Ad Disclosure
4 SEC teams made the cut for ESPN’s way-too-early top 25 for next season, which was released shortly after the final buzzer of the National Championship Game on Monday night.
Kentucky is the only team from the SEC to crack the top 10. The Wildcats come in at No. 4 as they will be adding the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class and could return a couple of key players.
Here’s some analysis from ESPN’s Jeff Borzello:
John Calipari is back with the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, and a potential starting lineup with at least three or four of those freshmen penciled in from day one. D.J. Wagner and Robert Dillingham should form one of the most dynamic backcourts in the sport, while Justin Edwards is the No. 1 recruit. The biggest question is what Oscar Tshiebwe opts to do. Will he come back for another year?
The SEC has several other top teams who could contend for the conference title alongside Kentucky. Alabama made ESPN’s top 25 at No. 11 while Arkansas came in one spot lower at No. 12. Tennessee, at No. 23, was the only other SEC program to make the cut.
Auburn was mentioned in the “Next in line” section of the list as one of the 5 teams who just missed out on the top 25.
UConn landed in the No. 1 spot following it’s National Championship victory. Marquette and Duke were No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Florida Atlantic, fresh off a run to the Final Four, earned the final spot in the top 5.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
