The 2025 college football season has kicked off with great fanfare, thrills, spills, and chills all over the nation. Georgia is the defending champion of the SEC and looks to regain their national supremacy after a “down” 2024. Texas and Texas A&M battled right down to the wire for the right to become the Lone Star State’s premier program. Can Kalen DeBoer right the ship in Tuscaloosa before his seat becomes hotter than an Alabama summer day? What will two of the best quarterback prospects in the 2026 class do for a final swan song in college? Let’s go find out in the 2025 SEC season preview!
The other Power 4 season preview articles can be found below:
Alabama (8-4, 5-3)
Coach Kalen DeBoer entered the 2025 season with his seat hotter than an August summer day in Alabama. The season-opening upset loss to Florida State only exacerbates the temperature. Ty Simpson steps into the catbird seat of being the most famous person in the state (for now), replacing Jalen Milroe. Alabama suffered attrition throughout the offense, most notably with the departures of running back Justice Haynes (Michigan) and receiver Caleb Odom (Ole Miss). Superstar receiver Ryan Williams returns, along with Germie Bernard. The offensive line features a couple of NFL-ready prospects with left tackle Kadyn Proctor and center Parker Brailsford. Alabama’s defense is still loaded with talent, with the likes of LT Overton, Deontae Lawson, and Keon Sabb.
The Tide won’t have much time to lick their wounds as they face Georgia at the end of September and have a tough October lined up. Road dates against Missouri and Tennessee, along with a physical South Carolina team, await before Halloween. November doesn’t get much easier with hosting LSU and traveling to face pesky Auburn. DeBoer must get his team back on track before the season slips away. Eight or nine wins won’t cut it in Tuscaloosa.
Auburn (9-3, 6-2)
Hugh Freeze needs to get back to his winning ways on The Plains, or the notoriously finicky Auburn boosters will get their checkbooks out to remove him from his office. Fortunately for Freeze, it appears that he has his quarterback to fit his offensive style in Jackson Arnold (OU). Auburn fields a potent receiver duo with Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton, Jr, and former five-star recruit Cam Coleman. Running back Damari Alston gets his shot at being RB1 after waiting behind Jarquez Hunter for a couple of seasons. The Tigers filled both of their tackle spots with newcomers left tackle Xavier Chaplin (VT) and right tackle Mason Murphy (USC). Defensively, they’re led by EDGE Keldric Faulk and return largely intact in the secondary, but did lose Keionte Scott (Houston) and Antonio Kite (Ole Miss).
Auburn faces a four-game gauntlet of away games against Oklahoma and Missouri, plus home games against Georgia and Missouri. This stretch will define the 2025 season for Freeze and company. The rest of the schedule lines up perfectly for an eight or nine-win campaign.
Arkansas (5-7, 2-6)
The Razorbacks require a rebound season in 2025 for Sam Pittman to retain his job. Arkansas under Pittman has been middling in the best of times and woefully underwhelming at worst. Quarterback Taylen Green returns for another season at the wheel of a reimagined offense. Receivers O’Mega Blake (Charlotte/South Carolina) and Jalen Brown (FSU/LSU) come in to lead the group. There’s a new left tackle in Fayetteville with Corey Robinson transferring in from Kansas. EDGEs Phillip Lee (Troy) and Quincy Rhodes, Jr, will attempt to replicate Landon Jackson’s production as he enters the NFL. The secondary is almost entirely new, led by Julian Neal (Fresno State), Kani Walker (Oklahoma/Louisville), and Jordan Young (Cincy/Florida). Pittman is a true OL coach at heart and loves to run the ball. Can Green take the next step as a passer?
Arkansas should remain competitive, but the schedule makers didn’t hand them an easy slate; that’s for sure. September brings games against Tennessee and Notre Dame, while October will be crucial. November will be even more vital as they face LSU, Texas, and Missouri in consecutive weeks. Bowl eligibility will be the measuring stick for Arkansas in 2025.
Florida (9-3, 6-2)
Florida’s 2025 schedule is arguably the toughest in all of college football, especially with the reemergence of a couple of key opponents. Billy Napier will have a daunting task ahead of him, but he has a talented passer in DJ Lagway to get them through. Lagway showed immense promise as a freshman part-time starter last season. He’ll have a talented receiver room with J. Michael Sturdivant (UCLA) leading the way, along with promising freshman Dallas Wilson. Center Jake Slaughter is the big prospect to watch for on the offensive line. The Gators return a veteran defense with EDGE Tyreak Sapp as the main man. EDGE George Gumbs, Jr is another name to keep an eye out for. Florida lost a pair of standout corners to the NFL, but returns Devin Moore and Sharif Denson.
