SEC Football Preview: 2025 Season Predictions, Records, and Rankings

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports

The Southeastern Conference is once again loaded with talent, controversy, and College Football Playoff hopes. As always, powerhouse programs will clash, rivalries will rage, and playoff dreams will rise and fall with each Saturday. Here’s a full breakdown of every SEC team heading into the 2025 season—with records, key analysis, and predicted standings.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Game 1 at Florida State- Win

Game 2 vs UL Monroe- Win

Game 3 vs Wisconsin- Win

Game 4 at Georgia- Loss

Game 5 vs Vanderbilt- Win

Game 6 at Missouri- Win

Game 7 vs Tennessee- Win

Game 8 at South Carolina- Win

Game 9 vs LSU- Loss

Game 10 vs Oklahoma- Loss

Game 11 vs E Illinois- Win

Game 12 at Auburn- Win

9-3 (5-3)

After a disappointing, playoff-less season, for the Tide, they have big expectations in year 2 of the Deboer era. Their roster isn’t as talented as other SEC teams, and they have a pretty hard schedule. 9-3 likely isn’t a playoff team with this schedule, so I predict another year to end in disappointment in Tuscaloosa.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Game 1 vs Alabama A&M- Win

Game 2 vs Arkansas State- Win

Game 3 at Ole Miss- Loss

Game 4 at Memphis- Win

Game 5 vs Notre Dame- Loss

Game 6 at Tennessee- Loss

Game 7 vs Texas A&M- Loss

Game 8 vs Auburn- Loss

Game 9 vs Mississippi State- Win

Game 10 at LSU- Loss

Game 11 at Texas- Loss

Game 12 vs Missouri- Loss

4-8 (1-7)

Taylen Green is a solid QB. Other than that I’m not a huge fan of this roster. Sam Pittman could be gone after this year, the Razorbacks have a very tough schedule and I don’t see them winning many games. A floor of 2-10 isn’t out of the realm of possibility, which would be a disaster.

Auburn Tigers

Game 1 at Baylor- Win

Game 2 vs Ball State- Win

Game 3 vs South Alabama- Win

Game 4 at Oklahoma- Loss

Game 5 at Texas A&M- Loss

Game 6 vs Georgia- Loss

Game 7 vs Missouri- Win

Game 8 at Arkansas- Win

Game 9 vs Kentucky- Win

Game 10 at Vanderbilt- Win

Game 11 vs Mercer- Win

Game 12 vs Alabama- Loss

8-4 (4-4)

I’m a big fan of Auburn going into this season. The Jackson Arnold hype is a little much, but I really, really like their team. Arnold had a very poor offense in 2024, and with weapons like Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton Jr, I think he can have a really solid year. They aren’t quite ready to compete for the CFP, but I think they can win some ball games.

Florida Gators

Game 1 vs Long Island- Win

Game 2 vs South Florida- Win

Game 3 at LSU- Loss

Game 4 at Miami- Win

Game 5 vs Texas- Loss

Game 6 at Texas A&M- Loss

Game 7 vs Mississippi State- Win

Game 8 vs Georgia- Loss

Game 9 at Kentucky- Win

Game 10 at Ole Miss- Win

Game 11 vs Tennessee- Win

Game 12 vs Florida State- Win

8-4 (4-4)

With all of the hype in the world surrounding QB DJ Lagway, expectations are high this year for the Gators. With a very difficult schedule, it will be hard to make a playoff appearance. Florida is still missing some talent needed to make a run, so I've got them with an 8-4 record, and 4-4 in the SEC.

