The Spring transfer portal window is closed for new entries, and now teams are just battling it out for the final few players still searching for a new program. The Spring Transfer Portal in the SEC is far less hectic for programs as players can't transfer from one SEC school to another SEC school. The end of the spring also brought about the end of spring practices where we saw quarterback battles and several other position battles settled.
Now as the fanbases wait for the Spring to turn to Summer, it's easy to start evaluating where each team stacks up against each other heading into the season. After spring practices and the chaos of the transfer portal, here is how we rank each team in the SEC and if they improved or dropped off compared to our rankings following the first transfer portal window.
The Kentucky Wildcats just aren't as talented as most of the teams they'll face in the SEC this season. After losing tons of key pieces from an offense that struggled the team returns with Zach Calzada at quarterback. The offensive line loses 3 of 5 starters, which will only make improving this season harder as the team needs to gel.
On defense, the Kentucky Wildcats will have a veteran group, which should at least help the group cut down on some of the mistakes they made in 2024. Ultimately, this team is one of the least talented in the SEC, and it's hard to get excited about their outlook, which means they'll end up surprising everyone with a solid season.
After going winless in SEC play, the Mississippi State Bulldogs are starting to trend in the right direction. The biggest story of the spring has been that true freshman quarterback Kamario Taylor looks like he's good enough to start this season. This spring the defensive front garnered a ton of attention as the unit showed massive signs of improvement after a down season. The Bulldogs have a ton of room for improvement in Year 2 of Jeff Lebby's rebuild.
In a season where the Missouri Tigers were expected to be a dark horse in the SEC, the top tier teams proved to be too tough of a task for Missouri to overcome. The Tigers then lost starting quarterback Brady Cook, Luther Burden III, and tackles Armand Membou and Marcus Bryant to the NFL among other pieces.
The big X-Factor for Missouri will be how Beau Pribula develops going from the gadget guy at Penn State to the starter at Missouri. The Tigers went out and surrounded him with weapons in Ahmad Hardy and Kevin Coleman who can help make his transition easier.
The success of the Vanderbilt Commodores lies solely on how well Diego Pavia plays on a weekly basis. Last season, Pavia had massive games helping Vandy compete with the top teams in the Country upsetting Alabama in a historic win for the program. The issue for Vanderbilt remains that while they have the elite quarterback, the rest of the roster is less talented than almost every team they'll face this season.
For the second season in a row, the Arkansas Razorbacks will head into a make or break season for Head Coach Sam Pittman. The Razorbacks went out in the transfer portal and landed a cornerstone offensive tackle in Corey Robinson II to help protect Taylen Green. The wide receiver core is the most talented top to bottom as it has been in a long time. The defense returns almost every key piece in a veteran group which will help the unit take the next step. The biggest question is if Taylen Green can take a big step in his development as it could help the Razorbacks to a above .500 record in SEC play.
This season is a make of break year for Brent Venables and his tenure as Oklahoma's Head Coach. The 2024 season was a disaster and that team lost a ton of the key pieces on defense that helped keep the team in games. The good news is that while the defense may take a step back the offense will certainly improve.
New offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle brought his quarterback John Mateer with him who will surprise a ton of fans who only watch the SEC as he's a dual threat quarterback with a ton of upside and proven production. The offensive line and wide receiver core that struggled is now a year older and should be healthy to start the season. In the spring transfer window, Oklahoma landed its biggest piece adding Cal running back Jadyn Ott who can break a big play anytime he touches the football.
While the decision to part ways with Nico Iamaleava after his NIL saga became public was the right decision to make, as it would've set the wrong standard. While the Volunteers made the right decision, it decimates their chances of making the College Football Playoff as Josh Heupel has to get a starting quarterback ready this Summer.
The Volunteers will now need to get either one of their two young quarterbacks ready to start in the toughest conference, or they'll turn to UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar, who led College Football in Interceptions last season. The Volunteers didn't do much to upgrade their wide receiver room this offseason, and Dylan Sampson, who masked a ton of the struggles of the offense, is now in the NFL.
The Ole Miss Rebels went All-In for the 2024 season but, they fell short of their College Football Playoff goals. Heading into 2025, there are lower expectations around this Ole Miss team but, the group has a ton of talent. As Lane Kiffin has made it a tradition, this team has fully reloaded using the transfer portal.
In his brief playing time, quarterback Austin Simmons showed a ton to be excited about and he'll be throwing to a wide receiver room filled with proven pieces from the transfer portal. The defense did the same, landing key pieces at edge rusher and defensive back while returning a star in Suntarine Perkins. The X-Factor will be how well Austin Simmons develops but, a Lane Kiffin led team will be competitive in every game.