Lagway must thrive under enormous pressure, given the brutality of Florida’s schedule, which features four consecutive games against LSU, Miami, Texas, and Texas A&M. Road trips to LSU and Miami are particularly daunting early in September. The truth about the Gators will reveal itself by Halloween in this SEC season preview. November appears to be a particularly rocky month, with games against eternal rivals Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida State. Napier’s men can win nine games, but they will need to get lucky in a few games to achieve that.
Georgia (11-1, 7-1)
The defending SEC champions have the pieces in place to restore their dominance over the college football landscape once more. Gunner Stockton takes over full time as the starter after Carson Beck decided to transfer to Miami. Nate Frazier is the unquestioned lead dog in the running back group. The offense line needs to be rebuilt after losing four starters from last year’s team. Defensively, Kirby Smart’s group is a bit more questioned after losing multiple pieces to the NFL, including two first-round pass rushers. There is a lot of talent from the stop unit, it’s just unproven against bigger and better competition at this point. While Georgia likely won’t have that superstar gamebreaker at receiver, they do have some dynamic talent like Zacariah Branch and Dillon Bell alongside tight end Oscar Delp.
After two winnable games, the Bulldogs travel to Knoxville as the 2025’s first test. Alabama, Auburn, and Ole Miss loom on the horizon as further benchmarks for the young Dawgs. Contests against blood rival Florida and budding rival Texas come in November as they gear up for SEC supremacy. Coach Smart is too good of a coach and has the proven track record for Georgia to not compete for a conference title and playoff spot.
Kentucky (5-7, 2-6)
Kentucky is in for a world of chaos amidst Mark Stoops’ increasing odds to depart the program, whether of his own volition or not. Quarterback Zach Calzada won the starting job in fall camp after transferring in from Incarnate Word. The receiver room lost a key piece to the portal after Dane Key transferred to Nebraska. Returnee Ja’Mori Maclin and Alabama transfer Kendrick Law are expected to lead the group. There are three new starters on the offensive line so time will be needed for them to gel. The Wildcats also remade their running back room with transfers Dante Dowdell (Nebraska) and Seth McGowan (New Mexico State). Kentucky’s defensive line lost three members to Power 4 schools so they brought in Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace (South Dakota), David Gusta (Wazzu), and Sam Greene (USC). The defense has to replace a pair of Buffalo Bills in CB Maxwell Hairston and DL Deone Walker.
Stoops will likely struggle to get to bowl eligibility with the talent and schedule on hand. The first half is a bear with games against Ole Miss, South Carolina and Georgia. Kentucky will face the immediate pressure cooker of four consecutive SEC powers after their second bye week. Fortunately, they get Texas, Tennessee and Florida at home while traveling to Auburn.
LSU (10-2, 6-2)
The Bayou Bengals walked into Clemson’s Death Valley and claimed victory over Dabo Swinney’s men in Week 1. LSU finally has a week one win to show for its recent futile efforts in season openers. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has been a top prospect for two seasons and had an excellent showing. Receiver Aaron Anderson leads the room after the loss of CJ Daniels to Miami. Brian Kelly’s offensive line underwent a retooling after the loss of three offensive linemen, Will Campbell, Emery Jones, and Miles Frazier. Tyree Adams and Weston Davis take over for Campbell and Jones. LSU’s defense went into the portal to grab a few impact starters. EDGEs Jack Pyburn (Florida) and Patrick Payton (FSU) are the prospects to monitor in the 2026 class. The secondary is rebuilt with top prospects like safety A.J. Haulcy (Houston) and cornerback Mansoor Delane (VT). Star linebacker Harold Perkins, Jr is healthy and ready to wreak havoc into becoming a top pick.
The Tigers have the talent and schedule to make a much awaited run to the conference title and playoff glory. They get Florida, South Carolina, and A&M at home. A visit to Tuscaloosa seems like an easy win right now but the two rivals have always battled closely. Can Brian Kelly finally put it together and run towards to national title contention?
Mississippi State (4-8, 0-8)
Year two of the Jeff Lebby administration needs to be better than year one with signs of progress. The 2024 season was a dismal debut. The Bulldogs are still reeling from the tragic death of Mike Leach and subsequent failure of the Zach Arnett era. Lebby has a competent quarterback in Blake Shapen, at least. Mississippi State hit the portal hard for depth pieces. The running back room is in capable hands with returnee Davon Booth and South Alabama transfer Fluff Bothwell. Lebby’s offensive line received a makeover with the entire right side consisting of transfers. It will be a rebuilding season for the defense as most of the depth is comprised of young transfers who can play.
