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USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
SEC coaches ranked from worst to first entering the 2025 season
The SEC is the dream destination for college football coaches. Since 2006, the league has captured the national championship all but six times. The US LBM Coaches Poll reflects the SEC's dominance with nine teams inside the top 25 and the Oklahoma Sooners and Missouri Tigers representing the top vote-getters. So that's 11 teams inside the top 27 according to the coaches vote. It's a place where good coaches turn into icons. And a place where, sometimes, good coaches lose their status. In 2025, for the first time in a long time, the SEC returns every coach from the previous season. Some are long-timers. Some are still fresh. Some aren't going anywhere. Some are on the hot seat. But current job status isn't the only metric for our 2025 SEC coaches rankings. Below, you'll find our list from No. 16 to No. 1. We measured by on-field success, at the current job and in their career, and reputation, mainly with run-ins with the NCAA or other administrators. A coach's time as a coordinator was not considered. It's easy to figure out who ranks first, but that's no fun. The list is best consumed from bottom to top. So, without further ado, the rankings. 16. Hugh Freeze - Auburn Other national rankings of coaches will have Freeze higher. And based off on-field results, Freeze deserves higher. But scandal has dogged the Tigers coach since before he was at Auburn, and the disappointment suffered there over two seasons hasn't done much, if anything, to rehabilitate his image. 15. Jeff Lebby - Mississippi State Lebby has just one year of coaching under his belt, so not a ton to go off. The Bulldogs went just 2-10 last year, but it's hard to put a ton of blame on Lebby, who was playing with a bare cupboard. Still, with no background, he checks in at No. 15. 14. Clark Lea - Vanderbilt The sheer fact that Lea took Vanderbilt to a bowl last year ensures he won't finish in last place when it comes to coaches' rankings. The Commodores will never be among the Southeastern Conference elite on the football field, but if Lea can have them hanging around .500 most years, he's doing a heck of a job. 13. Sam Pittman - Arkansas Arkansas fans have become frustrated with Pittman as the coach's folksy nature doesn't play so well when the team disappoints. The Razorbacks met expectations last year at .500, but won their bowl to provide Pittman with three such trips in five years. But his job is in jeopardy, especially as Arkansas is expected to drop this year. 12. Brent Venables - Oklahoma Since we're not counting coordinator work, Venables ranks here. The last time OU finished with two losing seasons in three seasons, John Blake was coaching and Bill Clinton was president. Yet that's where the Sooners are under Venables. The good news is that just about everyone thinks Oklahoma will be better this year. Perhaps a lot better. 11. Billy Napier - Florida If anyone wants to quibble with Napier being this high, they have every right. But given the criteria of the list, his time at Louisiana holds some sway. A 19-19 record three years into his tenure in Gainesville makes his seat awfully warm right now, anyway. 10. Mike Elko - Texas A&M Elko worked wonders in his two seasons at Duke, earning the promotion to Texas A&M. The Aggies then did what they have been prone to do for most of the last decade-plus: disappoint, but not to an extreme extent. Still, A&M fans want more than eight wins a season. Soon, the administration will, too. 9. Mark Stoops - Kentucky Stoops is almost impossible to rank because his entire career has come at Kentucky, a historically moribund program. But last year marked the first season since 2015 the Wildcats failed to make a bowl, showing Stoops knows what he's doing, even if UK never quite turned the corner into even a semi-powerhouse. 8. Shane Beamer - South Carolina Only four years into his head coaching career, Beamer is trending up. Given that it's only been four years, though, it's understandable if folks want to rank him lower. South Carolina is trending upward, though, and if the Gamecocks meet expectations this year, Beamer will have earned this spot, if not something higher. 7. Eli Drinkwitz - Missouri Drinkwitz is the poster child for how quickly things can change. Two years ago, he'd have ranked near the bottom of this list after three regular seasons at exactly .500 each at Mizzou. An 11-win season in 2023 and another 10-win year last year have Drinkwitz firmly planted in the upper-middle of the SEC list. 6. Josh Heupel - Tennessee Since a ho-hum first season at Tennessee in 2021, Heupel has had the Volunteers up near the top of the SEC. Eleven wins, nine wins, and 10 wins in each of the last three years impress, considering how much coaches have struggled in Knoxville since Phil Fulmer left more than 15 years ago. 5. Steve Sarkisian - Texas Much like Freeze at the bottom (top?) of this list, others will have Sarkisian higher than fifth here. But, again, we're considering an entire resume. That isn't to say Sarkisian has been lucky at Texas, but the Longhorns' massive talent certainly helps. Entering 2025 as the No. 1 team in the country, though, is a pressure unseen for Sark. 4. Lane Kiffin - Ole Miss Kiffin's online and offline antics used to be the talk of the SEC. Now, in the era of extreme personal branding, they seem quaint. Meanwhile, all Kiffin has done is keep the Rebels up near the top of the SEC, occasionally ruining championship hopes of the elite, even if Ole Miss probably won't ever get there itself. 