The SEC has long been seen as the standard in college football; but looking ahead to 2025, they face major competition from the Big Ten.
Despite that, there is still an immense amount of talent in the SEC and several teams that could contend for a national title powered by moves they made this offseason. Which teams greatly improved their team’s outlook since the conclusion of the 2024 season? We broke down every single team’s offseason in the SEC, providing a grade based on their moves — or retention of players — over the past few months.
LSU Football Offseason Grade
After seven impact players were drafted to the NFL, head coach Brian Kelly went to work in adding replacements. Nine new defenders will join the mix, a majority from Power Four conferences.
Offensively, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier spurned the NFL Draft for one more year and will lead the Tigers in 2025 — a massive retainment. Kelly gave him more weapons with wide receivers Nic Anderson (Oklahoma Sooners) and Barion Brown (Kentucky Wildcats). Each are speedsters and will join forces with leading receiver from a season ago, junior Aaron Anderson.
Former Virginia Tech Hokies center Braelin Moore and former Northwestern Wildcats guard Josh Thompson are also in the fold as two of the top offensive lineman in the portal. They’ll help open up holes for the dynamic running back Caden Durham, who ran for 753 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman.
While Nussmeier’s return was the key here, Kelly wasn’t satisfied and added more around him while shoring up the defense. LSU enters next season with high expectations after a massively successful offseason.
LSU Tigers Offseason Grade: A
Oklahoma Football Offseason Grade
The 2024 season was a massive disappointment for a Sooners team entering their first season in the SEC. They made a bowl game but suffered — sorry, Navy — an embarrassing loss in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Head coach Brent Venables set out to make sure that wouldn’t happen again, as he pushed hard for former Washington State Cougars QB John Mateer and landed him as the team’s signal-caller. He came out of nowhere last season, passing for 3,129 yards and 29 touchdowns while adding 826 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. He’ll be joined in the backfield by accomplished former Cal Bears RB Jaydn Ott, forming one of the most dangerous duos in the conference.
The defense, Venables’ specialty, performed at a high level in 2024 and returns several key contributors as well as adding linebacker Kendal Daniels, who registered 64 total tackles, 5.5 sacks and seven passes defensed for the in-state rival Oklahoma State Cowboys last season. His versatility will be intriguing with Venables’ defensive coaching prowess.
It hasn’t been the smoothest of sailing since Venables was hired as Oklahoma’s head man in 2022, but after putting together arguably the best offseason in the conference, the Sooners have a given themselves a real chance of competing in the SEC.
Oklahoma Sooners Offseason Grade: A
Vanderbilt Football Offseason Grade
QB Diego Pavia’s eligibility ruling, granting him one more season of college football, was as big of a win as a program got this offseason in college football. He was the engine behind Vanderbilt’s first winning season since 2013 and headed their defeat over the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide.
He won’t be returning to a bare offense either. In fact, the key players from a year ago made a point to run it back. Offensively, that group is headed by RB Sedrick Alexander (586 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last season), tight end Eli Stowers (638 receiving yards and five touchdowns) and WR Junior Sherrill (411 yards and three touchdowns).
On the other side of the ball, the Commodores retained each of their top three leading tacklers in LBs Bryan Longwell (89 total tackles), Langston Paterson (78 total tackles) and Randon Fontenette (72 total tackles).
Reigning SEC Coach of the Year Clark Lea now has something that hasn’t been placed on the Vanderbilt program in years: pressure. Will the pressure to follow up a storybook season be too much for a group running it back, or will continuity win out and lead to more wins?
They’ve certainly put themselves in position for the latter.
Vanderbilt Commodores Offseason Grade: B+
Auburn Football Offseason Grade
After a very disappointing 5-7 campaign in 2024, the Tigers’ offseason was key in them now harboring outside belief of contending for an SEC title. It started with the QB, as former Oklahoma Sooner and five-star prospect Jackson Arnold brings his talents to Auburn.
A dynamic and talented player, Arnold will have plenty of weapons at his disposal as the Tigers also landed former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets WR Eric Singleton Jr. (754 receiving yards and three touchdowns last season), former Wake Forest Demon Deacon receiver Horatio Fields (463 yards, four touchdowns) paired with returners Cam Coleman (598 yards, eight touchdowns) and Malcolm Simmons (451 yards, three touchdowns). It doesn’t get much better than that.
They also secured the commitment of one of the top left tackles in the transfer portal, former Virginia Tech tackle Xavier Chaplin who will be tasked with protecting Arnold’s blindside.