The SEC was not kind to the natives of Starkvegas, giving them Tennessee, A&M, Florida, Texas with a bye sandwiched in between. Georgia, Missouri, and the Egg Bowl showdown end things in November. It will be a struggle for State to get to five wins but tangible progress must be shown by Lebby to see a third season of his head coaching career.
Missouri (8-4, 4-4)
Missouri has the potential talent and the schedule to become a dark horse to make noise in the SEC once again. Penn State transfer quarterback Beau Pribula won the job in fall camp over Sam Horn, who was injured in the season opener. The Tigers must replace both starting tackles, as Marcus Bryant and Armand Membou left for the NFL. Three-time transfer Keagan Trost gets the first shot at right tackle while Cayden Green mans left tackle. Luther Burden and Theo Wease are gone as well, so Marquis Johnson, Joshua Manning, and transfer Kevin Coleman, Jr must step up. The running game got a facelift as transfer Ahmad Hardy takes over after a prolific career at ULM. There were several transfer additions to the defense, including safety Jalen Catalon (Arkansas), edge rusher Damon Wilson II (Georgia), and linebacker Josiah Trotter (West Virginia).
The Tigers’ schedule is comically easy with eight home games, which include Alabama, South Carolina, Miss State, and Kansas. However, they must travel to Oklahoma and Auburn. If Missouri doesn’t win nine or ten games, something must have gone wrong.
Oklahoma (6-6, 2-6)
The Sooners endured a humbling 2024 season in which their offense was abysmal and Brent Venables’ seat became uncomfortably warm. Venables imported both quarterback John Mateer and OC Ben Arbuckle from Washington State to shore up the offense. Week one was a smashing success, but the real test awaits in week two against Michigan at home. The receiver group suffered through tremendous attrition, losing veterans like Nic Anderson (LSU), Jalil Farooq (Maryland), and Andrel Anthony (Duke). Only Deion Burks remains in the room as the veteran returnee. Venables’ defense lost two key players to the draft in safety Billy Bowman and linebacker Danny Stutsman, so replacements are needed. EDGE R Mason Thomas leads the defensive line alongside defensive tackle Gracen Halton and Oklahoma State transfer Kendal Daniels. Former five-star safety Peyton Bowen enters his sophomore season with an impressive CV.
Oklahoma’s 2025 schedule isn’t kind as they have to play Michigan and Auburn in September to open it up. The second half will test their boosters’ resolve as they play Texas, South Carolina, and Ole Miss to finish October. November promises to be even tougher with Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, and LSU on deck. Bowl eligibility will be challenging.
Ole Miss (8-4, 4-4)
Lane Kiffin returns a younger team than the 2024 squad, which featured multiple draft selections, including two first-round picks. The defense suffered immense attrition with the losses of Jared Ivey, Princely Umanmielen, and Chris Paul, Jr. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Simmons replaces Giants rookie Jaxson Dart. The receiver room needs to replace Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins, and Antwaun Wells, so they brought in transfers Harrison Wallace III (Penn State) and De’Zhaun Stribling (Oklahoma State). Ole Miss has a pair of excellent EDGE prospects to fill in for the departed pros like Kam Franklin and Suntarine Perkins. Washington State transfer Kapena Gushiken is expected to step in at cornerback for Trey Amos.
The Rebels’ 2025 schedule is simple in its effectiveness, yet brutal. Key dates include home dates against LSU and Florida, along with away games against Georgia and Oklahoma in consecutive weeks. The Egg Bowl looms large in the background, but historically, it is the nation’s fiercest rivalry. 2024 Ole Miss had a playoff contender, but 2025 could be a step back for Kiffin’s men to an eight or nine-win season.
South Carolina (7-5, 3-5)
Coach Shane Beamer might have his most talented roster during his tenure in Columbia. The Gamecocks had a great season-opening win over Virginia Tech on Sunday afternoon. South Carolina is led by potential first-round quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who could be in contention for the Heisman this season. The running back group lost Raheim Sanders to the pros but gained Rahsul Faison (Utah State) as a transfer. Former five-star freak recruit Nyckole Harbor is primed for a breakout campaign after several seasons of intrigue. The defense lost significant talent to the NFL, like Nick Emmanwori, Demetrius Knight, T.J. Sanders, and Kyle Kennard. 2024 freshman sensation Dylan Stewart could be the most talented South Carolina EDGE since Jadaveon Clowney. Speaking of Clowneys, his younger brother, Demon, transferred in as a backup. DT Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy came in from Texas A&M to help replace the NFL talent.
The second half of the schedule features a brutal slate, including trips to LSU, Ole Miss, and A&M, as well as hosting Alabama. 2025 finishes with a bang against eternal in-state rival and playoff contender Clemson, so South Carolina needs to be on top of its game throughout the season. They have the pieces to compete for an SEC title, but will likely fall short.
