2025 preseason predictions for SEC football champion, award winners

USA Today

13 hours ago

College football's premier conference, the start of the 2025 season is now only two weeks away for the SEC.
Yes, beginning the weekend of Saturday, Aug. 30, all 16 of the SEC's teams will be in action to kickoff the season, one in which the conference has multiple national championship contenders.
Having recently made predictions for the College Football Playoff and Heisman Trophy as well, why not make some preseason picks for the SEC as a whole this year also?
A group loaded with multiple ranked teams to begin the year, here are some preseason predictions for the 2025 SEC football season, featuring the conference championship matchup, individual awards, and more.
2025 SEC Championship Game matchup
The two teams predicted to make it through the SEC regular season gauntlet to Atlanta to play for a conference championship are Alabama and Texas. However, Georgia, as well as even LSU, could potentially be here also in place of those two, but as for a prediction, I'll go with the Crimson Tide and Longhorns meeting in Atlanta for the first time as SEC foes.
2025 SEC champion
As for the eventual SEC champion, I'll go with Texas in that aforementioned matchup in Atlanta. However, should the Crimson Tide and Longhorns meet, that potential matchup should certainly be close.
2025 SEC Offensive Player of the Year
The former top recruit takes over as the Longhorns starter this season, leaving many across college football making preseason predictions surrounding just how good Manning could be in 2025 at the helm of Texas' offense. Manning is also garnering preseason buzz surrounding a potential Heisman Trophy caliber season, and I'll say that it does in fact happen for the Texas signal caller this fall, winning SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors along the way.
2025 SEC Defensive Player of the Year
A popular pick for SEC Defensive Player of the Year in the preseason is likely Stewart, who enters his sophomore season at South Carolina. As a freshman, Stewart racked up 23 tackles, 11 TFL, and 6.5 sacks a year ago.
2025 SEC Coach of the Year
If the Florida Gators take the next step in 2025, Napier might just be the potential favorite for SEC Coach of the Year. Other potential options for this honor could be Auburn's Hugh Freeze and Oklahoma's Brent Venables if those two programs improve in 2025.
2025 SEC Freshman of the Year
While numerous potential options to choose from, keep an eye on Athens this fall where Griffin could easily make an immediate impact at defensive tackle. Griffin comes to Athens as a five-star prospect in Georgia's 2025 recruiting class, and was one of the highest-rated players in the nation this past cycle, per 247Sports.
2025 SEC Special Teams Player of the Year
While another Georgia special teams starter, punter Brett Thorson, is also an option, I'll go with the Bulldogs to take home this honor via Woodring. Woodring should be one of the top kickers in college football this season coming off a year in which he went 21-of-23 on field goals, while also a perfect 48-of-48 on extra points.
2025 First Team All-SEC offense
2025 First Team All-SEC defense
2025 First Team All-SEC special teams
2025 SEC final regular season standings
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