AP poll. Whether Florida can take the next step under Napier will depend on Lagway’s ability to turn his potential into production against elite competition. potential into production against elite competition.
- Texas A&M
Texas A&M fell short once again to the Longhorns last November to end its hopes of reaching the SEC Championship. The Aggies will have revenge on their minds this season. Head coach Mike Elko has the chance to even the score and contend for the SEC glory that has eluded the program since it joined the league in 2012.
Quarterback Marcel Reed leads the offense. While he is known as a dynamic runner, his passing game leaves much to be desired. The Aggies boast a strong defensive front, but Elko made few upgrades to a secondary that was abysmal last season, ranking 98th nationally in coverage grade. If Texas A&M hopes to contend for a playoff spot, it must show major improvement in the passing game on both sides of the ball.
- Oklahoma
Oklahoma stumbled to a 6-7 record with just two conference wins in its first season in the SEC. While injuries played a major role in that disappointment, the Sooners enter 2025 determined to reclaim the dominance they showed in their Big 12 days and prove they belong among the SEC elite.
Oklahoma made a splash in the transfer portal, landing former Washington State quarterback John Mateer and Cal running back Jaydn Ott — both proven playmakers at their previous schools. The offense will now be guided by new coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who previously worked with Mateer in Pullman. Defensively, the Sooners boast one of the nation’s strongest lines, anchored by returning starters R Mason Thomas and Kip Lewis. The secondary should also see improvement with the return of cornerback Gentry Williams, who missed most of last season due to injury.
- Ole Miss
Lane Kiffin has managed to turn Ole Miss into perennial contenders, despite the Rebels falling short of a playoff spot in 2024. Kiffin won a combined 21 games in the past two seasons, and the College Football Playoff seems like the likely next step. Poised to fill the shoes of star quarterback Jaxson Dart, redshirt first-year quarterback Austin Simmons inherited an elite receiving core and showed flashes of talent, including a 75-yard touchdown drive against Georgia last season.
Returning linebacker Suntarine Perkins headlines a new Rebel defense and seems poised to perform again after finishing 2024 with Third Team All-SEC honors. Ole Miss has one of its best chances at a postseason run in recent years as the Rebels are favored in every game except one (ESPN FPI).
- Tennessee
The Volunteers exited last season’s College Football Playoffs rather unceremoniously with a 42-17 loss against Ohio State. Offseason drama surrounding quarterback Nico Iamaleava led to his sudden departure to UCLA, but the Volunteers acquired his replacement: former UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar. Aguilar’s lack of experience in the SEC makes it hard to predict how the team will perform. He has great arm talent but turned the ball over a combined 31 times across the last two seasons.
Staring down the barrel of an SEC schedule that includes both Alabama and Georgia, head coach Josh Heupel has the tough task of getting his offense ready with a new quarterback. Tennessee will likely have to lean on its defense for success, bringing back eight starters, including Second Team All-SEC cornerback Jermod McCoy, who will return from an ACL injury. Fans should expect gritty, low-scoring games if they hope to see the Vols succeed.
- Missouri
The Tigers could easily be a dark-horse playoff contender despite sitting in the bottom half of these rankings. Impactful transfer additions include All-American running back Ahmad Hardy as well as former Penn State dual-threat quarterback Beau Pribula. Mississippi State transfer wide receiver Kevin Coleman will be Pribula’s top target after he racked up 932 yards and six touchdowns last season.
Missouri has a favorable schedule, hosting eight games with only one road game against a preseason-ranked opponent. A top-ranked transfer class, led by former five-star defensive end Damon Wilson II along with West Virginia transfer Josiah Trotter, gives the Tigers all the pieces they need to make some noise in the SEC.
The Commodores face high expectations as quarterback Diego Pavia enters his final season. After a historic 2024 campaign, in which the Commodores won the Birmingham Bowl and beat then-No.1-ranked Alabama, the pressure is on for head coach Clark Lea to compete with the SEC’s best teams. Among the veteran talent is tight end Eli Stowers — a preseason First Team All-American — and now two-way player Martel Hight.
The promotion of Steve Gregory to defensive coordinator will enable Lea to focus solely on getting his team ready for its difficult schedule ahead. Vanderbilt has a rematch against Alabama — this time in Tuscaloosa — along with a trip to Austin, Texas, to play the current No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns. The Commodores also play three more preseason top 25 teams. The Black and Gold will need some more magic if they want to repeat their success from 2024, but they have the personnel to make it happen.
- Auburn
The Tigers have reloaded their roster as head coach Hugh Freeze sits on one of the hotter seats in the SEC. Freeze has done a great job putting together the eighth-best transfer class in the country (247Sports), which includes former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold. Auburn flexes a strong receiving duo in sophomore Cam Coleman and Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton, Jr. The backfield also features running back Jarquez Hunter, who recorded 1,200 rushing yards last season, and UConn transfer Durrell Robinson, who averaged 6.8 yards per carry in 2024. The Tigers’ defense is their glaring weakness, particularly in the secondary where all four starters from last season departed. Freeze has his work cut out for him as he enters a prove-it year to show fans that he’s more than just an elite recruiter.
- Arkansas
After a solid 2024 season, which included knocking off No. 4 Tennessee and winning the Liberty Bowl, the standards for Sam Pittman and the Razorbacks remain high as ever in Fayetteville. Quarterback Taylen Green is returning, and he will be the key to success after racking up 3,756 yards of total offense last year. Arkansas might make waves in the SEC if Green can elevate to a higher level of play.
Transfers will be key as the Razorbacks acquired All-AAC wide receiver Kam Shanks and Oregon cornerback Kani Walker, among other replacements, to bolster the lineup. It will be Pittman’s job to get this group up to speed before some grueling matchups, including three preseason top-10 ranked teams and a nonconference clash with Notre Dame.
- Kentucky
If Kentucky wants a bounce-back year, it might want to keep looking forward. It faces six preseason-ranked opponents in the first nine weeks of the season, a less-than-ideal opening slate. However, transfer quarterback Zach Calzada might be the perfect person to shake up the conference. The Texas A&M transfer has SEC experience and even knocked off No. 1-ranked Alabama in his sophomore season.
The defense is expected to be solid, as head coach Mark Stoops excels in scheming a strong defense even when talent is lacking. Former four-star edge rusher Jerod Smith II is a key player to keep an eye on, and if the offense can match the defensive production, the Wildcats are not a team that can be written off.
- Mississippi State
Mississippi State is the consensus worst team in the conference heading into the 2025 season. The Bulldogs have used the portal to acquire wide receivers Jaron Glover and Brenen Thompson to revamp their aerial attack, but quarterback Blake Shapen will be a big determinant of the team’s success. Sharing the backfield is transfer running back Fluff Bothwell, who rushed for over seven yards per carry and 13 touchdowns in the Sun Belt last season.
Despite these offensive gains, the major struggle for Mississippi State has been its defense, ranking as ninth-worst in the nation in its 2024 campaign. Efforts to improve have been made, including acquiring sophomore linebacker Jalen Smith in the portal (SEC All-Freshman) and Texas defensive line transfer Jaray Bledsoe. However, these players will need to step up if the Bulldogs want to compete with their seven ranked opponents on the docket.
