After a wild Week 0 appetizer, the full college football slate is here. We break down the new-look 16-team SEC from top to bottom as the 2025 season kicks off.
It’s that glorious time of year again, folks. College football is officially back. Week 0 gave us a taste of the beautiful chaos to come—Hawaii upsetting Stanford on a last-second field goal, a brawl in Ireland involving a QB's family, and Dan Mullen nearly suffering a humiliating loss to Idaho State. It was the perfect appetizer.
Now, the main course arrives. Week 1 is here, and the most dominant conference in sports, the Southeastern Conference, takes center stage. The league is a 16-team gauntlet.
Based on last year's performance, returning talent, and offseason buzz, here is our first official SEC Power Ranking of the 2025 season. ESPN SP+ numbers can be found here if you want to see them all.
SEC power ranking- Week 1 Edition
1. Texas
The Longhorns were the class of the conference last year, finishing 13-3 with a conference title. While their returning production numbers are middle-of-the-pack (51%), their SP+ rating was the best in the SEC in 2024 for a reason. They are absolutely loaded with elite talent and are the team to beat until proven otherwise.
2. Georgia
An 11-3 season is a "down year" in Athens, which tells you everything you need to know. The Bulldogs have the lowest returning production in the SEC (46%), but Kirby Smart doesn't rebuild; he reloads. Their No. 6 SP+ ranking shows the baseline is still higher than almost anyone else's.
3. Alabama
The post-Saban era begins. Kalen DeBoer inherits a roster stacked with blue-chip talent and a respectable 64% returning production. The Tide finished with the No. 4 SP+ ranking last season, and with their talent, they remain an immediate title contender.
4. Tennessee
Josh Heupel’s offense is a nightmare to defend. The Vols are coming off a strong 10-3 season, and while they only return 39% of their offensive production, the system is the star. With the No. 9 SP+ ranking, expect them to keep putting up points in bunches.
5. Ole Miss
Lane Kiffin is the king of the transfer portal, which makes their 47% returning production statistic the most misleading number in the conference. The Rebels went 10-3 last year and will once again have one of the most explosive and unpredictable rosters in the country.
6. Texas A&M
After years of underachieving, the Aggies look poised for a big season under Mike Elko. They bring back an impressive 72% of their production from an 8-5 team that ranked 13th in SP+. They could be the conference's biggest surprise.
7. LSU
The Tigers have talent for days but stumble often under Brian Kelly. Still, they return 65% of their production and finished last season with the top-ranked offense in SP+. If the defense improves, they’ll be a tough out for anyone.
8. Missouri
Eli Drinkwitz led the Tigers to a fantastic 10-3 season in 2024. The challenge will be replacing key offensive weapons, but they bring back a whopping 72% of their defensive production, which should keep them competitive in the SEC.
9. South Carolina
Shane Beamer has the Gamecocks trending up. Coming off a 9-4 season, they return 66% of their offensive production. They have a tough schedule, but their program has a clear identity and a ton of fight.
10. Oklahoma
Welcome to the SEC, Sooners. After a rough 6-7 debut season, Brent Venables’ squad is far more seasoned, returning 70% of its production. Expect a significant step forward in year two.
11. Florida
The pressure is on Billy Napier in Gainesville. An 8-5 season wasn't enough to quell the doubters, but with 64% returning production and a ton of returning starters, this is the year his system needs to show serious results.
12. Arkansas
Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks are always physical and tough. After a 7-6 campaign, they have to find answers on offense. They have a decent core of returning players (60%) but face a brutal schedule.
13. Auburn
Hugh Freeze enters his second year on The Plains with a team that has solid continuity (65% returning production). However, they need to show massive improvement after a 5-7 season to climb out of the bottom tier of the SEC West.
14. Vanderbilt
The Commodores boast the most returning production in the entire SEC at 77%. That experience, combined with a 7-6 record last year, provides hope. However, the talent gap in this conference is immense, and they still have the most ground to make up.
15. Mississippi State
New coach Jeff Lebby has a monumental rebuild ahead of him in Starkville. The Bulldogs finished 2-10 (0-8 in conference) with the second-worst SP+ ranking in the league. It’s going to be a long year one.
16. Kentucky
Someone has to be here. After a disastrous 4-8 season that saw the Cats go 1-7 in the SEC, the program is at a crossroads. Home town hero Dane Key bolted to Nebraska and has become a captain. The whole defensive line is new. And with just 59% returning production and immense uncertainty at quarterback and on the offensive line, Kentucky enters the 2025 season with more questions than answers. It’s a "prove it" year, and for now, they start in the cellar.
Can the Cats climb out of the cellar in a loaded conference? Stay tuned.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he spends time with his family, and watching Premier League soccer. #UpTheAlbion