Preseason SEC football power rankings entering 2025 season

USA Today

13 hours ago

The 2025 SEC football season has now officially arrived.
Yes, after a lengthy offseason full of action off the field, the 2025 season has arrived for the SEC. Similar to seasons past as well, the SEC is once again expected to be among the best conferences in all of college football.
Looking back at last season, the SEC placed three teams into the College Football Playoff, while a few others ended up falling just short of making the field.
However, when projecting the 2025 campaign, many of those same teams could also be in contention to make the College Football Playoff, some of which are likely expected to entering the year.
Something that will be updated weekly going forward, let's take a look at the preseason SEC football power rankings entering the 2025 season.
16. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State had one of the worst seasons in program history a year ago, ending year one of the Jeff Lebby era with a 2-10 overall record (0-8 in SEC) in what was the Bulldogs first double-digit loss season since 2003. There is potential for a bounce back season in Starkville however after Mississippi State added a deep transfer portal class, combining that group with a returning starter at quarterback in Blake Shapen.
The Bulldogs will open the season Saturday, Aug. 30, with an in-state road showdown at Southern Miss.
15. Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky simply had a forgetful season a year ago, finishing among the bottom of the conference at 4-8 overall (1-7 in SEC) in likely their worst campaign since 2013. Mark Stoops and the Wildcats will also be relying on some newer faces this fall in order for a bounce back season, most notably Incarnate Word transfer quarterback Zach Calzada.
The Wildcats will open the season Saturday, Aug. 30, at home against Toledo.
14. Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks bounced back a bit during year five of the Sam Pittman era last season, finishing with a 7-6 overall record (3-5 in SEC). Set to return for Arkansas this season however is a talented team led by returning quarterback Taylen Green, one that will be looking to take the next step into a SEC contender.
Arkansas will open the season Saturday, Aug. 30, at home against Alabama A&M.
13. Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt and head coach Clark Lea finished last season at 7-6 overall (3-5 in SEC), which was the Commodores' first winning season since 2013. The Commodores should not go anywhere this fall either, as prominent players in Diego Pavia and Eli Stowers both return, leaving reason to believe Vanderbilt can potentially build off their success from a year ago.
Set to open the season Saturday, Aug. 30, Vanderbilt will host Charleston Southern in Week 1.
12. Missouri Tigers
Missouri and head coach Eliah Drinkwitz are coming off their second consecutive double-digit win season at 10-3 overall (5-3 in SEC). The Tigers however are a different looking team this fall after multiple prominent departures, but have still added key names such as Penn State transfer quarterback Beau Pribula.
Drinkwitz and Missouri will be the SEC's first team to play during Week 1, doing so Thursday, Aug. 28, at home against Central Arkansas.
11. Auburn Tigers
The Auburn Tigers are coming off a 5-7 overall season (2-6 in SEC), and have not won more than six games in a year since 2019. Led by head coach Hugh Freeze, Auburn will return one of the SEC's top wide receivers in Cam Coleman, while also having brought in a transfer class that features former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold.
Auburn's season opener will take place Friday, Aug. 29, on the road at Baylor.
10. Oklahoma Sooners
After winning double-digit games in 2023, Oklahoma and head coach Brent Venables took a step back in year one as a member of the SEC, finishing with a 6-7 overall record (2-6 in SEC). Since, the Sooners have however seen a significant amount of roster movement, one that is headlined by a new starter at quarterback in former Washington State transfer John Mateer.
Oklahoma will open the season Saturday, Aug. 30, at home against Illinois State.
9. Florida Gators
The Florida Gators likely enjoyed the greatest season of the Billy Napier era so far a year ago, which featured an 8-5 overall record (4-4 in SEC). Led by a returning quarterback in DJ Lagway, there is certainly potential for the Gators to take yet another step forward in 2025 as well to even improve on that win total of eight.
Florida will open the 2025 season at home Saturday, Aug. 30, against Long Island University.
8. Tennessee Volunteers
Head coach Josh Heupel and Tennessee are coming off a season in which the Volunteers make the College Football Playoff at 10-3 overall (6-2 in SEC). The Volunteers however are tasked with replacing some notable players, which means that Tennessee will be counting on multiple new faces to make an impact such as Appalachian State transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar.
Tennessee will play a neutral-site game to open the 2025 season, facing Syracuse in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, Aug. 30.
7. Ole Miss Rebels
Lane Kiffin led Ole Miss to its' second consecutive double-digit win season a year ago, finishing at 10-3 overall (5-3 in SEC). The Rebels should be back in College Football Playoff contention this season led by the likes of Suntarine Perkins and Austin Simmons, even despite some notable departures also.
Ole Miss is set to open the season Saturday, Aug. 30, at home against Georgia State.
6. Texas A&M Aggies
Year one of the Mike Elko era was a solid one for the Texas A&M Aggies, finishing with an 8-5 overall record (5-3 in SEC) for their highest win total since 2021. There is certainly potential for Texas A&M to repeat that success during the 2025 season as well, with a big reason as to why being a returning starter at quarterback in Marcel Reed.
Texas A&M will open the season Saturday, Aug. 30, at home against UTSA.
5. South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina took a step forward a year ago under head coach Shane Beamer, finishing with a 9-4 overall record (5-3 in SEC) in what was their first nine-win season since 2017. There is reason to believe the Gamecocks could be here to stay as a SEC contender in 2025 as well, with a big reason why being returning quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
The Gamecocks will open the season Sunday, Aug. 31, against Virginia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia.
4. LSU Tigers
Led by head coach Brian Kelly, LSU is coming off a 9-4 overall season (5-3 in SEC), the Tigers first with less than double-digit wins since 2021. The Tigers will be back as a SEC contender yet again this fall, featuring a talented roster that is headlined by quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
LSU is set to open the season Saturday, Aug. 30, in a high-profile Top 10 road trip at Clemson, one of the SEC's biggest Week 1 matchups.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama enters year two of the Kalen DeBoer era coming off a down 2024 campaign in which the Crimson Tide had a 9-4 overall record (5-3 in SEC), the program's first non double-digit win season since 2007. The Crimson Tide will see a new quarterback this fall in Ty Simpson, who leads a team that also returns Ryan Williams and Kadyn Proctor, among others.
On Saturday, Aug. 30, Alabama will travel to Florida State for one of the SEC's biggest Week 1 matchups.
2. Georgia Bulldogs
Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs made the College Football Playoff a year ago at 11-3 overall (6-2 in SEC), the program's fourth consecutive double-digit win season. The Bulldogs will be back among the SEC's elite in 2025, led by a roster that returns a talented defense led by CJ Allen and KJ Bolden, among others.
Georgia will play Marshall at home during Week 1 on Saturday, Aug. 30.
1. Texas Longhorns
Steve Sarkisian and Texas had a memorable first season as part of the SEC, making the College Football Playoff at 13-3 overall (7-1 in SEC), the program's highest win total since 2009. The Longhorns are a preseason pick to make it back to the SEC Championship Game once again this fall, led by a roster featuring Arch Manning and Anthony Hill Jr., among others.
Texas will open the season in college football's biggest Week 1 game, a top five road matchup at defending national Ohio State on Saturday, Aug. 30.
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