Tennessee (9-3, 5-3)
Tennessee made history in the offseason with college football’s first-ever publicized quarterback swap. If the season debut is anything to go by, the Volunteers won the trade handily. Quarterback Joey Aguilar performed well in the season opener, making his first start for a Power 4 program. The Volunteers have to replace defensive linemen James Pearce, Jr., and Omarr Norman-Lott, who are heading to the NFL. Dylan Sampson is running the ball for the Brown, so DeSean Bishop, Peyton Lewis, and Star Thomas (Duke) are in the backfield. Five-star freshman David Sanders is hyped to be the next big OL from Tennessee. Tennessee returns several defenders, including cornerback Jermod McCoy and EDGE Dominic Bailey.
The Volunteers face a manageable schedule, and Georgia has to come to Knoxville. Away dates against Alabama in “The Third Day Saturday In October” and Florida loom large for #VolsTwitter. Tennessee could win ten games in 2025 if things break right.
Texas (8-4, 5-3)
The Horns look to bounce back after a horrendous season-opening loss to the Buckeyes, in which the boy wonder Arch Manning didn’t have a good game. Texas lost 13 players to the NFL, including three first-round selections and both starting tackles on offense and defense. Steve Sarkisian has his work cut out for him, trying to reload a title-contending roster. Trevor Goolsby takes over at left tackle for Kelvin Banks, while five-star sophomore Brandon Baker steps in for Cam Williams. Both Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton are gone, so transfers Cole Brevard (Purdue) and Maraad Watson (Syracuse) came in at DT. The running game is in good hands with CJ Baxter and Quintrevion Wisner. Receiver Ryan Wingo and Stanford transfer Emmett Mosely IV are leading the receivers after Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden left. Linebackers Anthony Hill, Jr, and Colin Simmons profile as stars in the making.
Texas possesses a favorable September after the loss to Ohio State, with three lesser opponents before facing Florida in Gainesville. The game against the Gators will present a stiff challenge before the annual showdown with Oklahoma. November presents a challenging tour, featuring a game against Georgia and archrival Texas A&M in three weeks. The Longhorns have the roster to compete for an SEC title and beyond.
Texas A&M (9-3, 6-2)
Mike Elko’s Aggies possess the pieces and schedule to make a serious run at the SEC crown in 2025. Receiver KC Concepcion (NC State) showed off his skills on Saturday evening, totaling 170 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. Mario Craver (Mississippi State) broke out as well, posting over 100 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Marcel Reed seems poised for a breakout season after taking over the job in 2024. Reed is protected by a veteran offensive line, featuring multiple seniors. The A&M defense suffered three critical losses to the pros with Shemar Stewart, Shemar Turner, and Nic Scourton. To that end, they brought in EDGE TJ Searcy (Florida) to help complement returnees Cashius Howell and DJ Hicks. The secondary is a veteran one with notable returnees like Will Lee III and Tyreek Chappell.
A&M has a manageable schedule, but September features a looming showdown with Notre Dame and Auburn. October isn’t easy, either, with Florida coming to College Station and LSU on the road. November is a more straightforward path, with only archrival Texas blocking their path to SEC glory.
Vanderbilt (5-7, 2-7)
The Commodores went on a surprising run to seven wins last season but face a daunting road to return to such heights in 2025. Lightning rod and media maven Diego Pavia returns to lead the offense alongside star tight end prospect Eli Stowers. The offensive line underwent a significant retooling with the addition of three transfers, including Isaia Glass (Oklahoma State), Jordan White (Liberty), and Bryce Henderson (South Dakota). Three transfers were needed due to losses in the portal. Defensively, Vanderbilt rebuilt their defensive line depth by adding names like Aaron Bryant (Texas) and Keanu Koht (Alabama). Safety CJ Heard (FAU) could be another name to watch for the Commodores’ defense.
2025 promises to be a tougher challenge with games against Va Tech and South Carolina out of the gate. October could be fun with an Alabama squad still smarting from their loss last season and LSU portending to be title contenders. The month of November may prove to be the undoing of Vandy with contests against Texas, Auburn, and Tennessee. Vanderbilt will definitely fight for bowl eligibility; the question is whether they will get there.
Conference Championship: Georgia vs. LSU
Conference Champion: LSU
Joseph is a veteran writer of many publications past and present. He is a long-time Tennessee Titans fan and draft scout/analyst, along with writing about the league is a passion project. Mr. Yun has been credentialed to the Senior Bowl multiple times. Readers will find he brings the juice with a scout’s eye and analytical mind. Follow me on Twitter @2Yoon2ZeroBlitz for more good stuff!