Georgia Bulldogs

Game 1 vs Marshall- Win

Game 2 vs Austin Peay- Win

Game 3 at Tennessee- Win

Game 4 vs Alabama- Win

Game 5 vs Kentucky- Win

Game 6 at Auburn- Win

Game 7 vs Ole Miss- Win

Game 8 at Florida- Win

Game 9 at Mississippi State- Win

Game 10 vs Texas- Loss

Game 11 vs Charlotte- Win

Game 12 vs* Georgia Tech- Win 

11-1 (7-1)

Georgia is do for a big year. They haven’t won a Championship since 2022 (I know so long) and they feel like they are due for one. They have a great team, elite coach, and a relatively easy schedule. An 11-1 season for them seems likely, and the Texas game is a tossup. I would give them an absolute floor of 9-3, and definitely a possibility for 12-0. This isn’t the most talented Georgia team we’ve ever seen, but the stars could align for another UGA national title.

Kentucky Wildcats

Game 1 vs Toledo- Win

Game 2 vs Ole Miss- Loss

Game 3 vs Eastern Michigan- Win

Game 4 at South Carolina- Loss

Game 5 at Georgia- Loss

Game 6 vs Texas- Loss

Game 7 vs Tennessee- Loss

Game 8 at Auburn- Loss

Game 9 vs Florida- Loss

Game 10 vs Tennessee Tech- Win

Game 11 at Vanderbilt- Loss

Game 12 at Louisville- Loss

3-9 (0-8)

Kentucky is, in my opinion, the worst team in the SEC this year. It sadly might be time to move on from longtime coach Mark Stoops, because I don’t see this team getting a lot better under him any time soon. Unfortunate for them that they don’t play Mississippi State or Arkansas, because I don’t see them getting a power 4 win this year. 

LSU Tigers

Game 1 at Clemson- Loss

Game 2 vs LA Tech- Win

Game 3 vs Florida- Win

Game 4 vs SE Louisiana- Win

Game 5 at Ole Miss- Win

Game 6 vs South Carolina- Win

Game 7 at Vanderbilt- Win

Game 8 vs Texas A&M- Win

Game 9 at Alabama- Win

Game 10 vs Arkansas- Win

Game 11 vs Western Kentucky- Win

Game 12 at Oklahoma- Loss

10-2 (7-1)

LSU has a very, very good team. A top 3 QB in Garrett Nussmeier, and the additions of talented transfer receivers Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barion Brown (Kentucky). Their defense should be good, and they have a good coach in Brian Kelly. I believe this will be the year they get back to the CFP, and I have them going 10-2 with losses to Clemson and OU.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Game 1 at Southern Miss- Win

Game 2 vs Arizona State- Loss

Game 3 vs Alcorn State- Win

Game 4 vs Northern Illinois- Win

Game 5 vs Tennessee- Loss

Game 6 at Texas A&M- Loss

Game 7 at Florida- Loss

Game 8 vs Texas- Loss

Game 9 at Arkansas- Loss

Game 10 vs Georgia- Loss

Game 11 at Missouri- Loss

Game 12 vs Ole Miss- Win

4-8 (1-7)

Mississippi State has been the worst team in the SEC recently. 2nd year coach Jeff Leby has some work to do, and with a subpar roster it will be difficult. I do have them getting a win over rival Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, but that is just because I don’t see the Rebels coming ready to play. This will likely be another bad season for the Bulldogs, and Leby will likely be on the hotseat after this year.

Missouri Tigers

Game 1 vs Central Arkansas- Win

Game 2 vs Kansas- Win

Game 3 vs Louisiana- Win

Game 4 vs South Carolina- Loss

Game 5 vs UMass- Win

Game 6 vs Alabama- Loss

Game 7 at Auburn- Loss

Game 8 at Vanderbilt- Loss

Game 9 vs Texas A&M- Loss

Game 10 vs Mississippi State- Win

Game 11 at Oklahoma- Loss

Game 12 at Arkansas- Win

6-6 (2-6)

Mizzou got an elite RB transfer in Ahmad Hardy, and a solid QB in Beau Pribula. However they do not have a great team, and last years 9-3 record was lucky in my opinion. They regressed while teams like Oklahoma, Vandy, and Auburn, who they beat in 2024, all improved. I have the Tigers finishing with a 6-6 record.

