If there was a one-liner to describe the SEC this season, it would be: it’s crowded at the top.
Many college football fans living outside the southern United States don’t want to hear it, but there are more teams in this league with a real chance at winning the FBS national title than in any other conference in the country.
And while this is true, the ferocious competition amongst this group will make it very difficult for each team deserving of a Playoff spot to actually obtain one. A three-loss team did not make the 12-team Playoff in its inaugural season, and while the SEC is the most likely conference to see one of its teams lose that many games and still earn a CFP berth, our one year sample size tells us that there will be too many two-loss teams for that to happen without further expansion.
With high expectation abound, the SEC will provide can’t miss action from Week 1 through Championship Weekend. Buckle up, because the cannibalization of solid squads that may emerge unscathed elsewhere is nearly the only certainty in this league.
Embed from Getty ImagesTeams I Like
Alabama
Oh, how much a year makes a difference. A little over 12 months ago, Kalen DeBoer was the toast of the town in Tuscaloosa, having come off a national runner-up performance at Washington prior to taking the head coaching job at Alabama. Replacing Nick Saban was always going to be tough, though, and as DeBoer quickly found out, a 9-4 season with a bowl loss is enough to get people in Alabama whispering about whether you’re the right guy for the job.
I think he is the right guy for the job and will prove that this season. With the shadow of Saban naturally shrinking a year on from his retirement, DeBoer can mold this team as he would like with less judgment. There is a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, particularly on the offensive line and at the offensive skill positions. Given that Jalen Milroe was pretty inconsistent in 2024, I don’t think breaking in a new quarterback is going to be as rough as it may seem. I expect the Crimson Tide to be right in the mix for an SEC title and Playoff berth this season.
Georgia
The Bulldogs feel to me like a sleeping giant this season, if that’s even possible. Georgia started last season ranked No. 1 in the country, but things gradually started to slip and by the time the Playoff rolled around, Kirby Smart’s team was almost an afterthought. A lot of that was due to unfortunate circumstances, including a ton of injuries on the offense (including Carson Beck in the SEC title game) and a defense that was uncharacteristically average.
While it is admittedly hard to argue that a preseason top five team is under the radar, Georgia isn’t being talked about as much as some other programs as a national title contender. With better health, the Bulldogs will be more dangerous than they were in 2024 and that is scary to think about. The schedule also sets up nicely for Georgia to be a serious threat to win the SEC title, as games against Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Texas will all be played at home. The conference is far too competitive to assert there are any Playoff locks, but I think Georgia is about as close as it gets.
Oklahoma
The Sooners have yo-yoed during Brent Venables tenure with the program, but both previous results as well as the roster suggest that this will be an “up” year in Norman. The Sooners struggled mightily on offense last season, in large part due to the play at the quarterback position. Venables seemingly solved that problem by bringing in John Mateer, who was excellent at Washington State last year and should bring much needed stability to the offense. The transfer portal wins didn’t end there, though, as Oklahoma also snagged one of the best running backs available in Jaydn Ott.
In a vacuum, the Sooners are talented enough to make the Playoff. What will determine whether Venables feels the heat from under him is how the team handles a gauntlet of a schedule that includes home games against Michigan, Texas, Mississippi, Missouri and LSU along with road tests against South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama. I like the Sooners to surprise people this season and win more of those games than they drop.
Texas A&M
Almost every year, the Aggies seem to create a lot of preseason buzz. However, Texas A&M hasn’t had a double-digit win season since 2012 and hasn’t played in a New Year’s Six bowl since 2020. I may be falling into a trap that I should be able to see by now, but I am a fan of what Mike Elko has done everywhere he has been and seems to have built a real contender in College Station. The Aggies return 16 starters and should be potent offensively, uncovering a star in quarterback Marcel Reed who will have time to throw as well as scramble thanks to an experienced and talented offensive line. They’ll be one of the toughest teams in the country to slow down on the ground.
Like nearly every SEC contender, the Aggies will need to prove it at every turn, with a schedule that doesn’t really have any particularly soft stretches. But the Aggies were competitive in all but one contest in 2024 and are better on paper than that squad in most areas. Coach Elko did more with less while at Duke, and I’m excited to see how much more he can do with…more.
