The 2025 college football season is closing in, and with the spring transfer portal now closed, rosters are nearly set, with fall camp set to determine the final starting spots for the teams. The SEC moved to 16 teams in 2024 with Texas and Oklahoma arriving, and it did not disappoint with the action.
Heading into the 2025 season, the SEC teams have been active in the winter and spring transfer portals, bringing in high-quality recruiting classes. The college football playoffs are the goal, but an SEC Championship game is also a target on the way to those. These four teams look in the best position to be an SEC champion.
The 2024 champions will be a good bet to make the championship game again, looking to make their fifth consecutive appearance in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Despite losing stars to the NFL and the transfer portal, head coach Kirby Smart has still made moves to make the Bulldogs look competitive.
The wide receiver room missed Ladd McConkey last season, and further experience has headed to the NFL after 2024 in Arian Smith and Dominic Lovett. They have brought in one of the top proflay receivers in Zachariah Branch. Two-season starter Carson Beck transferred to Miami, but the program loves Gunner Stockton, but there are questions around him.
The defense lacks experience, but that has never been an issue in the last three seasons with Georgia. Roll in the next four and five-star talents via the assembly line. No matter how much the team loses, they will always be one of the favorites to make the SEC championship game.
The 2025 SEC Championship game losers look strong again heading into 2025 and could be the team to beat. The first season in the SEC was close to being perfect, just falling short against the Bulldogs.
At quarterback, they may have just gotten stronger with the golden boy Arch Manning finally getting his shot with the departure of Quinn Ewers. Like Georgia, the wide receiver room has lost experience, but Ryan Wingo and some talented 2025 recruits are still there alongside others. The offensive line is the only question, especially in these big games.
DT Cole Brevard was a big addition via the transfer portal alongside Hero Kanu and Travis Shaw. The defense looks strong on paper, but those highly rated recruits will need to take the next step to cover the players who left for the NFL. That said, the roster looks in a strong spot to make another conference championship.
Looking at what LSU has done during the transfer portal and what they kept hold off, they feel like this year's Ole Miss with everything in place to make a playoff push. However, they do look in a much stronger position than the 2024 Rebels.
Garrett Nussmeier returns as the starting quarterback, and his debut season was successful. That experience should give him the confidence to be the leader on offense. The additions of Nic Anderson from Oklahoma and Barrion Brown from Kentucky at receiver were excellent work. Mix that with running back Caden Durham, who is coming off an outstanding freshman season, and the offense looks hot.
The defense returns Harold Perkins, who missed most of the 2024 season through injury. Jack Pyburn and Mansoor Delane come in from the portal and will make this defense much stronger. The Tigers have a big chance of making the SEC Championship game, and the feeling is that head coach Brian Kelly needs it.
The first season under head coach Kalen DeBoer came with questions, but they were not too far away. After years of success under the departed legend Nick Saban, the pressure will only grow on his shoulders.
There is a change at quarterback with Jalen Milroe heading to the NFL. Ty Simpson will likely take the starting role, but don't rule out Austin Mack. One of the standout freshmen from last season, Ryan Williams, is back, and most of the offensive line starters return.
Replacing Jihaad Campbell and Malachi Moore will be tough, but the depth is there. The defense was one of the best in the league last season, and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack is going into his second year, so they could get better. DeBoer knows what it's like to win a conference and get to a National Championship Game, and he can easily do it again with the Crimson Tide.