This season was not a banner year for the South Eastern Conference as we're coming to see through the College Football Playoff. The SEC only got three teams into the expanded 12 team College Football Playoff in Georgia, Texas, and Tennesssee. The opening round saw Tennessee get demolished, then Georgia lost to Notre Dame, and while Texas is fighting on it took everything for the Longhorns to knock off Arizona State.
As everyone comes to realize that the SEC wasn't as good as we've come to see in 2024 what the reason may be. Many have pointed to NIL and the fact that every school can win out due to offering more money to a player. Some have pointed to the transfer portal as the reason as teams can no longer stack as much talent as they have in the past as players move around seeking playing time.
The real answer may lie at the most important position as the SEC had a real issue with quarterback play this season. If you look at the first round in most mock drafts, the SEC is ending up with 13 first round picks more than any other conference but, 7 are defensive linemen, 4 are defensive linemen, and there is a wide receiver and a safety. The SEC is most likely sending 4 quarterbacks to the NFL in Jalen Milroe, Carson Beck, Jaxson Dart, and Quinn Ewers all of which will be taken on Day 2 Two of the Draft.
The question heading into the 2025 season will be does the SEC take back its position at the top of College Football? The answer lies somewhere among whether or not the quarterbacks develop like each school will hope.
Alabama will be starting either Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, or incoming five-star freshman Keelon Russell and give the fact we haven't seen much out of any of them its too hard to tell. Georgia will likely turn the team over to Gunner Stockton who we've seen a bunch lately but, he'll need to develop for the Bulldogs. Jaxson dart leaves Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin will seemingly turn the offense over to Austin Simmons who has flashed at times in replacing Dart. Among the teams losing their quarterbacks to the draft, Texas is set up the best as Arch Manning has shown a ton of promise and has gotten extended playing time.
This offseason the SEC teams with holes to plug at quarterback have gone out and swung big which will either result in massive success stories or epic flops. The Oklahoma Sooners struggled the entire season on offense, they look to solve their problems by bringing over Heisman Hopeful John Mateer from Washington State but, he'll need to play behind an offensive line that struggled in 2024.
The Auburn Tigers were the poster child for bad quarterback play in 2024 but, their problems may be solved. The Tigers were the benefactor of Oklahoma moving on as they land Jackson Arnold who's tough to judge based on what he was given at Oklahoma. They also land another veteran option in Ashton Daniels who's had his ups and downs in College Football. Added to the mix for the starting job is highly ranked recruit Deuce Knight who's seemingly talented enough to play in year one.
Mississippi State saw Michael Van Buren transfer to LSU after showing a ton of promise as a Freshman and they went out and landed a former five-star in Luke Kromenhoek who will need to develop plenty this offseason but, could be the answer. The Bulldogs also landed consensus four-star recruit KaMario Taylor who could be an answer right away.
Kentucky swings at a transfer quarterback once again landing Zach Calzada who's spent time at Texas A&M, Auburn, and Incarnate World. Whether or not Calzada will be the answer remains to be seen but, the years everyone is down on Kentucky are when the Wildcats shock everyone.
Missouri was in the headlines when they landed Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula who was an integral part of the offense but, will most likely start now in 2025 for the Tigers. Coming into the mix as well is highly touted recruit Matt Zollers who was a top ten quarterback according to every recruiting services except for Rivals.
Where the SEC will be looking to gain its edge back the most is with teams returning players who were first year starters in 2024.
Down the stretch of the season, the two most exciting teams for the future were South Carolina and Florida. If LaNorris Sellers and DJ Lagway take the next step this offseason, we're looking at two quarterbacks that'll be in the Heisman race and two potential College Football Playoff teams.
The Tennessee Volunteers made the Playoffs despite this year being a down season on offense. Nico Iamaleava was an incredible recruit and if he can grow in his second year in the offense the Volunteers are likely looking at another trip to the College Football Playoff.
After losing Heisman Trophy Winner Jayden Daniels to the NFL it was finally Garrett Nussmeier's time to start at LSU. This season was filled with incredible highs and some lows for Nussmeier but, LSU saw massive second year jumps from Joe Burrow and Daniels that ended in Heisman Trophies. The Tigers will have three potential 1,000 yard receivers which will make growing in 2025 much easier for Nussmeier.
This season, Taylen Green took some bumps at Arkansas but, that's to be expected transferring from Boise State into the SEC. If Green can take the next step in 2025, the Razorbacks will continue to be a tough out in the SEC.
The Texas A&M Aggies finally settled on a quarterback as True Freshman Marcel Reed showed serious promise in 2024. Given that he'll have a full offseason in the starting role Reed is poised to take a jump in 2025. The Aggies are further helping his development by adding receivers like Kevin Concepcion, Micah Hudson, and Mario Craver via the transfer portal.
Finally, Vanderbilt as things currently stand will get quarterback Diego Pavia back as the NCAA fights in courts to figure out how to deal with a ruling over years spent in Juco. If Pavia returns, Vanderbilt has the ability to beat any team like they did in 2024 while they may have issues if they can't get Pavia back.
The SEC has always had the talent on the lines of scrimmage, running back, linebacker, and defensive back. As the SEC has evolved with the passing game the Conference has pumped out incredible wide receivers. Given where the game is now, the quarterback makes or breaks any teams season and if the SEC develops theirs this offseason the Conference will be back to dominance in 2025.