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SEC Power Rankings: A post-Media Days look at all 16 squads

Adam Spencer

By Adam Spencer

Published:


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SEC Media Days are now in the rearview mirror after a busy, exciting week in Atlanta.

The start of the 2025 college football season is only a little over a month away, so we’ll be watching actual games on TV before we know it. That means it’s a good time to check in on the state of SEC football.

Which teams are on the rise as the season approaches? Which teams are slipping?

I put together a post-spring SEC power rankings, but it’s worth looking into it again now that Media Days are over.

Here is how I’d rank all 16 SEC squads as things stand right now:

16. Kentucky (Previously: 15)

I’m moving Kentucky down to last place just because I don’t know how this offense is going to function. I’m not a believer in Zach Calzada. I don’t love the skill position players around him, either. The defense should be solid, but is that going to be enough to compete for multiple wins in the SEC? I’m not buying it.

15. Mississippi State (Previously: 16)

I am buying the Mississippi State offense. If Blake Shapen can stay healthy (a big if), I think the Bulldogs have a chance to win at least 4 games this fall (doubling their 2024 win total). Brenen Thompson and Jordan Mosley should be solid at receiver, while Davon Booth and Fluff Bothwell should be a strong duo in the backfield. The offense will put up points. The defense just needs to step up.

14. Arkansas (Previously: 14)

This is just about the Razorbacks’ schedule. They should start 2-0 with relative ease. Their reward for that? Games at Ole Miss, at Memphis and at home against Notre Dame.

Then they get a bye week. They’ll need it. That’s followed by games at Tennessee and vs. Texas A&M. Later in the season, they visit LSU and Texas in back-to-back weeks. Yikes. Even if the team is better on the field than it was a year ago, that might not translate to more wins for Arkansas. This schedule is a beast.

13. Vanderbilt (Previously: 13)

I love Diego Pavia. I love Eli Stowers. I love Randon Fontenette, Langston Patterson and Bryan Longwell on defense. This team went 7-6 last year with upset wins over Alabama and Auburn. So why are the Commodores this low?

I don’t trust the depth. The top-end talent is there on both sides of the ball. But how will they fare in the trenches? Can they withstand injuries? I have my doubts. Plus, they go to Alabama this year. Even if Diego Pavia continues to own Hugh Freeze (entirely possible given their history), Vanderbilt could take a step back this fall.

12. Tennessee (Previously: 12)

This is the prediction that makes me sick to my stomach. I hate betting against a Tim Banks defense like this. I just… I’m not sure I like a single piece of Tennessee‘s offense. The receiving corps is thin. The QB situation is… meh. The running back room has the most potential with DeSean Bishop, but he has the unenviable task of replacing Dylan Sampson.

I could look like an absolute idiot for putting the Vols down at No. 12 in my power rankings. I’m willing to admit that. I just have some major concerns about this offense.

11. Auburn (Previously: 9)

I’m going to agree with Saturday Down South columnist Connor O’Gara in expressing some concerns about Hugh Freeze. I think Jackson Arnold will be better at Auburn than he was at Oklahoma, but will that be enough for the Tigers to take a step to 8-4 or better this fall? I don’t know. The good news is that Georgia and Alabama both have to come to Jordan-Hare Stadium this year.

10. Mizzou (Previously: 11)

Mizzou maintains its ever-so-slight edge over the Volunteers and Auburn based on the schedule. The Tigers have a very manageable slate of games in 2025 (by SEC standards). They’re coming off of back-to-back 10-win seasons. I’m buying into the Beau Pribula intrigue (as is my colleague Connor O’Gara). Ahmad Hardy is going to be incredible in the backfield. The defense should be solid. There’s a lot to like in Columbia.

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9. South Carolina (Previously: 10)

OK, I’ll admit it. I was impressed with Shane Beamer during SEC Media Days. He was brimming with confidence, talking about bringing championships to South Carolina. (My colleague Derek Peterson doesn’t think Beamer is crazy to say that.) LaNorris Sellers is the real deal. I’m buying what Beamer is selling about the Gamecocks’ defense.

