Last season, I correctly picked the top 2 teams in the SEC and correctly picked the conference champion. I did think Texas would win the regular-season meeting with Georgia, but I picked the Dawgs to win the rematch in the SEC Championship Game.
In reality, Georgia won both games to capture its third SEC title under coach Kirby Smart. Picking the Dawgs to win wasn’t exactly a risky wager; Georgia was the preseason favorite in the SEC media poll conducted at SEC Media Days.
I can’t even thump my chest for picking the Georgia-Texas title fight. Those 2 teams finished first and second, respectively, in the league’s media poll.
The Longhorns benefited from one of the best schedules in the SEC to make an appearance in the conference title game in their first year in the league. And the path back looks just as favorable in 2025.
But, just like last season, I’m picking a different team to beat the Horns in the title fight.
I wasn’t in Atlanta this week and therefore didn’t submit an official preseason ballot, but here’s how I would have filled one out. Below, you’ll find first-team All-SEC selections on offense and defense, my predicted order of finish in the SEC, and my predicted champ.
All-SEC First Team Offense
Quarterback: Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Running back: Tre Wisner, Texas; Ahmad Hardy, Mizzou
Wide receiver: Ryan Williams, Alabama; Cayden Lee, Ole Miss
Tight end: Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Offensive line: Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Offensive line: Cayden Green, Mizzou
Offensive line: Trey Zuhn, Texas A&M
Offensive line: Jaeden Roberts, Alabama
Center: Jake Slaughter, Florida
All-SEC First Team Defense
Defensive line: Colin Simmons, Texas
Defensive line: Caleb Banks, Florida
Defensive line: Tim Keenan III, Alabama
Defensive line: Dylan Stewart, South Carolina
Linebacker: Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Linebacker: Whit Weeks, LSU
Linebacker: Taurean York, Texas A&M
Defensive back: Eli Bowen, Oklahoma
Defensive back: Domani Jackson, Alabama
Defensive back: Michael Taaffe, Texas
Defensive back: KJ Bolden, Georgia
Predicted Order of Finish
- Alabama — 11-1 (7-1 SEC)
- Texas — 10-2 (7-1 SEC)
- LSU — 9-3 (6-2 SEC)
- Georgia — 10-2 (6-2 SEC)
- South Carolina — 9-3 (6-2 SEC)
- Florida — 9-3 (5-3 SEC)
- Ole Miss — 9-3 (5-3 SEC)
- Texas A&M — 9-3 (5-3 SEC)
- Oklahoma — 8-4 (4-4 SEC)
- Mizzou — 8-4 (4-4 SEC)
- Vanderbilt — 6-6 (3-5 SEC)
- Tennessee — 7-5 (3-5 SEC)
- Auburn — 6-6 (2-6 SEC)
- Arkansas — 4-8 (1-7 SEC)
- Kentucky — 2-10 (0-8 SEC)
- Mississippi State — 3-9 (0-8 SEC)
2025 SEC Champ — Alabama
I’m picking the Tide to regain control of the SEC in Year 2 under head coach Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide have 5 first-teamers on my preseason All-SEC team and they had several more who were in consideration for a first-team spot. I love the addition of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, having closely studied his partnership with DeBoer at Washington. So long as Alabama gets cleaner play from the quarterback spot, the Tide have everything they need to contend for a national championship in 2025. They have an elite playmaker at wide receiver, one of the best offensive lines in the country, one of the best secondaries in the country, and potential breakout stars at several other positions.
I have Alabama starting the season 7-0 and dropping only one game in conference play. If I had to stick to an upset pick right now, I’d pick the Gamecocks to beat Alabama in Columbia on Oct. 25.
Just like last season, I don’t believe an SEC team will make it to the end of the regular season with an unblemished record, but I think Alabama has the highest ceiling of anyone. In the hypothetical title fight with Texas, I like Alabama’s defense to give it the edge against Arch Manning and the Texas offense.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