3. Kalen DeBoer - Alabama Certainly, DeBoer's first season at Alabama frustrated some. Crimson Tide fans aren't used to winning fewer than 10 games a season, and the team collected just nine last year. DeBoer's track record suggests that won't happen again, though, as with a 113-16 career record, the South Dakota native has found success everywhere he's been. And let's not kid ourselves, either, how many teams would have killed for a nine-win regular season last year? 2. Brian Kelly - LSU Kelly comes with controversy, too, as his time at Notre Dame was laden with it. Few would argue Kelly is winning any personality contests in the SEC, though on the field, the results are hard to ignore. The LSU coach has won 10 games or more in seven of his last eight years and has 13 seasons with 10-or-more victories in his 21 seasons on the sideline. 1. Kirby Smart - Georgia Two national championships. One national runner-up. Kirby Smart is the class of the conference until Georgia falls off the planet or another coach can match that output. The Bulldogs are among the favorites for another title this year, too. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
19-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby praises Auburn QB Jackson Arnold at SEC media days
Arnold made quite the impression on Lebby during their time at Oklahoma. Jeff Lebby and Jackson Arnold were set to be a dynamic duo at Oklahoma. However, both have gone their separate ways. Lebby, the former offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, left Norman ahead of the 2024 season to take over as head coach of Mississippi State. Arnold exited one year later to get a fresh start at Auburn. Despite both men competing for an SEC title at different programs, Lebby remains positive that Arnold will thrive at Auburn and will end his college days with a strong legacy. Lebby was asked about Arnold during his time at SEC football media days this week, where he showed praise for Auburn's projected starting quarterback by calling Arnold "my No. 1 guy coming out of the class" that featured the likes of Arch Manning, Nico Iamaleava, and Dante Moore in 2023. Lebby also feels that Arnold will showcase the same potential he had as an Oklahoma signee, when he won Gatorade Player of the Year in Texas. "He had all of it, and he still does," Lebby said. "He's the same young man." One of the many challenges Arnold faced at Oklahoma was inconsistency at offensive coordinator. In addition to playing under Lebby, Arnold also served under Joe Jon Finley and Seth Littrell during his time in Norman. Derrick Nix will be his fourth offensive coordinator in three seasons, however, he will now play for an offensive-minded head coach in Hugh Freeze in Auburn. During Auburn's time at SEC Media Days on Tuesday, Arnold described Auburn's offensive system as one that he is very familiar with. "The biggest thing Coach Freeze sold me on with the scheme is, one, the RPO game, and, two, the deep shots. That's something that I've been doing a lot since high school," Arnold said. "And even my first couple of years in college was huge in the RPOs, huge in the deep shots." As a freshman under Lebby in 2023, Arnold passed for 563 yards and four touchdowns while adding 116 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Arnold's dual-threat ability will surely be needed this season as Auburn is looking to become more dynamic on offense. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mississippi State football recruiting: Tracking 2026 commits for Jeff Lebby
STARKVILLE — The first Mississippi State football season for coach Jeff Lebby did not go as planned. The Bulldogs went 2-10 and winless in the SEC. Their only wins were against Eastern Kentucky and UMass. All of MSU's SEC losses were by double digits. Advertisement How that season impacts recruiting is beginning to take shape. Lebby's first recruiting class in 2025 ranked 28th nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. The Clarion Ledger is tracking all of MSU's commitments for the 2026 recruiting class below. Mississippi State football class of 2026 commitments All rankings from the 247Sports Composite. Brodie McWhorter Position: Quarterback School: Cass in Cartersville, Georgia Rank: Three-star (No. 523 nationally, No. 31 quarterback, No. 61 in Georgia) Commit date: May 1, 2025 Jakobe Green Position: Offensive lineman School: Gadsden County in Havana, Florida Rank: Three-star (No. 569 nationally, No. 51 interior offensive linemen, No. 81 in Florida) Commit date: Feb. 1, 2025 Jaiden Taylor