Trey Luerssen
August 13, 2024 10:48 am CT
Fans have to wait only a few more weeks for the start of the most anticipated SEC season in history. Adding Texas and Oklahoma has turned the best conference into one of two superconferences. Throw in the fact the Longhorns are coming off a college football playoff appearance and look to be one of the SEC’s best teams in 2024, the anticipation is at a fever pitch.
There’s a lot of curiosity from fans of the old-school SEC powers Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, etc., on how the new teams will fare in the league. There’s also some angst in College Station, where a rivalry will be renewed. Texas will renew an old rivalry with Arkansas and undoubtedly gain new rivals such as LSU.
When the move to the SEC was announced a few years ago, Texas didn’t look ready to compete. But fast-forward to the present, and the Horns seem primed to make a run at the conference title.
ESPN is one of the original innovators of weekly power rankings. The network will publish a new version of the SEC power rankings each week.
Here are the ESPN preseason SEC power rankings. There is no surprise that Georgia is on top. It might surprise some that Texas is No. 2. Just a reminder, the Bulldogs and Longhorns meet on Oct. 19, one week after the Red River Shootout with OU.
1
Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia coach Kirby Smart yells during spring practice in Athens, Ga., Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN says: The Bulldogs are the only team in college football to have finished in the top seven of the final AP poll each of the past seven seasons.
2
Texas Longhorns
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian greets Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Byron Murphy II (90) on senior night before the game against Texas Tech at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium. Austin American-Statesman
ESPN says: The Longhorns are back — for real this time — and coach Steve Sarkisian has assembled enough talent to challenge Georgia, Alabama and the rest for an SEC title in Year 1 in the league.
3
The Crimson Tide football team continued practice Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, as they prepare for the season opener and the first game under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer watches as Alabama defensive back Alijah May (38) runs a drill.
ESPN says: Kalen DeBoer ran to the challenge of replacing the legendary Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide have the pieces in place to be back in the playoff.
4
Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin watches during the Ole Miss Grove Bowl Games at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss.
ESPN says: The Rebels are coming off a school-record 11 victories in 2023, and coach Lane Kiffin has them positioned to perhaps go even higher in the SEC standings. Quarterback Jaxson Dart and a talented receiver corps should make for one of the league’s most potent offenses.
5
Missouri Tigers
Missouri Tigers head coach Eliah Drinkwitz reacts during the fourth quarter of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic against the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium.
ESPN says: The Tigers were one of the surprises in the SEC a year ago with 11 wins. They bring back the dynamic pass-catch combo of Brady Cook and Luther Burden III.
6
Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel during Tennessee football’s fall practice, in Knoxville, Tenn.
ESPN says: After not being relevant nationally for much of the 2000s, Tennessee has surged back into the upper half of the SEC under Josh Heupel and is looking for more.
7
LSU Tigers
LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly waves to fans during warmups before the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN says: The Tigers have capable replacements on offense, but the lingering question heading into preseason camp is whether they’ll be able to stop anyone on defense. If new coordinator Blake Baker pushes the right buttons, the Tigers could be a sleeper to make the CFP.
8
Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables shouts during a University of Oklahoma (OU) Sooners spring football game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma.
ESPN says: In his third season at OU, Brent Venables likes the experience on this team, with many players having been in the program for three years now. The Sooners’ schedule in Year 1 in the SEC is challenging, to say the least.
9
Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko speaking at Omni Dallas Hotel. Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN says: Mike Elko wasn’t as flashy of a hire as former coach Jimbo Fisher, but the former Duke head coach might be a better developer of talent and team building. He went 16-9 in two seasons with the Blue Devils, which isn’t easy.
10
Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops smiled while walking onto the field before the Kentucky Wildcats’ Blue White scrimmage at Kroger Field on Saturday afternoon in Lexington, Kentucky.
ESPN says: Mark Stoops is the dean of SEC coaches, entering his 11th season at Kentucky. He’s won 10 games twice in his last five seasons, but is looking to regroup after going 7-6 a year ago and nearly being named the Texas A&M coach.
11
Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze argues after an officials call during the first quarter against the New Mexico State Aggies at Jordan-Hare Stadium. John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN says: The Tigers suffered heartbreaking losses to the SEC’s two best teams a year ago, Alabama and Georgia, in Hugh Freeze’s first season. He’s optimistic they will be more explosive in the passing game this season.
12
Florida Gators
Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier looks on during fall football practice at Heavener Football Complex at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun
ESPN says: It feels like it’s now or never for Gators coach Billy Napier after his teams went 11-14 the past two seasons. If the Gators don’t improve dramatically on defense — they surrendered 33.6 points per game in conference play — they could be looking for a new head coach again.
13
Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman during the fourth quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Missouri won 48-14. Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN says: Most Arkansas fans want Sam Pittman to succeed, and whether former Hogs head coach Bobby Petrino can turn around the offense might determine whether Pittman is back beyond 2024.
14
South Carolina Gameco*cks
South Carolina Gameco*cks head coach Shane Beamer reacts after receiver Xavier Legette (17) was knocked down by Clemson Tigers cornerback Nate Wiggins (not pictured) on a play during the first quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN says: The Gameco*cks put together winning seasons in each of Shane Beamer’s first two years in Columbia, but plummeted to 4-8 last season. First-year starting quarterbackLaNorris Sellershas shown promise, but the battles on the line of scrimmage will be critical for South Carolina.
15
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby speaking at Omni Dallas Hotel. Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN says: Jeff Lebby is Mississippi State’s third head coach in three years. He’s had explosive offenses everywhere he’s been, and the Bulldogs look to Baylor transfer quarterbackBlake Shapento help revive an offense that ranked 107th nationally in scoring last season.
16
Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea watches his player warm up during an NCAA college football practice in Nashville, Tenn.
ESPN says: Clark Lea is moving back as the primary playcaller on defense. The Commodores have won just three SEC games over the past five seasons but are excited to see what transfer quarterback Diego Pavia(New Mexico State) can do to rev up the offense.
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