Oklahoma Sooners

Game 1 vs Illinois State- Win

Game 2 vs Michigan- Win

Game 3 at Temple- Win

Game 4 vs Auburn- Win

Game 5 vs Kent State- Win

Game 6 vs* Texas- Win

Game 7 at South Carolina- Loss

Game 8 vs Ole Miss- Win

Game 9 at Tennessee- Win

Game 10 at Alabama- Win

Game 11 vs Missouri- Win

Game 12 vs LSU- Win

11-1 (7-1)

After a terrible 6-6 season for the Sooners, they totally revamped their offense, bringing in Washington State OC Ben Arbuckle, who brought along top 3 QB in the country John Mateer. They also added top portal RB Jaydn Ott, along with good receivers to rebuild that WR core. Their defense projects to be one of the best in the nation, with defensive specialist Brent Venables now calling the defensive plays, I predict the Sooners to have an outstanding year, finishing 11-1, with huge wins over Texas, Michigan, Alabama, and LSU.

Ole Miss Rebels

Game 1 vs Georgia State- Win

Game 2 at Kentucky- Win

Game 3 vs Arkansas- Win

Game 4 vs Tulane- Win

Game 5 vs LSU- Loss

Game 6 vs Washington State- Win

Game 7 at Georgia- Loss

Game 8 at Oklahoma- Loss

Game 9 vs South Carolina- Loss

Game 10 vs The Citadel- Win

Game 11 vs Florida- Loss

Game 12 at Mississippi State- Loss

6-6 (2-6)

The Rebels lost a lot this year. They don’t have a great culture, coach Lane Kiffin is great on the field, but has some questions off the field. Their whole season relies on the success of Austin Simmons, and once they are out of the playoff race I see Ole Miss sort of giving up on the year. This would be very disappointing for the folks in Oxford, so for their sake let’s hope my prediction of 6-6 is wrong.

South Carolina Gamecocks

Game 1 vs Virginia Tech- Win

Game 2 vs SC State- Win

Game 3 vs Vanderbilt- Win

Game 4 at Missouri- Win

Game 5 vs Kentucky- Win

Game 6 at LSU- Loss

Game 7 vs Oklahoma- Win

Game 8 vs Alabama- Loss

Game 9 at Ole Miss- Win

Game 10 at Texas A&M- Win

Game 11 vs Coastal Carolina- Win

Game 12 vs Clemson- Loss

9-3 (6-2)

LaNorris Sellers is one of the top QBs in college football, and the Cocks have a great team around him. Head Coach Shane Beimer is one of the top young coaches in the sport. With a tough SEC schedule, and a non-con game vs the top team in the country (in my opinion), a playoff appearance will be difficult, but not impossible. I have them going 9-3 which probably won’t land them a spot in the CFP, but you never know with the love the SEC gets.

Tennessee Volunteers

Game 1 vs Syracuse- Win

Game 2 vs ETSU- Win

Game 3 vs Georgia- Loss

Game 4 vs UAB- Win

Game 5 at Mississippi State- Win

Game 6 vs Arkansas- Win

Game 7 at Alabama- Loss

Game 8 at Kentucky- WIn

Game 9 vs Oklahoma- Loss

Game 10 vs New Mexico State- Win

Game 11 at Florida- Loss

Game 12 vs Vanderbilt- Win

8-4 (4-4)

Coming off a playoff appearance, the Vols had high expectations. However that changed with the unexpected exit of Nico Iamaleava. This will most likely be sort of a rebuilding year for the Vols, in a stacked SEC another playoff appearance will be difficult. They have the top player and QB in the 2026 class committed currently, so no need to fret in Knoxville. An 8-4 season wouldn’t be the end of the world.

