In every SEC football fanbase there are expectations for 'their' team to perform better than last season. Even if such optimism is delusional, the fans of every team are entitled to hope. By the end of college football's week seven, every SEC football team but one (Kentucky) will have played six games. In the 41 days from the Central Arkansas at Missouri game on Aug. 28, through the games on Oct. 11, reality will have washed away many hopes of SEC fans.
All will not be lost by Oct. 11. Final crushing of hopes for some teams may not happen until December when the CFB Playoff selections are announced.
Let's consider the SEC football teams most likely to disappoint their fans. The projected contenders do not include Mississippi State, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Vanderbilt. The Dores on a no disappointment list is based on most Vandy fans knowing what to expect rather than believing Diego Pavia's bold claims.
The 'most disappoint' contenders are Florida, South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. An improved Florida team is included because of college football's most difficult schedule. Only Missouri has an easier schedule than Ole Miss and Tennessee. That should get the Rebels to eight wins, and possibly nine. My take is the Gamecocks have a better chance to reach eight wins than the Volunteers. But all four teams could have at least four losses in the regular season. No post-season Playoff game will sting the fan bases of the four teams. The Tennessee fan base will be hurt the most.
Most Disappointed in SEC Football
After a first-ever Playoff game last season, Tennessee fans have unrealistically high expectations for the 2025 season. If Josh Heupel had a dependable quarterback, the Vol's ceiling might be nine wins. Without one, and even with the second-easiest schedule among SEC teams, the ceiling will more likely be eight wins, putting Tennessee one upset loss away from going 7-5.
Even at 8-4, with home losses to Georgia and Oklahoma, the Tennessee fan base will suffer from too high expectations and too much faith in Josh Heupel.
Alabama football fans questioning Auburn not being a contender for 'most disappointing' may be correct. Freeze has significantly improved the roster, but Auburn's quarterback doubts are not fiction. Their worst case is a struggle to get to seven wins. While that would disappoint the Aubies, it should not surprise them.