Embed from Getty ImagesNot High On
Missouri
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz’s slightly brash nature has endeared himself to fans in Columbia, who must be pleased with the way that the program has been building momentum the past couple of seasons. It cannot be taken away from Missouri that it has generally taken care of business the past two years, capitalizing on relatively manageable schedules (if there is such a thing in the SEC). For the third year in a row the Tigers will get to enjoy such a luxury, not having to leave home until mid-October.
But outside of the schedule and a defense that should again be stout, I’m not bullish on the Tigers in 2025. It is debatable whether Missouri truly has an answer to replace Brady Cook, who did Yeoman’s work behind center for three seasons. To make matters more complicated, Missouri’s offense is predicated on a strong run game and the offensive line must replace a few starters from last year. I like the pickup of running back Ahmad Hardy from Louisiana Monroe in the transfer portal, but he may have a difficult time getting going if the line doesn’t gel quickly, especially against bigger, faster SEC defenses. Even with the favorable schedule, Missouri will face more adversity this season and its results against better competition in prior years doesn’t have me convinced the Tigers can overcome it unscathed.
South Carolina
It should be stated at the onset that I don’t think South Carolina is overrated heading into this season. Shane Beamer has done a nice job building this squad and while they do have to replace a fair amount of talent on the defensive side of the ball, the Gamecocks improved markedly as a team in the second half of the 2024 season and that is a testament to Coach Beamer. They should do that again this season and the defensive play will likely look a lot better on the back end of the year as a result.
However, even significant improvement may not save the Gamecocks from their ridiculous second half slate. Six of the last seven games could be against ranked competition, three of which are on the road. Compounding the concern is that the competition figures to boast some of the more potent offensive attacks in the country. LaNorris Sellers does a pretty good Superman impression, but it’ll be difficult for the sophomore to do that nearly every week from October onwards. If he does, he’ll almost surely be the Heisman Trophy winner.
Embed from Getty ImagesPlayers To Watch
DJ Lagway, Florida quarterback
Lagway got his break midway through last season following an injury to Graham Mertz and quickly showed why he was the top-rated quarterback in the recruiting class of 2024. While still making the occasional decision that you would expect of a young signal-caller, Lagway’s arm strength and freakish athletic ability shone through, giving Gators fans a lot to look forward to for the foreseeable future.
His combination of raw talent and experience gained from playing last season makes Lagway a natural candidate to be one of the most impressive players in the SEC in 2025. The biggest question will be whether or not he can stay healthy, as he has already been dealing with a calf injury that could limit his availability to begin the season.
Suntarine Perkins, Mississippi linebacker
Perkins’s 10.5 sacks were the most by a linebacker in 2024, which helped propel Mississippi to becoming the No. 3 team in the country with 52 sacks overall. Slightly undersized for a linebacker, Perkins makes up for it with excellent speed and the ability to change direction on a dime. He is also fearless and relishes blowing up plays with a style that mimics reckless abandon.
The Rebels like to play aggressively on defense, which affords Perkins a lot of opportunities to get after the quarterback. While Lane Kiffin’s teams typically get more attention for their offensive prowess, Perkins gives reason to pay close attention to both sides – something that NFL scouts have already been doing because of him.
John Mateer, Oklahoma quarterback
One of the best pickups in the transfer portal this offseason was Mateer, who joins Oklahoma after spending three seasons at Washington State, the most recent of which he threw for over 3,100 yards, 29 touchdowns and added over 800 yards rushing. The bar wasn’t exactly set high in Norman at the quarterback position last season, so even if Mateer was only known for his arm he would be viewed as a huge step up.
However, his dual threat ability coupled with Oklahoma’s experienced offensive line has me very excited about what he can accomplish in the SEC this season. The Sooners’ offense will look drastically different in 2025 compared to last year and as a result Mateer may be up for national awards if he has the type of season that he did in 2024.