Of course, they’re still waiting for the Rahsul Faison situation to be resolved. But for now, I’m bumping South Carolina up to No. 9 in my rankings.

8. Oklahoma (Previously: 8)

John Mateer and R Mason Thomas were impressive at SEC Media Days. I am buying into the investment coach Brent Venables made on the offensive side of the ball. The offensive line should be better. If the receivers are as injured as they were last year, a priest needs to be brought in to exorcise the Oklahoma WR room. Venables is taking over defensive play-calling. I think all of that leads to an improved Sooner squad in 2025.

7. Texas A&M (Previously: 5)

This isn’t as much me being down on Texas A&M as it is me being higher on the 2 teams that surpassed the Aggies in my rankings. I still like Mike Elko entering Year 2. I think there are some clear lines of improvement for QB Marcel Reed. The offensive line has a couple of studs and the defensive backfield should be better.

Being ranked No. 7 in the SEC still means you’re a fringe Playoff contender. That seems about right for Texas A&M entering 2025.

6. Florida (Previously: 7)

I bumped Florida up a spot because I’m trusting that DJ Lagway’s shoulder is 100%. I was impressed with him at Media Days. Now, just because his shoulder should be better doesn’t mean he’s free and clear. He dealt with numerous nicks and dings last season. The Gators were 6-0 in games Lagway started and finished. The rest of this roster is solid. Lagway just needs to start and finish a lot more than 6 games this fall. If he does, Florida will compete for a Playoff spot.

5. Ole Miss (Previously: 4)

Much like I said about Texas A&M, I’m not lower on the Rebels after Media Days. I was just very impressed by Alabama. I’m still a big Lane Kiffin believer. I think Austin Simmons’ ceiling this year is a top-10 Heisman Trophy finish. Cayden Lee could lead the SEC in catches and yards. Suntarine Perkins is as good as it gets defensively.

I do have some concerns about the Ole Miss running game this year. We’ll see if they can answer them in the early part of the season.

4. Alabama (Previously: 6)

I’m bumping up the Crimson Tide a couple of spots here because I’m all-in on the Kalen DeBoer-Ryan Grubb combo. I also love the defense that Kane Wommack has put together. This team has studs all over the field on both sides of the ball. All the Tide need is an AJ McCarron/Greg McElroy type of QB who keeps the chains moving and doesn’t put the defense in bad situations. Ty Simpson can be that. If Alabama doesn’t make the Playoff this year, we can officially declare it a major disappointment.

3. Georgia (Previously: 3)

This is a bet on Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs have questions at QB, offensive line and on the defense. But this is exactly where Georgia does its best work. When the Dawgs aren’t the No. 1 team in the preseason AP Poll, they tend to win titles. They get Alabama and Texas at home this year. I’ll trust Smart and his staff to put together a squad that will make the Playoff and be right there with a chance to return to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game.

2. LSU (Previously: 2)

Everyone is buying into Brian Kelly and the Tigers this year. LSU received the 4th-most votes to win the SEC title. Garrett Nussmeier was the All-SEC second-team QB. RB Caden Durham and WR Aaron Anderson also made the second team. It’s Playoff or bust in Baton Rouge and I think the Tigers will be a top-6 seed this postseason. I’d bet on Garrett Nussmeier to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s that good. This offense is going to be borderline unstoppable if the offensive line can jell quickly.

1. Texas (Previously: 1)

Even if I think it’s crazy that Arch Manning is the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite, I think he’ll be an improvement over Quinn Ewers. The backfield has Tre Wisner and gets CJ Baxter back. Ryan Wingo is poised for a breakout year at receiver. Trevor Goosby is a potential first-round pick on the offensive line. The defense has stars at all 3 levels (Colin Simmons, Anthony Hill Jr., Michael Taaffe).

The only thing standing in the way of the Longhorns and an SEC title is Georgia. Steve Sarkisian has a Kirby Smart problem. It surfaced twice last year and has the potential to do it at least 2 more times again this year. But on paper (and this is firmly in the middle of “on paper” season), the Texas Longhorns have the best overall squad in the SEC.

Adam Spencer

Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.

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