Georgia has raised the standard in SEC football under Kirby Smart’s leadership. The Bulldogs have won national titles and stayed on top in recruiting year after year. Even in a tough 2024 season, they still went 11-3 and made it to the Sugar Bowl. That marked Georgia’s first three-loss season since 2018, but it still showed their consistency at the highest level.
Alabama’s 2024 season ended with a 9-4 record, its worst since 2007, including a loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Kalen DeBoer is looking to fill Nick Saban’s big shoes, and a huge bounceback season is needed if he wants to quiet the noise.
Since taking charge at LSU, Brian Kelly has turned the team into a real contender. But for LSU fans, making the playoffs isn’t enough—they want championships. The Tigers wrapped up the 2024 season with a 9-4 record, including a solid win over Baylor in the Texas Bowl.
Josh Heupel is turning Tennessee into a serious threat in the SEC. In 2024, the Volunteers finished with a strong 10-3 record and went 6-2 in conference play. They even made their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, though they came up short against Ohio State in the opening round.
Lane Kiffin has transformed Ole Miss into a serious contender in the SEC. In 2024, the Rebels finished with a strong 10-3 record and went 5-3 in the conference. They narrowly missed a College Football Playoff spot after a tough late-season loss to Florida.