2025 SEC football preseason power rankings by ESPN FPI

USA Today

22-07-2025

ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) has been released ahead of the 2025 college football season. FPI is extremely high on the SEC as usual. It ranks five SEC teams in the top 10 and 11 SEC teams in the top 20.
The media agrees with FPI and predicts that the Georgia Bulldogs will play the Texas Longhorns in the 2025 SEC championship with Texas coming out on top. FPI also views the Alabama Crimson Tide as the third-biggest SEC championship contender (17.2% chance to win SEC) with no other team having over a 5% chance to win an SEC title.
FPI and the media disagree on how to stack up the entire conference. FPI is particularly confident in teams like Auburn and Texas A&M while it is down on LSU, South Carolina, Florida and Vanderbilt.
Interestingly, FPI rates the 10 teams the most difficult schedules in the nation as entirely SEC teams.
SEC football power rankings based on ESPN's FPI
1. Texas Longhorns
FPI ranking (nationally): No. 1
FPI has Texas as college football's preseason No. 1. The Longhorns face an immediate test to start the 2025 season at the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. Quarterback Arch Manning and Texas are predicted to play Georgia in an SEC championship rematch. The Longhorns (34.1%) and Bulldogs (26.9%) have the two best odds to win the SEC.
Projected record: 10.4-2.1
2. Georgia Bulldogs
FPI ranking: No. 2
Georgia's FPI ranking of No. 2 does seem a little rich considering all that Georgia lost in the transfer portal and to the NFL draft. The Bulldogs lost their six leading sack producers from last season and their entire starting interior offensive line. There's no doubt that Georgia has talent, but this UGA team does not have a ton of experience.
Projected record: 10.1-2.3
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
FPI ranking: No. 3
The Alabama Crimson Tide (17.2%) are the only other SEC team with more than a 5% chance to win the conference outside of Georgia or Texas, per ESPN's FPI. Alabama is predicted to start quarterback Ty Simpson this fall.
Projected record: 9.6-2.8
4. Texas A&M Aggies
FPI ranking: No. 8
Texas A&M would've made the SEC championship if they could've beaten Texas in the final week of the regular season last year. The Aggies need to get more passing production out of quarterback Marcel Reed and are probably a bit overrated in FPI's rankings. But what is the point of preseason rankings if you're not going to overrate Texas A&M?
Projected record: 8.1-4.1
5. Tennessee Volunteers
FPI ranking: No. 10
Former Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar has had quite the offseason. He transferred to UCLA and then to Tennessee after Nico Iamaleava transferred to UCLA in the spring. The Volunteers probably aren't going to be returning to the College Football Playoff after this tumultuous offseason, but let's be honest Iamaleava was never that good for Tennessee.
Projected record: 8.7-3.4
6. LSU Tigers
FPI ranking: No. 12
We've finally found an underrated SEC team. LSU returns starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, which should be a big advantage for the Tigers in 2025. Texas A&M is the only SEC team to return their starting quarterback that FPI ranks ahead of LSU, but we think the Tigers should be slotted above the Aggies.
Projected record: 7.9-4.2
7. Ole Miss Rebels
FPI ranking: No. 13
Ole Miss had a strong 2024 season, but disappointingly missed the College Football Playoff. The Rebels are expected to start Austin Simmons at quarterback and should have a strong defense. The Rebels' defense has three All-SEC selections in linebacker Suntarine Perkins (second-team), defensive lineman Zxavian Harris (third-team) and Princewill Umanmielen (third-team).
Projected record: 8.3-3.8
8. Auburn Tigers
FPI ranking: No. 14
This one is strange. Arguably nobody is higher on Auburn than FPI. Hugh Freeze and the Tigers are facing a make-or-break year, but we don't see the Tigers as a top 15 team in the country. The media predicts Auburn and quarterback Jackson Arnold, an Oklahoma transfer, to finish 11th in the SEC, which sounds about right.
Projected record: 7.5-4.5
9. South Carolina Gamecocks
FPI ranking: No. 15
FPI is underrating the Gamecocks. South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers and pass rusher Dylan Stewart both made the first-team All-SEC, which gives the Gamecocks arguably the best top two players of any SEC team. The media thinks South Carolina will finish fifth in the SEC, which is more realistic.
Projected record: 7.3-4.8
10. Oklahoma Sooners
FPI ranking: No. 16
Oklahoma QB John Mateer (Washington State transfer) and running back Jaydn Ott (Cal transfer) should form one of the best backfields in the SEC. However, the Sooners have a tough schedule (games against Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas), so we don't see Oklahoma contending to win the conference.
Projected record: 6.9-5.1
11. Florida Gators
FPI ranking: No. 18
We have to admit that the Florida Gators are the most underrated team in the these power rankings. Florida has an extremely tough 2025 schedule (the Gators play 10 Power Four opponents over their final 10 games), but the Gators have more talent and potential than other SEC teams rated above them, like Oklahoma and Auburn.
Projected record: 6.4-5.6
12. Arkansas Razorbacks
FPI ranking: No. 22
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green is one of the better players at his position in the conference. Still, the Razorbacks may be a bit overvalued in FPI's SEC ratings.
Projected record: 6.1-5.9
13. Missouri Tigers
FPI ranking: No. 23
Missouri lost quarterback Brady Cook and receiver Luther Burden to the NFL, so the Tigers lost their two main pieces on offense. Missouri returns some talent especially on defense, but we don't see them winning 10 games for a third straight season. Penn State transfer quarterback Beau Pribula, who is more of a runner than a passer is expected to start for Missouri.
Projected record: 6.9-5.2
14. Kentucky Wildcats
FPI ranking: No. 34
Kentucky is expected to start seventh year QB Zach Calazada. The Wildcats have a very experienced offensive unit, but will heavily rely on transfers after finishing the 2024 season 4-8. Last season, Kentucky upset Ole Miss on the road and we think the Wildcats are capable of pulling off another stunning upset, but we don't see Kentucky ending up with more than six or seven wins.
Projected record: 5.6-6.4
15. Mississippi State Bulldogs
FPI ranking: No. 52
The media predicts Mississippi State to finish last in the SEC and we think that's right on the money. Traditionally, Vanderbilt is the SEC's bottom-dweller, but Mississippi State deserves to have that crown right now.
The Bulldogs went just 2-10 last season including 0-8 in the SEC. Mississippi State is ready to pull off some upsets, but they still have to play four teams that made the College Football Playoff last season, so we don't envision them making a bowl game.
Projected record: 4.4-7.6
16. Vanderbilt Commodores
FPI ranking: No. 56
FPI got this one wrong. We have to side with the media again. Vanderbilt should be rated ahead of Mississippi State and Kentucky at a minimum. The Commodores have one of the conference's better QBs in Diego Pavia. We think Vandy could make a bowl game again!
Projected record: 4.8-7.2