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina quarterback
Sellers burst onto the scene in his redshirt freshman season, particularly in the back half of it as he led the Gamecocks to a six-game winning streak to end the regular season and nearly knocked off Illinois in what was one of the best bowl games of 2024. Eighteen of his 25 total touchdowns came during that seven-game span and introduced most of us to one of the most physically intimidating quarterbacks in the country (6’3”, 240 pounds).
His style may concern some as it brings with it a much higher chance of injury. But if anyone can handle the beating, it would be Sellers, and the threat of his legs is what allows him to freeze defenses and buy more time in the pocket. The next step in his development is to cut down on fumbles (14 last season), something that I believe he will accomplish this season.
Arch Manning, Texas quarterback
With a last name like Manning, it’s no surprise that the hype is sky high and the expectations are massive. But from everything we’ve been able to gather (the Manning family, and Texas as a program, has done an incredible job in this day and age keeping things under wraps as much as possible), I don’t see any clear reason why the nephew of Peyton and Eli won’t be able to deliver on those expectations.
From a physical tools standpoint, the 6’4”, 222 pound redshirt sophomore has the arm talent of his uncles and the mobility of his grandfather. But what is most interesting about him is his intangibles. Seemingly a natural leader, Manning was mature enough to sit behind Quinn Ewers last year and make no waves despite media chatter that he was already better suited to start for Texas. I think it says a lot that he is the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy despite not having a ton of starts under his belt.
Marcel Reed, Texas A&M quarterback
Last season Reed started the year as the backup for the Aggies, but after orchestrating a comeback victory over LSU at the end of October, took the reigns for good and as a result Connor Weigman transferred out of College Station. Reed is a stark contrast to Weigman, but a better fit for the type of offense that Mike Elko and offensive coordinator Collin Klein prefer to run.
Incredibly dangerous with his legs, Reed looks like a running back in the open field. While not as big as some of the other run-centric quarterbacks that Elko has coached in the past, Reed’s shiftiness allows him to avoid the biggest hits. If he improves slightly with his accuracy, Reed could end up having a monster year for the Aggies.
Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt tight end
Stowers’ 49 receptions, 638 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions all led the team in 2024, a testament to just how important he is to Vanderbilt’s offense. This makes sense, as quarterback Diego Pavia’s style necessitates an outlet that he can quickly dump the football to if heading up field with his legs isn’t the best option.
The 6’4”, 235 pound Stowers doesn’t look like your average tight end with the ball in his hands, either. He possesses considerable speed and has great control of his body, with the capability to make smaller defenders miss in the open field. He is effectively an extra wide receiver, which makes sense, considering that statistically he is Vanderbilt’s most successful one. He’ll be in the mix for the John Mackey Award this season.
Embed from Getty ImagesGames to Watch (Conference)
Georgia at Alabama (September 27)
One of the most thrilling matchups of the 2024 regular season has the potential to be just as exciting (and important to the SEC title race) this year. Both teams will come off of a bye week and should be relatively fresh.
Texas at Florida (October 4)
The Longhorns’ first two road tests of the year are tough, but if any program is worthy of sympathy in this matchup, it’s Florida. This game, despite off of a bye week for the Gators, follows visits to LSU and Miami (FL).
Oklahoma vs. Texas [game in Dallas] (October 11)
The Red River Shootout rarely disappoints, and this year should be no different, especially if the Sooners have joined the Longhorns in the Playoff discussion by the time the annual contest at the Texas state fairgrounds arrives.
Texas A&M at LSU (October 25)
While it’s tough to say with a lot of confidence where either of these programs will stand with regards to the SEC title race at the end of October, it’s much easier to assert that this game will be can’t miss entertainment. After all, the 2018 edition between these two schools still holds the FBS record as the highest scoring game in history.
LSU at Alabama (November 8)
It may come as a surprise to some that despite this seemingly being an even rivalry as of late, LSU has beaten Alabama just twice since 2012. Expect a lot of points to be scored when Garrett Nussmeier & Co. go blow for blow with Kalen DeBoer’s offense.
Texas at Georgia (November 15)
One of the more shocking results of 2024 unfolded when Georgia stymied what had up to that point been perhaps the most potent offense in the country in Steve Sarkisian’s group. As a mid-November matchup, expect one of the best chess matches of the season between two of the game’s most clever head coaches.
