SEC Power Rankings ahead of the 2025 college football season
While that's quite a bit higher than where they ranked in the US LBM Coaches Poll or the AP Top 25, the Sooners have a team that looks ready to compete in the SEC. Venables has built a defense that's trending toward being one of the 10 best in the country, and the addition of offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer has reignited confidence in the Sooners' offense.
Oklahoma could be significantly improved this year and still struggle to find its way to the top of the SEC standings. The SEC is stacked with teams that could make the trip to Atlanta for the SEC championship game in December and half the teams could be in the mix for the College Football Playoff when the calendar turns to November.
The SEC won't take part in the week zero action, but with week one just 10 days away, here's our preseason SEC power rankings for 2025.
1. Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs have won back-to-back SEC championship games and did so in 2024 with Gunnar Stockton who is now the starting quarterback with a full offseason of first-team snaps to prepare, as opposed to the week he got to prepare for the Texas Longhorns. Kirby Smart has been the model of consistency in college football. While everyone has written Georgia off, I'm not buying that the Bulldogs will win fewer than 10 games for the first time since 2016 (not including the COVID-shortened 2020 season).
2. Texas Longhorns
Just can't bring myself to put the Texas Longhorns in the top spot. They have an elite defense and a good group of skill players. Arch Manning might turn out to be a Heisman contender. But with four new starters along the offensive line, the Longhorns need to prove it to me before I'm willing to put them in the top spot. Go beat Ohio State on the road in week one and we'll talk.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
If there's any doubt about the Crimson Tide, it's that Ty Simpson hasn't played a ton of meaningful football. It's hard to know exactly what Alabama's going to be offensively. They'll run the ball well and play good defense because the roster is loaded with talent. But Alabama will need Simpson to come through in big spots for the Tide to return to the playoff.
4. LSU Tigers
LSU is one of the trendier picks to make it to the SEC title game and play for the national championship and for good reason. Garrett Nussmeier has turned into one of the best quarterbacks in college football and he has an abundance of pass catchers to throw to. If the offensive line can hold up in pass protection and the defense improves, LSU will be one of the best teams in the nation.
5. South Carolina Gamecocks
Quarterback LaNorris Sellers and defensive end Dylan Stewart are two of the best young players in college football. But the Gamecocks lost a ton of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Will Shane Beamer have answers to replace guys like defensive end Kyle Kennard, safety Nick Emmanwori, linebacker Demetrius Knight, and defensive tackles T.J. Sanders and Tonka Hemingway?
6. Oklahoma Sooners
The John Mateer show is about to take the stage in Norman, and it may be as anticipated a debut as we've seen in the crimson and cream in some time. He's been everything the Oklahoma Sooners could have hoped for after transferring from Washington State. If he and fellow transfer Jaydn Ott meet expectations, the Sooners are going to be a contender. Though I'm high on where Oklahoma is entering the season, there's still a bit of "prove it" that needs to occur for Oklahoma.
7. Texas A&M Aggies
Marcel Reed has made strides this offseason to improve as a passer and if that translates to the field, the Texas A&M Aggies will be a problem. Mike Elko has a strong defense to work with and the Aggies may have one of the best running games in the conference in 2025.
8. Florida Gators
Quarterback D.J. Lagway has been battling injuries this offseason and that's a huge question mark for the Florida Gators. Billy Napier had a solid season last year after a couple of six-win campaigns to open his tenure in Gainesville. Schedule aside, Florida is a talented team, but so much of their success will be tied to the health of their star quarterback.
9. Ole Miss Rebels
The Ole Miss Rebels were loaded with a talented roster last year and still just missed out on the playoff. Austin Simmons is one of the most intriguing first-year starters at quarterback in the SEC. Even if he's really good, I'm not sure the Rebels have the talent on defense to repeat what they did a year ago.
10. Tennessee Volunteers
Joey Aguilar is officially the starter as Josh Heupel and Tennessee tries to put the Nico Iamaleava saga behind them. Heup has recruited well in Knoxville and the offense will be good. But can the defense repeat their success from a year ago and will the offense be able to lean as heavily on the running game with Dylan Sampson in the NFL.
11. Missouri Tigers
Eli Drinkwitz has done a good job with the Tigers, leading Mizzou to back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in a decade. They're one of the many teams in the conference that will be rolling out a first-time starter at quarterback this season. But there's talent on both sides of the ball that could make Missouri one of the more underrated teams in the SEC.
12. Arkansas Razorbacks
Taylen Green is one of the most exciting quarterbacks to watch in the conference and would be considered among the best in the SEC were he on a better team. Sam Pittman found a little something with the return of Bobby Petrino. If they can avoid the late game collapse like they did early in the season last year against Oklahoma State, the Razorbacks could find themselves in a bowl game once again.
13. Vanderbilt Commodores
The story of 2024 is back for an encore with Diego Pavia leading the way. The offense will give defenses fits. It'll be a tough task to repeat their 2024 success, but they have a lot of confidence and big aspirations. Sometimes belief can carry you a long way.
14. Auburn Tigers
Auburn has a talented roster but there are certainly questions to be had about the coaching situation with Hugh Freeze and the quarterback situation appears to be a bit of a mess entering the season. The wheels could completely fall off in Auburn if they open the season with a loss to Baylor.
15. Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky had been the model of consistency under Mark Stoops but experienced a bit of a setback in 2024 with quarterback Brock Vandergriff at the helm. The Wildcats did get a big win over Ole Miss last year to keep the Rebels out of the playoff. Stoops is banking on former SEC journeyman Zach Calzada to be the answer under center.
16. Mississippi State Bulldogs
It was a tough first season for Jeff Lebby in Starkville and the schedule doesn't do them any favors in year two. Lebby has an experienced passer in Blake Shapen to run his offense. If they can reach bowl eligibility, that would be a really strong season for the Bulldogs.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
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