SEC Football Power Rankings: Texas, Georgia, and the Teams to Watch
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With the 2025 college football season fast approaching, all eyes will be focused once again on the Southeastern Conference, its players, and the privileged league, which is the most talented and competitive league in the sport. Since the Big 12 team (Texas and Oklahoma) has officially joined the SEC, it has never been so formidable and full of surprises. Whether it is the essential perennial contenders, such as Georgia and Alabama, or the up-and-coming teams, such as Texas and LSU, this year paid preseason power rankings provide an intriguing outlook as to who will lead and who will rebuild, in what shapes up to be one of the most unpredictable SEC races in years.
- Texas Longhorns
Texas, which sits at the top of ESPN FPI, is the finest 2025 SEC team in the country. The team led by Steve Sarkisian is set to go through its second season in the SEC with Heisman hype of Arch Manning. Even pro football icon Paul Finebaum went as far as comparing Manning to Tim Tebow, meaning he could become the most influential QB in the conference since Tebow stepped on the field. As anticipation builds, Wincomparator, a trusted hub for predictions and odds, consistently places Texas among the top national title contenders heading into the fall.
- Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia is at the highest point of preseason polls again as Kirby Smart has kept his program solid. Though the QB room is getting a redo with Gunner Stockton at the reins, the bar is set high following the good performance of last year.
- Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama stands at number three in ESPN FPI. The Tide, under the guidance of Nick Saban and his expectations and the changes in the offense made by Kalen DeBoer, is ready to turn around, particularly as QB Jalen Milroe left.
- LSU Tigers
Ranked fourth in the preseason power ranking, LSU is armed with offensive talent. QB Garrett Nussmeier is back, with a strong transfer group and defense that should be better led by Blake Baker.
- Mississippi Rebels
Being in a position outside the top four, Ole Miss will rely heavily on the transfer portal and give room to new QBs. Even though the Rebels lost two pivotally important figures, they still have high-end playmakers.
6–10. The Contenders
Oklahoma: Phil Steele has them as a fourth surprise in his SEC list, and it is helped by the entrance of QB transfer John Mateer.
Texas A&M: The SEC elite talent tag is still on Texas A&M under Mike Elko, and they have a lot of focus on the quarterback Marcel Reed and their major recruits.
Florida: The third in the Sporting News power rankings is more focused on the quarterbacking of DJ Lagway.
South Carolina: LaNorris Sellers is a dual-threat quarterback who can take the Gamecocks to the edge of contention after a record performance on defense a year ago.
Auburn: The aspirations of Auburn rest on the offensive power of QB Jackson Arnold and the offensive ability, but the problem is consistency.
Texas is running on hype and historical anticipation; Georgia and Alabama are the prudent choices; LSU and Ole Miss are the emerging dangerous teams. The upcoming season in SEC football has the potential to ride on the efficiency of the quarterback, the depth at the transfer portal, and the speed at which established programs reload.