Oklahoma at Alabama (November 15)
The Sooners trounced the Tide last season, but don’t expect such a lopsided result this year. If Around The Corn’s predictions are accurate, this game will play a major role in deciding the SEC title game participants.
LSU at Oklahoma (November 29)
The back half of Oklahoma’s schedule is brutal, culminating with this tough home date against the Tigers. It is interesting to note that while LSU plays a Sun Belt opponent one week prior, Oklahoma will take on a tricky Missouri squad.
Embed from Getty ImagesGames to Watch (Non-Conference)
LSU at Clemson (August 30)
Week 1 has not been kind to the Tigers recently – they are zero for their last five in openers. Things won’t get any easier this year, as Brian Kelly’s group takes on a Clemson squad that can realistically view this one as its most difficult test of the entire regular season.
Michigan at Oklahoma (September 6)
Both teams are popular Playoff “dark horse” picks by many in the media, which makes this an incredibly intriguing matchup early in the year. Even if you’re not a believer of the Sooners or Wolverines, it’s impossible not to respect the weight that each school’s name carries in the sport.
Kansas at Missouri (September 6)
The Border War hasn’t taken place since 2011 and it’s great to have it back. The Jayhawks aren’t expected to make a ton of noise this year, but could give fits to a Missouri defense that will still be figuring out life without a handful of NFL Draft picks that buoyed the group last season.
Florida at Miami (FL) (September 20)
It is long overdue that this in-state rivalry truly has implications beyond pride, but there is too much talent on both sides to suggest this game is only about Florida bragging rights.
Clemson at South Carolina (November 29)
The Gamecocks have been a thorn in Clemson’s side in the Palmetto Bowl as of late, but only when the game is played at Memorial Stadium. South Carolina will look to snap a five-game losing streak at home against Clemson (it has won the last two on the road), but must contend with a Tigers squad looking for revenge after blowing a lead in last year’s contest.
Embed from Getty ImagesAw, Shuck It (3 Bets to Place)
*odds via DraftKings at time of publication. Around The Corn is not responsible for lost bets!
Oklahoma Makes College Football Playoff (+400)
The Sooners are going to be stout defensively, will rid themselves of quarterback problems experienced last season with the addition of John Mateer, and have just four true road games the entire season.
The seat under Brent Venables has been warm more often than not during his time in Norman, but there is a good chance some of that heat will go away after this season.
Florida Under 7.5 (-115)
Like last season, the Gators were handed a brutal schedule for 2025, going on the road to face LSU, Miami (FL), Texas A&M and Mississippi, and welcoming Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida State to The Swamp.
Billy Napier’s team is good enough on paper to make the Playoff, but that type of schedule would cripple all but the absolute best teams in the country most years.
Jack Endries Wins Mackey Award (+600)
The SEC is loaded with top talent at the tight end position, as evidenced briefly in the Players to Watch section above. But Endries plays for a team that will be in the spotlight as much as any this season, which ultimately is an advantage for these type of awards.
The 6’4” 240 pound Endries wore the same number as Travis Kelce when at Cal and looked the part, too, with a knack for finding the soft spot in the defense and sitting down right around the first down line to make catches, proving his exceptional awareness and high football IQ.
Embed from Getty ImagesPredictions
- Georgia (11-1, [7-1])
- Texas (10-2, [7-1])
- Oklahoma (10-2, [6-2])
- Alabama (10-2, [6-2])
- Texas A&M (9-3, [6-2])
- Mississippi (9-3, [5-3])
- Tennessee (9-3, [5-3])
- LSU (8-4, [5-3])
- Florida (8-4, [4-4])
- Arkansas (7-5, [4-4])
- South Carolina (6-6, [3-5])
- Auburn (6-6, [3-5])
- Missouri (6-6, [2-6])
- Vanderbilt (4-8, [1-7])
- Kentucky (3-9, [0-8])
- Mississippi State (2-10, [0-8])
Conference Title Game
Georgia vs. Texas (game in Atlanta)
Champion: Georgia
