The wait for college football to return has finally ended, and it’s time to kick off the season with our preseason SEC power rankings. While there are no SEC teams in action this Week Zero, we’re excited to see how the conference’s top contenders stack up against each other.
Coming into the season, the top-ranked team is Texas, who faces a tough test against defending national champions Ohio State. Arch Manning will get his answers right away about whether he’s the real deal.
Georgia takes the second spot, with the Bulldogs looking strong to start the season against Marshall.
The Tigers at LSU will be facing another 0-1 opener under coach Brian Kelly, who has struggled in his previous games.
Alabama drops to the fifth position after a matchup against Florida State, which is considered a big test for the Crimson Tide.
South Carolina rises as a dark horse in the league, with a chance to shine behind their Virginia Tech opponent.
Quarterback uncertainty was a major question mark at Tennessee until it got answered.
The Rebels at Ole Miss are expected to be a low-scoring game against Georgia State.
Coach Billy Napier’s Florida team will look to prove themselves against Long Island University.
Oklahoma is seeking its next quarterback, with John Mateer as the latest option.
Texas A&M has an opportunity to make their College Football Playoff debut if they avoid collapse in November.
The Razorbacks and Aggies have history of pulling off big upsets, including Arkansas’s last outing against Alabama A&M.
Auburn seeks a distraction from recruiting woes with its Baylor matchup.
Missouri will return to the power-conference ranks for the first time since 2020.
Vanderbilt is looking strong but has some issues downstream.
Kentucky’s football season may not have fans’ attention by basketball season’s start.
Mississippi State finishes at the bottom of our rankings, facing a tough opener against Southern Miss.
The Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread will be keeping an eye on these developments throughout the season.
Source: https://eu.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/columns/2025/08/18/who-tops-our-preseason-sec-power-rankings-hint-not-georgia/85402734007