A single snap of college football hasn’t been played yet this fall, and there’s already controversy in the SEC. The ESPN recently released its latest SEC football rankings, and there were numerous contradictions with the preseason AP Top 25. The ESPN used its Football Power Index (FPI) system to create its SEC rankings. The FPI […]
A single snap of college football hasn’t been played yet this fall, and there’s already controversy in the SEC. The ESPN recently released its latest SEC football rankings, and there were numerous contradictions with the preseason AP Top 25.
The ESPN used its Football Power Index (FPI) system to create its SEC rankings. The FPI “is a predictive rating system designed to measure team strength and project performance going forward. The ultimate goal of FPI is not to rank teams 1 through 128; rather, it is to correctly predict games and season outcomes.”
Thus, ESPN believes the No. 1 team in its FPI rankings would beat each of the subsequent teams. So, let’s find out who that No. 1 team is in the SEC, along with the order of the 15 other competing programs.
1. Texas (1)
In ESPN’s eyes, Texas is not only the No. 1 team in the SEC, but the entire country. With Texas having reached the College Football Playoff semifinals the past two seasons, expectations are sky-high for the program.
On offense, quarterback Arch Manning is finally receiving the reins to the team’s offense. On the other side of the line of scrimmage, defensive lineman Colin Simmons and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. are returning, and should lead one of the best defenses in the country this year.
2. Georgia Bulldogs (2)
Georgia suffered a shock early in the offseason when starting quarterback Carson Beck transferred to Miami. Alas, the Bulldogs are far from doomed. Quarterback Gunner Stockton will lead the way for Georgia this season after propelling the Bulldogs to a win over Texas in the SEC Championship last season when Beck injured his UCL.
Stockton will have no shortage of targets in his debut campaign as Georgia’s full-time starter. The Bulldogs reeled in stunning commitments from wide receiver transfers Zachariah Branch and Noah Thomas this offseason.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide (3)
Alabama rounds out ESPN’s top three teams in the nation and, as a result, is ranked as the No. 3 team in the SEC. There’s plenty to be excited about in Tuscaloosa as head coach Kalen DeBoer enters his second season at the helm of the Crimson Tide.
Namely, Alabama hired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb this offseason. Grubb has a longstanding DeBoer and was instrumental in Washington‘s run to the national championship game in the 2023 season. Now, he’ll look to reach similar heights with DeBoer in a new environment.
4. Tennessee Volunteers (8)
Tennessee was blindsided this offseason when quarterback Nico Iamaleava entered the NCAA Transfer Portal reportedly due to an NIL dispute with the program. However, the Volunteers didn’t wallow in self-pity. Instead, the team reeled in a commitment from transfer QB Joey Aguilar.
In two years as Appalachian State‘s starter, Aguilar amassed 6,760 passing yards and 56 touchdowns, compared to 24 interceptions. On the opposite side of the ball, Tennessee is entering its fifth season under defensive coordinator Tim Banks, who will have seven returning starters under his supervision this fall.
5. Texas A&M Aggies (9)
Mike Elko made a statement during his debut campaign last season, guiding the Aggies to an 8-5 overall record and a 5-3 mark in conference play. Nonetheless, the excitement in College Station died down late in the season when Texas A&M lost four of its final five games.
With a jaw-dropping 15 returning starters, Texas A&M will look to find its rhythm again in the 2025 campaign. The Aggies not only have a surplus of returning talent, but also reeled in the No. 16 class in On3’s 2025 Team Transfer Portal Rankings.
6. Ole Miss Rebels (10)
For the first time in three seasons, Jaxson Dart won’t be running Ole Miss’ offense. Instead, Austin Simmons will be the Rebels’ starter behind center this season. It won’t be an easy adjustment for Ole Miss. The team is only returning three starts on offense, including just one offensive lineman.
Thankfully, its defense should be able to hold its own if the Rebels’ offense needs time to find its footing. Ole Miss linebackers Suntarine Perkins and Princewill Umanmielen, along with DL Zxavian Harris were named All-SEC preseason selections.
7. South Carolina (11)
After being picked to finish 12th in the SEC last season, South Carolina silenced its critics, notching a 5-3 record in conference play and narrowly missing out on the College Football Playoff. The Gamecocks will look to prove its doubters wrong once again in the 2025 campaign.
Nobody on the team will be more pivotal to South Carolina’s goal than quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who exploded for 2,534 passing yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Running back Rahsul Faison will also be key to the Gamecocks’ success as he looks to replace All-SEC RB Rocket Sanders.
8. LSU Tigers (12)
Unlike many of the teams ahead of them in ESPN’s SEC rankings, the LSU Tigers will have a familiar face starting at quarterback this fall. Garrett Nussmeier is a frontrunner to win the Heisman Trophy after having a breakout season last year.
Of course, Nussmeier isn’t the only standout talent on LSU’s roster. On defense, the team returns LB Whit Weeks, who tallied the second-most tackles in the country last season.
9. Florida Gators (13)
Florida’s misfortune turned into a blessing last season when freshman DJ Lagway was given an opportunity to shine after Graham Mertz suffered a season-ending injury. Lagway was an instant star, positing a 6-1 record in the games he started.
Lagway has been battling calf injury during fall camp, but is expected to be prepared for the team’s season-opener. The Gators’ defense should make up for any early rust on Lagway. Florida returns seven starters on the defensive side of the ball.
10. Oklahoma Sooners (20)
After a disappointing first season in the SEC last year, Oklahoma is determined to bounce in a big way in 2025. With this mission in mind, Oklahoma hired Washington State‘s Ben Arbuckle as its offensive coordinator.
The Sooners ended up with a package deal. Washington State star quarterback John Mateer followed Arbuckle to Norman and is expected to be one of the premier QBs in the conference this fall, assuming no further trouble comes from his unusual Venmo transactions.
11. Auburn Tigers (21)
12. Missouri Tigers (23)
13. Arkansas Razorbacks (27)
14. Kentucky Wildcats (43)
15. Vanderbilt Commodores (49)
16. Mississippi State Bulldogs (54)
Category: General Sports
