No. 10 - Auburn Tigers - Hugh Freeze has improved his roster considerably. Auburn will not have a back-to-back losing season. The Tigers will likely win a big upset game, but winning consistency will be a challenge. Oklahoma transfer QB Jackson Arnold is hoping for a more positive environment in Auburn. Obviously, Arnold missed Hugh's multiple 'throw his quarterback under the bus' routines last season.
No. 9 - Texas A&M Aggies - Mike Elko and the Aggies need an early-season major turnaround from last season. After beating LSU in College Station in late October, the Aggies were 7-1 and a legit Playoff contender. They closed the 2025 season with only one more win. Quarterback Marcel Reed showed much promise last season after replacing an injured Connor Weigman. Reed threw for nearly 300 yards in the losses to Auburn and USC. He is also a rushing threat.
No. 8 - Oklahoma Sooners - The Sooners get my early vote to become the SEC's most improved team in 2025. Brent Venables must get to eight wins, and I like his chances. The main reason to be bullish is the transfer quarterback, John Mateer. Mateer's impressive career stats, passing and running, were against weaker defenses than he will face in the SEC. He still deserved a ranking as No. 1 overall in the Transfer Portal. On defense, Oklahoma was above average last season, especially in November. Nearly all the defensive starters return. Mark the Sooners down as potentially 'sneaky good' in 2025.
No. 7 - South Carolina Gamecocks - A good as John Mateer is expected to be in the SEC, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers might be the SEC QB that puts the most pressure on defenses. Some early mocks have him as the No. 1 QB pick in next year's NFL Draft, going higher than Arch Manning or LSU's Garrett Nussmeier. The Gamecocks have done well in the Transfer Portal but another quality receiver is needed for Sellers. There were also defensive holes that needed to be filled through the Portal. The Gamecocks might not be as good defensively as they were last season.
No. 6 - Florida Gators - The Gators have plenty of talent. They got there despite some significant roster losses. Portal exits more than tripled new transfer additions, leading to the SEC's lowest-ranked Portal class as ranked by On3. Recovering from injury, Lagway did not throw in the spring. When he becomes 100%, the Gators should be improved on offense, while the defense may take a step back. The best news for Billy Napier is that Lagway can be one of the SEC's best playmakers. The biggest problem for Napier is another most difficult schedule.