During the 2024 season, Texas A&M found its quarterback of the present and the future as freshman Marcel Reed was thrown into action and showed a ton of upside. After landing their star quarterback, Texas A&M went out and landed him a pair of elite receivers in Kevin Concepcion and Mario Craver giving Reed the weapons he needs to take the next step.
The defense lost several key pieces as Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton were top picks in the NFL Draft meaning the Aggies will need to reload on the defensive front. Texas A&M however, returns most of its back half of the defense which will have the Aggies back in the mix in the SEC once again.
The Auburn Tigers were one of the biggest winners of the first transfer portal cycle, filling their biggest needs. Quarterback Jackson Arnold will be a massive improvement after a season filled with struggles at the position. Arnold will be throwing to a pair of elite wide receivers in Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton Jr, and he'll be behind a better offensive line than he had at Oklahoma. The defense returns a ton of experience pieces, headlined by potential 1st overall pick Keldric Faulk, who can change every game on any given snap.
Leaving the spring, the outlook around the Florida Gators has started to shift as the team may be turning a corner under Billy Napier. This Spring, Dallas Wilson went from 5-star recruit to superstar setting a Florida record for catches and yards in the spring game while lighting up spring practice. The rushing attack has a two-headed monster in Jadan Baugh and Ja'Kobi Jackson to help take pressure off of DJ Lagway. The X-Factor will be if Lagway can stay healthy and take the massive leap everyone is expecting as it could vault them into SEC Contention.
Coming out of the spring, it appears that veteran quarterback Ty Simpson will be the starter for Alabama this season. While Ty Simpson may not have the peak ability that Jalen Milroe had he can be a steady force for the Crimson Tide this season, and the weapons around him will help him ease into this season.
At Wide Receiver, Alabama has Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, and Isaiah Horton which will be one of the top trios in the Country along with Jalen Hale, Jaylen Mbakwe, and Cole Adams as key pieces behind him. The offensive line returns 4 of 5 starters while adding a guard with experience to help replace Tyler Booker. The defense returns nearly every piece and in the second year with Kane Womack at defensive coordinator the Tide could take a massive leap.
Last season the South Carolina Gamecocks were one of the most fun stories in College Football emerging as a contender in the SEC. After the season the group loses some key pieces as Nick Emmanwori, Kyle Kennard, Rocket Sanders, and others are all now in the NFL. While the Gamecocks lose a ton they also return a loaded group.
LaNorris Sellers returns after his first season as a starter with a chance to be on the shortlist of Heisman contenders. Dylan Stewart showed why he was a 5-star recruit with a dominant season rushing off the edge. The biggest key for South Carolina will be if the younger wide receivers are able to emerge as Sellers' has Heisman-level ability.
As the Summer approaches, Georgia's transfer portal approach starts to make it look as if the team is poised to return to the top of the SEC. The NFL Draft took 13 players from Georgia's roster yet, as we've seen time and time again the Bulldogs don't rebuild they reload.
The biggest issue in 2024 was the wide receivers as far too many passes were dropped to go on a run in the College Football Playoff. Kirby Smart and his staff went out and added Noah Thomas and Zachariah Branch, giving the team two clear upgrades on the outside.
The most important factor for Georgia next season is that both offensive tackles return as well as most of the secondary as the Bulldogs won't need to break several pieces in at the most important positions. The Bulldogs' fate will come down to how Gunner Stockton progresses but, in his brief playing time he showed a ton of promise.
If Brian Kelly is ever going to prove he belongs in Baton Rouge this season he has the team to make a College Football Playoff run. The Tigers return a ton of talent headlined by Heisman front runner Garrett Nussmeier, Whit Weeks, Harold Perkins Jr, Aaron Anderson, and Caden Durham.
Where LSU has changed the narrative around this team is in the transfer portal as the Tigers have loaded up this year after passing on adding major pieces last season. The additions of players like AJ Haulcy, Patrick Payton, Mansoor Delane, Bernard Gooden, and Jack Pyburn along with others will help upgrade the defense. The Tigers added key pass catchers for Nussmeier with transfers Nic Anderson, Barion Brown, Destyn Hill, and Bauer Sharp.
Incoming Freshmen DJ Pickett, Carius Curne, Harlem Berry, and Solomon Thomas will all have chances to make an impact Week 1 vs Clemson.
Heading into the season, the Texas Longhorns will grab all of the headlines as Arch Manning will start at Quarterback. While Arch Manning has star potential, the Longhorns defense is the unit that deserves the most attention. The Longhorns have a fearsome defensive front returning elite defensive linemen in Anthony Hill, Collin Simmons, Trey Moore, and Ethan Burke with plenty of talent behind them.
The offense will be headlined by Arch Manning but, the team should have all the talent around him to ease him into starting in the SEC. Texas signed 4 elite wide receivers that will be added to a room headlined by Ryan Wingo. After dealing with serious injuries at running back before the season started last year, the Longhorns have a full stable of backs once again.