College football is here! Saturday's slate of five Week 0 games gave us a bit of an appetizer, but this weekend, a full course meal is on deck for Week 1. LSU's matchup against Clemson is one of three top-ten matchups this weekend, with No. 1 Texas taking on No. 3 Ohio State and No. 6 Notre Dame battling No. 10 Miami (FL).
Life in the SEC is never easy, and the 16-team league is set to take center stage in Week 1. As the anticipation continues to build, here is our first official SEC Power Rankings of the 2025 college football season.
SEC Power Rankings: Week 1
16. Mississippi State
Jeff Lebby's rebuild in Starkville is going to take some time. The Bulldogs went 2-10 overall last season, with their wins coming against Eastern Kentucky and UMass. The Mississippi State program has a long road ahead to get back on its feet, and the 2025 season is going to be another long one for Lebby and the Bulldogs.
15. Kentucky
Mark Stoops saw the bottom fall out at Kentucky last season. A 4-8 record and a 1-7 mark in SEC play saw Stoops put together his worst season since taking over in Lexington in 2013. The program appears to be at a crossroads, and has a ton of new faces. Remember Zach Calzada? The former Texas A&M Aggie spent the past two seasons at Incarnate Word and is now the starting quarterback for the Wildcats. A bowl appearance would be a massive win for Stoops this season.
14. Arkansas
The 2025 season is a pivotal one for Sam Pittman. Pittman's record at Arkansas has dipped below the .500-mark to 30-31, and he's posted a less-than-ideal 14-28 record in SEC play. The schedule this season also doesn't do them any favors. The Razorbacks have trips to Ole Miss, Tennessee, LSU, and Texas in league play, and a non-conference matchup at Memphis that won't be easy. They also host Notre Dame on Sept. 27. Getting to six wins will be an uphill battle.
13. Vanderbilt
The Vanderbilt Commodores were the darlings of the SEC last season. They picked up their first ever win over a No. 1-ranked program with a stunning upset over Alabama on Oct. 5. Clark Lea led the program to a winning record for the first time since 2013, and his team returns 77% of their production from last season, which is the most in the SEC. However, do the Commodores have enough talent to put together another winning season? It will be tough, but Lea has gotten the Vandy program out from the cellar of the SEC.
12. Auburn
Hugh Freeze enters his third year on The Plains, and he is in need of a winning season. Freeze has led the Tigers to an 11-14 record in two seasons, and another 5-7 campaign won't do him any favors. Auburn's mind-boggling quarterback situation remains in flux, so the direction of this team is still unclear entering Week 1.
11. Missouri
Missouri has won double-digit games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2013-14. The program has never won 10+ games in three consecutive seasons, and after losing several offensive weapons, that trend could continue. Eli Drinkwitz's defense is in good shape after returning over 70% of their production, but the offense has a lot of question marks.
10. Oklahoma
The Sooners had a rough time in their first season as members of the SEC. Jackson Arnold and the offense never got in rhythm, which resulted in some ugly losses and a 6-7 record. Arnold is gone, and Brent Venables brought in the QB/OC duo of John Mateer and Ben Arbuckle from Washington State. The Sooners should be much improved in 2025.
9. Tennessee
Tennessee is a tough team to figure out at this point in time. Josh Heupel's offense has been alright, but last season it was the defense that really stood out. Expecting another rock solid defensive season is a tough ask, and the offense has a new gunslinger after the highly-publicized departure of Nico Iamaleava. New QB Joey Aguilar has taken the reins of Heupel's fast-paced offense, and if it takes some time for Aguilar to figure it out, the Vols could find themselves fighting an uphill battle.
8. South Carolina
There's a lot of hype around the Gamecocks heading into the 2025 season, and for good reason. Last season, South Carolina went 9-3 in the regular season with a 5-3 mark in SEC play. But, they lost to LSU and Alabama by a combined five points. The Gamecocks could have easily been a playoff team if a few more bounces went their way. The offense is led by QB LaNorris Sellers, who is a legitimate Heisman contender. The Gamecocks are a dangerous team and can be considered a dark horse contender for the College Football Playoff.
7. Texas A&M
It's hard for Texas A&M to fly under the radar, but that might be what's happening. Mike Elko led the Aggies to an 8-4 regular season in 2024, and could have his team poised for a breakout season in 2025. The Aggies play five of their first six games at home, but a three-game road stretch against Arkansas, LSU, and Missouri from Oct. 18 to Nov. 8 could define Elko's second season in College Station.
6. Ole Miss
Ole Miss missing out on the College Football Playoff last year was surprising. The schedule lined up well for them, but sloppy play down the stretch left the Rebels on the outside looking in. Lane Kiffin continues to embrace the transfer portal, which makes Ole Miss' 47% returning production not nearly as meaningful. The Rebels can be another 10-win team this season.
5. Florida
Billy Napier was on the verge of losing his job last season, but he and his team persevered to an 8-5 season. There's no doubt that Florida's 2025 season is in DJ Lagway's hands. His play will determine if the Gators are for real, or if they fizzle out. The schedule isn't easy (again), as Florida battles LSU, Miami (FL), Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Florida State this season. But as it stands, this team deserves some recognition heading into 2025.
4. Alabama
Kalen DeBoer enters Year 2 in Tuscaloosa with a top-ten team. The Crimson Tide missed out on the College Football Playoff last season after suffering disappointing losses to Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. The losses were ugly, but DeBoer's team is more than capable of winning a title this season. They sit at No. 4 in our rankings due to the inexperience of new starting quarterback Ty Simpson.
3. LSU
The importance of Garrett Nussmeier's return to Baton Rouge cannot be overstated. Nussmeier has seen a little bit of everything during his four seasons at LSU, and he is equipped with an elite receiving unit that has the potential to be among the best in the country. The Tigers return several other key starters as well as the No. 1 transfer portal class and a top-ten high school recruiting class. This is a pivotal year for Kelly and his staff, as the talent is there to orchestrate a monster season.
2. Georgia
Georgia can never be counted out. The Bulldogs have arguably the highest floor year-in and year-out under Kirby Smart, and the reigning SEC champs have the roster to win the conference yet again. Gunner Stockton didn't thrive in his limited action last season, but that experience can be very valuable moving forward. Georgia is still considered a powerhouse entering the 2025 season.
1. Texas
The Texas Longhorns made a statement in their first SEC season by winning the conference's regular season title. They fell to Georgia in the SEC title game, but made a run to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. Now, Arch Manning takes over at quarterback, and he leads an elite roster that was ranked as the No. 1 team in the country in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll. The Longhorns are the team to beat entering the 2025 season.