The SEC is in the midst of a two-year national title drought. But make no mistake, whoever wins the SEC will immediately be pegged as a national champion favorite. With the realignment dust settled for now, the 16-team league will always have programs that have rightfully high expectations that fall short because of the talent in this league. There are more “haves” than “have-nots” with only so many plates to go around. That said, the Last Word On Sports provided their SEC predictions to try and provide some expectation resetting for a few programs.
2025 LWOS SEC Predictions
Final Predicted Standings
Last Word’s staff results produced the following SEC predictions (first-place votes are in parentheses):
- Texas (4)
- Georgia (1)
- LSU (1)
- Alabama
- South Carolina
- Ole Miss
- Florida
- Texas A&M
- Tennessee
- Oklahoma
- Missouri
- Auburn
- Arkansas
- Vanderbilt
- Kentucky
- Mississippi State
SEC Predictions Leave No Doubt On Favorites
With the AP Poll dropping on Monday, this season appears destined for plenty of parity. After all, six teams received a first-place vote. The total point difference between voters from the one spot to nine is only 400 points. Whereas the gap from nine to 11 is 350 points alone. But specifically to the Southeastern Conference, Last Words voters were locked on three different teams. Not only did Texas, Georgia, and LSU receive the only first-place votes, but they were the only teams picked to finish as the runner-up. Just like the AP voters, the Last Word team believes the Longhorns are the best team in the conference. Even if quarterback Arch Manning is just good, they are loaded with talent all over the field.
Georgia has a new quarterback and a re-tooled offensive line. But Kirby Smart’s recruiting has high-level talent and depth at all positions on the field. With his proven background coaching in the conference, the Bulldogs will always remain one of the favorites. Down on the Bayou, Brian Kelly has a quarterback in Garret Nussmeier who could be the first quarterback selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Tigers brought in the number one-rated transfer class to supplement a team that wasn’t exactly lacking in talent.
Is The Hype Too Much For South Carolina?
Shane Beamer and company have to hope that quarterback LaNorris Sellers lives up to his Jayden Daniels-esque potential. The defense lost a ton of pieces from a team that won nine games last year, but still has one of the best defensive linemen in the conference. The conference schedule sets up nicely early on for the Gamecocks as they open conference play with Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Kentucky. But in order to finish fifth in the SEC, they realistically need at least five conference wins. So even if they start 3-0, they have to find at least two more wins against LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss. It will all hinge on if the young skill talent can emerge around Sellers to break through.
Who Can Save Their Job?
Based on these SEC predictions, there are more than a few coaches who could be looking for new jobs after 2025. Billy Napier navigated a tough schedule last year to return to Gainesville. But would another middle of the conference finish be enough to let him come back in 2026? Brent Venables knows better than most what the expectations are in Norman. He would be the first to admit he has not lived up to them. The Sooners have brought in some new talent on offense to pair with what should be a good defense. However, if the Last Word team is correct, will we see that the patience has run out on Venables?
Possibly no SEC coach comes into the season on a bigger hot seat than Sam Pittman. The Hogs have struggled to clear the six-win regular season mark, having not done so since 2021. The team did not make significant upgrades in the portal, and a 13th-place finish would all but mean Arkansas misses bowl season. Hugh Freeze could have a very toasty seat by the end of the season. For that matter, a week one loss to Baylor might get the fire going. He has only been there for two seasons, but another five-or-six-win campaign is going to leave plenty of the fan base restless. Will Mark Stoops finally call it quits at Kentucky if his teams finishes in the basement of the SEC? Tensions have been mounting ever since he came close to taking the Texas A&M job. If these SEC predictions hold, it might be a great time for both parties to go in a different direction.
Any Sleepers Who Can Wake Up In 2025?
For purposes of this question, we are limiting it to teams in the bottom half of the Last Word SEC predictions above. But the clear-cut answer has to be Missouri. Eli Drinkwitz has won nine and 10 regular-season games in the last two seasons. Another 5-3 mark in conference would certainly vault them into the top half of the conference. But the schedule is even more favorable in 2025. They only play two teams in the top half of Last Words SEC predictions. The Tigers have plenty of production to replace this season. But if transfer quarterback Beau Pribula steps in and plays at a high level, don’t be surprised to see Missouri around the top of the standings in late November.
Main Image: Syndication-Austin American-Statesman