Texas A&M Aggies

Game 1 vs UTSA- Win

Game 2 vs Utah State- Win

Game 3 at Notre Dame- Loss

Game 4 vs Auburn- Win

Game 5 vs Mississippi State- Win

Game 6 vs Florida- Win

Game 7 at Arkansas- Win

Game 8 at LSU- Loss

Game 9 at Missouri- Win

Game 10 vs South Carolina- Loss

Game 11 vs Samford- Win

Game 12 at Texas- Loss

8-4 (5-3)

Every year the hype for the Aggies is super high. This year, they don’t have a bad team, but I don’t believe this is a playoff team. They have some talented dudes, with QB Marcel Reed leading a good offense featuring RB Le’Veon Moss and transfer wideout KC Concepcion. 

Texas Longhorns

Game 1 at Ohio State- Loss

Game 2 vs San Jose State- Win

Game 3 vs UTEP- Win

Game 4 vs Sam Houston- Win

Game 5 at Florida- Win

Game 6 vs* Oklahoma- Loss

Game 7 at Kentucky- Win

Game 8 at Mississippi State- Win

Game 9 vs Vanderbilt- Loss

Game 10 at Georgia- Win

Game 11 vs Arkansas- Win

Game 12 vs Texas A&M- Win

9-3 (6-2)

The Longhorns lost a lot of talent to the draft, they still have a great team, but with an unproven QB and a very hard schedule this could be a bit of a down year for Texas. Their defense will be elite, led by arguably the top LB in the country Anthony Hill Jr, but I have a lot of questions with Arch Manning, and their offense will surely take a step back. I have them getting upset by Vandy in a look ahead spot to the Georgia game (in which I have the Horns getting the W), and finishing with a 9-3 record, which may still be good enough to land a playoff spot.

Vanderbilt Commodores

Game 1 vs Charleston Southern- Win

Game 2 at Virginia Tech- Win

Game 3 at South Carolina- Loss

Game 4 vs Georgia State- Win

Game 5 vs Utah State- Win

Game 6 at Alabama- Loss

Game 7 vs LSU- Loss

Game 8 vs Missouri- Win

Game 9 at Texas- Win

Game 10 vs Auburn- Loss

Game 11 vs Kentucky- Win

Game 12 at Tennessee- Loss

7-5 (3-5)

I really like this team for Vandy. They have a great QB in Diego Pavia, along with one of, if not the, best TEs in the country Eli Stowers. Paired with other solid offensive guys and a solid defense, I predict the Commodores to win 7 games this year, including a huge upset over Texas.

SEC Standings

1. Oklahoma Sooners 7-1 (11-1)

2. Georgia Bulldogs 7-1 (11-1)

3. LSU Tigers 7-1 (10-2)

4. Texas Longhorns 6-2 (9-3)

5. South Carolina Gamecocks 6-2 (9-3)

6. Alabama Crimson Tide 5-3 (9-3)

7. Texas A&M Aggies 5-3 (8-4)

8. Florida Gators 4-4 (8-4)

9. Auburn Tigers 4-4 (8-4)

10. Tennessee Volunteers 4-4 (8-4)

11. Vanderbilt Commodores 3-5 (7-5)

12. Ole Miss Rebels 2-6 (6-6)

13. Missouri Tigers 2-6 (6-6)

14. Arkansas Razorbacks 1-7 (4-8)

15. Mississippi State Bulldogs 1-7 (4-8)

16. Kentucky Wildcats 0-8 (3-9)

SEC Championship- Oklahoma vs Georgia

OU- 27 UGA- 24

This would be a matchup between 2 elite defenses. I believe it would come down to who has the better QB, which is the Sooners. John Mateer leads OU on a game winning TD drive to win their first ever SEC Championship, and secure a top 3 seed in the CFP in a season where they have flown under the radar the whole way.

Playoff Teams

Locks:

- Oklahoma

- Georgia

- LSU

Chance:

- Texas

- South Carolina

Unlikely:

- Alabama

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