Position: Athlete School: Noxubee County in Macon, Mississippi Rank: Three-star (No. 595 nationally, No. 42 athlete, No. 21 in Mississippi) Commit date: Dec. 4, 2024 Camden Capehart Position: Wide receiver School: Winnsboro in Winnsboro, Texas Rank: Three-star (No. 658 nationally, No. 98 wide receiver, No. 100 in Texas) Commit date: Nov. 3, 2024 Jaeden Hill Position: Running back School: Tupelo in Tupelo, Mississippi Rank: Three-star (No. 715 nationally, No. 44 running back, No. 23 in Mississippi) Commit date: June 24, 2024 Kaleb Morris Position: Defensive lineman School: Mary G. Montgomery in Semmes, Alabama Rank: Three-star (No. 923 nationally, No. 92 defensive linemen, No. 35 in Alabama) Commit date: May 31, 2025 Camron Brown Position: Cornerback School: Valdosta in Valdosta, Georgia Rank: Three-star (No. 1,097 nationally, No. 94 cornerback, No. 119 in Georgia) Commit date: Feb. 1, 2025 MORE: Mississippi State baseball transfer portal tracker: Who's in, who's out for Brian O'Connor Kolby Barrett Position: Safety School: Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee Rank: Three-star (No. 1,153 nationally, No. 102 safety, No. 37 in Tennessee) Commit date: May 24, 2025 Antavius Willis Position: Safety School: Carver in Columbus, Georgia Rank: None Commit date: May 31, 2025 Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@ and follow him on X @sklarsam_. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State football recruiting: 2026 commit list for Jeff Lebby
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mississippi State Football sets standard with record GPA
Mississippi State's 2024 football season didn't go quite as planned. After a 2-10 record and going winless in SEC play, there is room for improvement. However, the Bulldogs pulled off a major win off the field. Jeff Lebby's program has enjoyed success with a record 3.05 GPA to end 2024. It was the second straight semester they've accomplished that feat after setting the record of 3.02 in Spring 2024. Not bad for a newcomer in his first year. Advertisement What might seem like a minor accomplishment to some is turning heads Starkville. Overall, Mississippi State's student-athletes achieved another record semester for Fall 2024. The Bulldogs posted the highest departmental GPA on record with a 3.34. It marked MSU's 15th consecutive semester with a 3.0 or higher, according to MSU athletics. What is expected for this year? Much the same for Lebby and the Bulldogs. Related: Chris Lemonis breaks silence after Mississippi State firing Ten Mississippi State football players from last year's team were named to the 2025 NFF Hampshire Honor Society last month. Nick Barr-Mira, Stone Blanton, Hayes Hammond, Zach Haynes, Grant Jackson, Jacoby Jackson, Kade Kolka, Ethan Miner, Blake Shapen and Seydou Traore all maintained a GPA of 3.2 or better. If the trend with Lebby continues, the Bulldogs could set another record in the classroom. They'll be looking to improve on the field as well, which starts with a difficult four-game non-conference schedule in the fall. MSU opens the 2025 season on the road against Southern Miss on Saturday, Aug. 30.
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Mississippi State Football Preview 2025: The Bulldogs Will Be Better, But There's a Problem
X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN Mississippi State PreviewOffense & Defense BreakdownsSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to SeasonMississippi State has had worse seasons than 1949 and 1968 teams failed to win a game. There were four seasons with just one victory, and several other two-win campaigns. But last year wasn't just about an awful season in the first year under head coach Jeff Lebby. It was about how far the program still needs to go just to knock on the door of the top SEC teams. In 120 seasons of Mississippi State football, there have been just two ten-win regular seasons, and that was Dan Mullen's 2014 team - which is the answer to the trivia question of who the first-ever College Football Playoff No. 1-ranked team State has to find a way to get back to a bowl game for the first time in three seasons, much less make history by winning ten or more regular season games for a CFP spot. But Lebby is just getting started. He's a 41-year-old in his first head coaching gig. He knows how to crank up great offenses, and he needs another recruiting class, along with a few more shopping trips to the transfer portal, to make Mississippi State the type of dangerous team no one wants to he and the program need a ton of luck. This year's team gets Arizona State, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. That's four teams from last year's College Football Playoff. The easiest SEC home game is Ole Miss, the second easiest is probably Tennessee, and …This will take a little while longer. But the talent is far better, there's a lot more to work with this season, and any positive steps will be good ones. It starts with Lebby being Lebby and getting far more out of the … Offense & Defense BreakdownsSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
