As the holiday season sweeps through the SEC, a few football programs might find coal tucked in their stockings instead of bowl game invitations or playoff dreams. Kentucky isn’t alone in enduring a tough season—here are five other teams joining the Wildcats on Santa’s naughty list:
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Three losses in one season? For Alabama fans, that’s downright catastrophic. New head coach Kalen DeBoer inherited sky-high expectations, but losses to Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Vandy have Tide fans grumbling louder than a winter windstorm. If Alabama stumbles again next year, DeBoer might find himself on more than just Santa’s watch list.
2. Ole Miss Rebels
This was supposed to be the year for Lane Kiffin’s squad. With a loaded roster and a hot start, the Rebels were eyeing their first-ever playoff berth. Instead, they fizzled, falling to LSU, Florida, and even Kentucky—a team that finished 4-8. For fans in Oxford, hopes of postseason glory melted faster than snow in Mississippi.
3. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Talk about a lump of coal season. Under new head coach Jeff Lebby, the Bulldogs limped to a miserable 2-10 record, becoming a bottom dweller in the SEC. Losses piled up, and the fan base was left wondering if the Christmas spirit included a fresh start at quarterback—or perhaps just a glimmer of hope for 2025.
4. Oklahoma Sooners
Welcome to the SEC, Oklahoma! The Sooners learned quickly that life in the Southeastern Conference is no picnic. Finishing 6-6 overall and 2-6 in conference play, Oklahoma’s debut season in their new league proved to be a harsh awakening. The Sooners may want to rethink their wish list for next season—it starts with toughness in the trenches.
5. Auburn Tigers
Hugh Freeze’s return to SEC coaching wasn’t the fairy tale Auburn hoped for. Missing a bowl game at 5-7, Freeze’s first season with the Tigers fell flat. With losses stacking up, Auburn fans will spend Christmas hoping for better results next season—or perhaps a new playbook for St. Nick to deliver.
This Christmas, SEC fans can only hope Santa brings renewed hope, better execution, and fewer reasons to check the naughty list next season.