In Week 1, several SEC teams impressed and some disappointed. The LSU Tigers delivered an impressive win on the road at No. 4 Clemson on Saturday night, while other teams like Texas and Alabama fell flat in their respective openers.
We are just one week in and there are still a lot of games left, but we've already seen some surprises in the SEC. With that in mind, here are our SEC power rankings following Week 1 of the 2025 college football season.
SEC power rankings after Week 1
16. Mississippi State Bulldogs (34-17 win at Southern Miss)
Jeff Lebby's Mississippi State Bulldogs won just two games last season, which came against Eastern Kentucky and UMass. The Bulldogs are already halfway to their 2024 win total after taking care of business against a new-look Southern Miss team by a score of 34-17 on Saturday. QB Blake Shapen threw for 270 yards, and the Bulldogs ran for 188 yards and 4.5 yards per carry against the Golden Eagles. They started the season on the right foot, but the Bulldogs could still have a long season ahead of them as Lebby's lengthy rebuild continues into Year 2.
15. Kentucky Wildcats (24-16 win vs Toledo)
Former Texas A&M QB Zach Calzada got the starting nod for the Kentucky Wildcats in their season opener, and despite his struggles, Mark Stoops' squad walked away with a 24-16 win. Calzada completed just 43 percent of his passes for a measly 85 yards. He didn't throw a touchdown and had an interception. It wasn't the prettiest win, but one that Kentucky needed before its schedule picks up with matchups vs Ole Miss, at South Carolina, at Georgia, and vs Texas coming up in the next few weeks.
14. Arkansas Razorbacks (52-7 win vs Arkansas A&M)
Arkansas put forth a dominating effort against Arkansas A&M with a 52-7 victory on Saturday afternoon. Razorback QB Taylen Green was especially impressive, as he threw six touchdown passes in the game, which was just one shy of Arkansas' single-game program record of seven set by Brandon Allen in 2015. As impressive as it was, it came against Arkansas A&M, and a daunting schedule awaits the Razorbacks in September and October. But still, it's an encouraging win for Sam Pittman and company to start the season.
13. Vanderbilt Commodores (45-3 win vs Charleston Southern)
Clark Lea's Vanderbilt Commodores are off to another great start after beating Charleston Southern 45-3 in Week 1. QB Diego Pavia looked sharp, completing 20 of his 25 pass attempts for 275 yards and three touchdowns. The Commodores have an interesting matchup at Virginia Tech this weekend, and the Hokies are looking for revenge after Vanderbilt beat them in Nashville in overtime in last year's season opener. The Hokies will also be hungry to find the win column after their loss to South Carolina in Atlanta on Sunday.
12. Missouri Tigers (61-6 win vs Central Arkansas)
The Missouri Tigers picked up a 61-6 win over Central Arkansas, but at what cost? Starting quarterback Sam Horn suffered a right leg injury in the first quarter and is out indefinitely. Former Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula stepped in and looked fine, but Horn's injury is still a concern for a Missouri offense with a lot of question marks. Pribula figures to start this weekend as Missouri hosts Kansas in the Border War, one of the oldest rivalry games in college football.
11. Oklahoma Sooners (35-3 win vs Illinois State)
The new QB/OC combo of John Mateer and Ben Arbuckle looked solid, but we will learn a lot more about Oklahoma's new-look offense in Week 2 as the Sooners host Michigan. Mateer completed 30 of his 37 passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns against the Redbirds, although he did throw an interception. Oklahoma opened as a slight 2.5-point favorite over the Wolverines.
10. Texas A&M Aggies (42-24 win vs UTSA)
The Texas A&M defense left a lot to be desired against UTSA, but the Aggies still came away with the victory. QB Marcel Reed looked impressive throwing the ball, as he totaled 289 yards through the air to go along with four touchdowns. That is certainly an encouraging sign for A&M fans, but can Reed be consistent enough through the air to find success in SEC play? The Aggies have another chance to tune things up this week against Utah State before hitting the road to face Notre Dame on Sept. 13. The Aggies open SEC play on Sept. 27 vs Auburn.
9. Ole Miss Rebels (63-7 win vs Georgia State)
Lane Kiffin loves to run up a high scoring total on lesser opponents early in the season. This year was no different, as the Rebels hung 63 on Georgia State. New Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns, but his two interceptions could be a bit worrisome. The Rebel rushing attack was also working, as they totaled 295 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Kewan Lacy had three scores of his own. Kiffin and company head to Lexington this weekend to face Kentucky, a team they lost to in Oxford last season.
