The college football season is just days away. Texas begins its second season in the SEC and the expectations are sky high for the Longhorns. Texas and Georgia again look to be the cream of the crop in the best conference in the sport. But what about the rest of the conference?
In addition to UT and UGA, Tennessee also made the college football playoffs last season. Will the Vols take a step back after losing quarterback Nico Iamaleava to the transfer portal? Alabama and Ole Miss came close to making the playoff. Both could be better in 2025.
The Sooners look improved with new QB John Mateer under center. The Aggies hope to be better. As does LSU, which could either compete for the title or fall flat again down the stretch.
So much will depend on the quarterbacks. Many return, including Florida’s DJ Lagway and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia. Some teams feature new QBs, including Texas and Georgia.
Here are the final 2025 preseason SEC power rankings:
16. Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Bulldogs were the last place team in the SEC last season and that shouldn’t change in 2025. Coach Jeff Lebby seems in over his head. In 2024, Mississippi State finished the SEC season 0-8. The Bulldogs also were blown out by Toledo, 41-17. QB Blake Shapen is back after missing much of last season to injury.
15. Kentucky Wildcats
Coach Mark Stoops and the Wildcats put a scare in some teams last season, but finished an abysmal 1-7 in the league. Stoops brought in former Aggies QB Zach Calzada through the transfer portal, but there aren’t many winnable conference games for the ‘Cats.
14. Arkansas Razorbacks
The Hogs finished with a winning record overall last season, but 3-5 in the SEC. Quarterback Taylen Green is back, and Arkansas should be around a .500 team again. But Texas, Texas A&M and Ole Miss on the schedule. Plus the Razorbacks play Notre Dame out of conference.
13. Vanderbilt Commodores
Vandy was a surprise last season behind QB Diego Pavia. The Commodores finished the season with a winning record and a huge upset of Alabama. Vanderbilt gave Texas a huge scare in Nashville as well. But there will not be a surprise this season and even with all of the good vibes, Vandy still finished 3-5 in the SEC.
12. Auburn Tigers
Coach Huge Freeze has had a rocky offseason and is pinning Auburn’s hopes on former Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold. Arnold was an abject disappointment last season in Norman, but maybe a change of scenery will help. The defense should be solid thanks to future first-rounders edge Keldric Faulk and DB Jay Crawford.
11. Tennessee Volunteers
Look for the Vols to take a step back in 2025. The messy departure of QB Nico Iamaleava could reverberate throughout the season. Former Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar should be solid for coach Josh Heupel. But he doesn’t have the elite skills required to win in the SEC.
10. Texas A&M Aggies
It is Year 2 of the Mike Elko era in Aggieland. A&M was decent last season, but struggled against the upper tier of the conference. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed should be improved. But the Aggies have a tough schedule that culminates in Austin.
9. Oklahoma Sooners
OU should be better this season. Just the addition of former Washington State QB John Mateer through the transfer portal should help the offense. OU had a solid defense last season and that should stay the same. But if the Sooners can’t keep up again on offense it will be another long season.
8. Missouri Tigers
The Tigers have been a consistently good team under coach Eliah Drinkwitz. Mizzou leans into the transfer portal. Starting QB Beau Pribula comes from Penn State. Missouri will jump up and get a big upset at some point this season. Alabama, A&M and South Carolina all must travel to Columbia.
7. Florida Gators
Florida’s 2024 season was headed for disaster. But behind dynamic QB DJ Lagway, the Gators scored late-season upsets of LSU and Ole Miss. UF coach Billy Napier will hope Lagway can push the Gators over the line a few more times this season. Florida will open its SEC season hosting Texas.
6. LSU Tigers
LSU has enough talent to win the SEC, but Brian Kelly’s teams tend to disappoint. QB Garrett Nussmeier is purported to be a Heisman candidate. The Tigers conference schedule is tough. Just like last season, LSU will be tested in Week 1 with a trip to Clemson that could set the trajectory of the season.
5. Ole Miss Rebels
Lane Kiffin seems to be building something in Oxford. Last year, Ole Miss just missed the college football playoffs. Ole Miss knocked off Georgia and South Carolina last season. But losses to LSU and Florida were killers. Kiffin hit the portal to reload at receiver and beef up the defense.
4. South Carolina Gamecocks
A pleasant surprise last season, the Gamecocks look to build on 2024. QB LaNorris Sellers is a unique talent and should help the Gamecocks navigate a tricky schedule that includes home games against Alabama and Clemson and road games at Texas A&M and LSU.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Tide’s three SEC losses last season were all shocking in their own way. Obviously, no one expected ‘Bama to lose to Vanderbilt or Oklahoma. The OU loss cost Alabama a college football playoff berth. Ty Simpson will be the Crimson Tide’s starting QB. The junior has waited three seasons for his turn.
2. Georgia Bulldogs
It is tight between Georgia and Texas at the top of the SEC. Last year, Georgia beat Texas twice. It seems the Longhorns have more talent this season, but the Horns must travel to Athens to face the Bulldogs this year. So much of Georgia’s season depends on QB Gunner Stockton.
1. Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns look loaded. The defense could be the best in the country with three All-Americans, one on each position group. Arch Manning takes over a QB. What he might lack in experience he should make up for in arm strength and speed. Could coach Steve Sarkisian finally win a national title?
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Final preseason SEC Power Rankings
Reporting by Trey Luerssen, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
