2025 SEC Football Predictions and Previews

Here are the SEC football preview and predictions for 2025. There’s a lot of information, but also a lot of moving parts. The SEC is the best of the best. So, remember, a key injury or an unexpected breakout season might alter the outcome.

16. Mississippi State

Should be underdogs in all but out-of-conference games. Best shot is late in the season home against Ole Miss. With a new head coach, Jeff Lebby, it’s hard to predict a dismal finish but that’s the outlook. Led by QB Blake Shapen, “he” represents the experienced veteran presence;(per Columbus Dispatch). I.e., he’s the returning leader from the year before who knows the offense cover to cover. Killer schedule in SEC West, plus misfortune of Arkansas and Missouri, comparable teams, on the road this year doom them to the bottom tier.

15. Vanderbilt University

Can QB Diego take another upset-riddled season for Vandy. Millions and I pouring into SEC NIL beg to differ. Maybe an upset over Kentucky, and one other SEC win. But Georgia State might surprise them. I don’t see them going 3-0 nonconference, and I surely don’t see three conference wins making them bowl eligible again this year.

14. Arkansas

They should be a cellar-dweller this year.  The one thing you might want to remember about Arkansas is that they have a 30-year-old walk-on. Monte Harrison played a decade in MLB minor leagues. The second is that this probably will be Pittman’s last year. The final problem is Arkansas defense. They lose Oke from the defense for at least 2 games. The offense has 8 new members, and the SEC west with road games at Bama, LSU and Texas is a killer. Non-conference includes Notre Dame at home, almost a certain loss. 

13. Kentucky

Wildcats are led by Quarterback Zach Calzada. The interesting part; it’s his seventh year. (Read his full story here.) Coach Mark Stoops was 1-7 in the SEC last year, he needs to hope Calzada has a great year. The advantage for Kentucky is a softer nonconference schedule; they play Auburn and Vanderbilt on the road. Another opportunity is Florida playing them the week between Florida playing Texas, and Florida playing Georgia. Given a more experienced team, plus a large NIL estimate of 11.2 million this year, and Kentucky will get enough improvement to move towards middle-class.

12. Missouri

Will finish as a second-tier team in the SEC. Last year’s 10-3 record won’t be matched; but many games (at Oklahoma, Auburn, A&M) might be tossups.  Missouri’s coach Eli Drinkwitz has a lot of players to replace. (re Fox Sports). Missouri is not a traditional NCAA power, and at least 5-6 of the teams on their schedule outspend them on NIL.  Though a probable 4-0 on a weak nonconference schedule get them to a bowl probably, a notable drop-off season for them and new QB Sam Horn (or Beau Pribula).

11. Florida

Again finishes in the middle of the pack. They are led by star QB DJ Lagway.  He’s the #1 QB from the class of 2024 and he’s also the NIL leader on Florida with an estimated worth of 3.7 million. Unfortunately for Florida, according to ESPN, they have the #1 toughest schedule in the country. They start the season as a top-20 team for the first time since 2020 and hope a healthy Lagway takes them beyond a powerful team with a mid record.

10. Oklahoma

Will continue it’s getting used to an SEC schedule tour. Luckily, LSU, Auburn, and Ole Miss travel to Norman. Senior leadership in the backfield with Sr RB Haydn Ott, and transfer QB John Mateer. Brent Venables returns and has an offensive coordinator who comes in from running the Air Raid offense for Washington State.  If the offense is dynamic, they might exceed preseason predictions.

9.  Auburn

They’re a great team with a noble tradition.  Coach Huge Freeze will have the leverage of a huge NIL collective that is ranked top 10 nationally. Jackson Arnold should be the QB; he’s transferred from the Oklahoma Sooners.  Georgia and Texas both come into the plains, if they are distracted in the least a solid Auburn team could take them out.  

8.  Ole Miss

Estimated to be a top 10 team preseason, but I’m predicting a disappointing season.  The last season of the eight-team conference schedule, it’s literally possible Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama could lose no home games, but Ole Miss dodges Texas this year. Austin Collins is forecast to be a superstar. Lane Kiffin at this point is one of the senior and most respected SEC coaches and brings in a great transfer portal class. But even with great NIL support, this should be a down year.

7. South Carolina

Has a great home schedule. They’ll be favored in most games. Some national analysts even predict a CFP appearance. Their defense looks sack-monster (11.5) Kyle Kennard from last year.  But they hope to reload with Jacquavious Dodd, a 6-5 four-star recruit DL. Head coach Shane Beamer, after last year’s success, has a long-term deal through 2030. 

6. Tennessee

Transfer QB will lead Tennessee (from UCLA) Joey Aguilar. (You can read about the “high drama” of last year’s QB exit here.) While the starter with Appalachian State over two seasons with Appalalachian State, he threw for 6,760 yards, 56 touchdowns and 24 interceptions, with a completion rate of 60.1%.. Vols had a great recruiting year, ranking #11 overall at 24/7 sports. With recent success, and a top 25 rated team, they have the 3^rd easiest SEC schedule (per SI). 

5. Texas A&M

Is definitely a poster child for the NIL generation. According to a poll done by n3.com, they are fifth among college programs. Can a good offensive line and a great depth from NIL spending make you a CFP contender? No for now.  But can it make you top tier, driven by QB Marcel Reed and RB Le’veon Moss, leading a group of 4 returning RBs. Plus, the steady hand of Jimbo Fisher, who’s in the very top tier of SEC coaches since Coach Saban left.

4. Alabama

This year will be growing pains for Coach Kalen DeBoer. This year will be a more serious reminder… there were a lot of coaches between Bear Bryant and Nick Saban. Alabama reloads with a #3 composite recruiting class, (according to 24/7 Sports). The schedule is a killer, though, ranked #10 by ESPN’s FPI index, according to this schedule article. It doesn’t help that their nonconference game is at traditional power Florida State early. If QB Keelon Russell steps up early season, Alabama might be OK.  But road games at Georgia, Tennessee, FSU, and SC are added to home games against Texas.  That’s a lot of foes to slay to rise above fourth in the conference.

3. LSU

Has had incredible hype this year.  They’re coming off a 10-3 season last year, including 5-3 in the SEC. This year they have to travel to Alabama and also to Clemson.  But A&M and Florida have to come to Death Valley. And TN and Texas as well are not on the Tiger’s schedule. Brian Kelly enters his fourth year as the coach, and Nussmeier is a returner at QB. No other top tier SEC is returning their starting QB.

2. Georgia

Has Gunner Stockton primed to start. Coach Kirby Smart has done miracles before, but this year saw tremendous turnover. A huge NIL budget plus great recruiting probably leads them to win the East (narrowly) over TN and SC. But they’re not in the same stratosphere as the juggernaut at Texas.

1. Texas

Is more than just Arch Manning. In fact, Arch Manning has been in the on-deck circle longer than any QB since Aaron Rodgers. Texas has hatched some great defensive giants these past few years.  There’s a great article detailing the defensive prowess this year. Manning will have plenty to throw to, including incoming Stanford WR Emmett Mosley V.  Coach Sarkisian should be challenging for a national title this year, assuming they beat Georgia in the SEC championship.

Be sure to follow @TheForkball on Twitter for more SEC updates. You’ll find my other articles by ajayxemem on Twitter and occasionally syndicated at other places.