8. Alabama Crimson Tide (31-17 loss at Florida State)
The Alabama Crimson Tide were the biggest losers of the SEC in Week 1. The Crimson Tide went into Tallahassee as 14-point favorites, but instead, lost by 14 points. Kalen DeBoer's team looked completely unprepared on both sides of the ball, and Florida State simply wanted it more. Alabama now has a mediocre 5-5 record over its last five games. In addition, DeBoer has now lost four games to unranked opponents in his 14 games in Tuscaloosa, which is the same amount that Nick Saban had in 230 games at Alabama. For the first time in a long time, Alabama looks like just another team. That isn't sitting well with a lot of Tide fans out there, which has DeBoer feeling the heat even more.
7. Auburn Tigers (38-24 win at Baylor)
Aside from LSU's win at Clemson, Auburn's win at Baylor was the biggest win of the weekend for the SEC. Auburn QB Jackson Arnold ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns to hand the Bears a 38-24 defeat in front of their home fans. For two programs desperately needing a strong start to the season, Auburn's convincing victory is a massive win for Hugh Freeze and Auburn, and an equally disappointing loss for Dave Aranda and Baylor. Arnold looked much improved from last season at Oklahoma, and if he keeps rolling, Auburn can be dangerous.
6. Tennessee Volunteers (45-26 win vs Syracuse)
The Tennessee Volunteers looked just fine without Nico Iamaleava, as new signal-caller Joey Aguilar led the way for a big Tennessee win over Syracuse in Atlanta. The Vols jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Aguilar looked comfortable in Josh Heupel's offense, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.
5. South Carolina Gamecocks (24-11 win vs Virginia Tech)
It wasn't the most glamorous win, but Shane Beamer was able to lead his South Carolina Gamecocks to a win over his dad Frank's former team in Week 1. The Gamecock offense struggled to find consistency, but gutsy plays from Heisman contender LaNorris Sellers willed the Gamecocks to a win. Strong defensive play and a massive 80-yard punt return from Vicari Swain in the fourth quarter also played a significant role. The offense has to be much more efficient if South Carolina is going to stand out in the SEC, but for now, Beamer's Week 1 win deserves recognition.
4. Florida Gators (55-0 win vs LIU)
It's hard to take anything significant away from Florida's season opener, as the Gators walked to a 55-0 win over LIU in Gainesville. DJ Lagway looked great, completing 15 of his 18 pass attempts for 120 yards and three touchdowns. Lagway's health was a topic of great discussion this offseason, but he looked strong in this one. He didn't need to play much, as backup QB Tramell Jones Jr also saw plenty of action, throwing 18 times for 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
3. Texas Longhorns (14-7 loss at Ohio State)
The Texas Longhorns entered the 2025 season as the most hyped team in the country. Arch Manning was taking over at quarterback, and with a loaded roster, the Longhorns received the top spot in the first AP Top 25 Poll of the season. But on Saturday against Ohio State, Manning looked lost and was unable to string any successful drives together. Texas scored just seven points, and Manning ended the game with a modest 170 yards through the air. If there's any silver lining for Texas, it's that the defense was extremely impressive. Ohio State couldn't do much offensively either, but ultimately, Manning's ineffectiveness led to Texas' defeat. Simply put, he has to be better if Texas is going to reach their lofty goals this season.
2. Georgia Bulldogs (45-7 win vs Marshall)
Gunner Stockton got his first regular season start on Saturday as the Georgia Bulldogs hosted Marshall. It was a great all-around effort from Stocktown, who accounted for four total touchdowns. He completed 14 of his 24 passes for 190 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air. He also led the team in rushing with 73 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. The defense held the Thundering Herd scoreless until late in the fourth quarter when no starters were still playing. Georgia figures to put up a similar score this Saturday against Austin Peay.
1. LSU Tigers (17-10 win at Clemson)
After Texas and Alabama both lost on Saturday afternoon, the LSU Tigers had a chance to save the SEC from a tough Saturday with a win at No. 4 Clemson. It's safe to say they seized that opportunity. LSU's revamped defense led the way while Garrett Nussmeier threw for 230 yards and a touchdown in LSU's 17-10 win. Clemson managed a measly 32 total rushing yards and just 1.6 yards per carry while Cade Klubnik wasn't able to get the passing game going. LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane made an immediate impact in his Tiger debut, making several big plays including an interception and a crucial PBU on a Clemson fourth down attempt in the fourth quarter. The Tigers' win over Clemson is arguably the best win in the country early on this season, which earns them the top spot in this week's SEC power rankings.