Head coach Hugh Freeze did a tremendous job in adding talent and increasing excitement and expectations around the program — something that has been missing for a couple years.
Auburn Tigers Offseason Grade: B+
Georgia Football Offseason Grade
13 Bulldogs were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, leaving holes across the roster — except there’s numerous four- and five-star recruits littered throughout the depths chart who are expected to step in and play at a high level. Former Army Black Knight Elo Modozie, who registered 6.5 sacks, is a name to watch in replacement of multiple defensive linemen who departed for the pros.
The QB spot will be Gunnar Stockton’s to lose, as he performed admirably well in his lone start last season in the College Football Playoff first round. Head coach Kirby Smart got him some help, adding receivers Zachariah Branch (USC Trojans) and Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) who combined for over 1,000 receiving yards and nine touchdowns last season.
Rushing leader Nate Frazier is back after a tremendous freshman season. He’ll be aided by former Illinois Fighting Illini RB Josh McCray, who ran for 609 yards and 10 touchdowns last season as a bruising back. He’ll counteract well with the quicker Frazier.
It wasn’t necessarily a flashy offseason for Smart and the Bulldogs, but they got the job done and looked poised to once again compete for a conference and national championship.
Georgia Bulldogs Offseason Grade: B+
Missouri Football Offseason Grade
The Tigers knew they were about to head into 2025 without their starting QB (Brady Cook), top WR (Luther Burden III) top offensive tackle (Armand Membou) and top tackler (Corey Flagg Jr.), as all four went to the NFL. For that reason, head coach Eli Drinkwitz went to work early in the portal, landing former Penn State Nittany Lions dual-threat passer Beau Pribula before the 2024-25 season was even finished.
They’ll pair him with sophomore RB Ahmad Hardy in the backfield, who rushed for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns during his freshman campaign with the UL Monroe Warhawks last season. Former Mississippi State Bulldogs WR Kevin Coleman Jr. will likely be the top target after he amassed 932 yards and six touchdowns last season.
Defensively, the additions are similarly positive in that former West Virginia Mountaineers LB Josiah Trotter will lead the defense after registering 93 total tackles as a freshman. Cornerback Stephen Hall, formerly of the Washington State Cougars, will be the catalyst of the secondary after putting together a terrific 2024 campaign in Pullman.
Though it may rest on how Pribula throws the ball — something he didn’t do with a ton of regularity during his time at Penn State — the Tigers look to be right back in the mix as they push for a third straight 10-win season.
Missouri Tigers Offseason Grade: B+
South Carolina Football Offseason Grade
Five starters were drafted into the NFL but that was it as far as starting production leaving the Gamecocks, an irregular occurrence in today’s college football landscape.
Among those returning is star QB LaNorris Sellers, who enters 2025 with tons of hype after performing well during his freshman season. With top rusher Raheim Sanders gone to the NFL, he’ll be joined in the backfield by former Utah State Aggies RB Rahsul Faison. He ran for 1,109 yards and eight touchdowns last season and has the potential to be even better than Sanders.
Junior wide receiver Nyck Harbor, who at 6’5″ and 235 pounds with extreme speed, surely would’ve had a market if he were to enter the portal. Head coach Shane Beamer didn’t let him as well as star EDGE Dylan Stewart (6.5 sacks and three forced fumbles as a freshman) get there, retaining both who will have big roles in the fall.
The overall retainment reflects the culture that Beamer has built at South Carolina. The continuity should lead to improvement upon their 9-4 record in 2024.
South Carolina Gamecocks Offseason Grade: B+
Alabama Football Offseason Grade
Kalen DeBoer’s debut season as the Crimson Tide’s head man didn’t quite go according to plan, as they stumbled late in the season and finished with a 9-4 record and missed the CFP. 23 scholarship players departed from the program and seven drafted to the NFL after the season, leaving behind some questions.
However, they reeled in yet another top recruiting class and will be relying on previous high recruits to fill vacant spots. The WR room, led by Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard and aided by newcomer Isaiah Norton (616 yards and five touchdowns for the Miami Hurricanes last season) is a major strength of the team. That group will be instrumental in helping ease presumed starting QB Ty Simpson along in his development.
DeBoer hired Ryan Grubb as the team’s offensive coordinator, as they were previously together with the Washington Huskies before Grubb spent last season as the Seattle Seahawks’ OC. His offensive prowess helped lead QB Michael Penix Jr. to the national title and he’ll look to do the same with a young Alabama offense.
Alabama Crimson Tide Offseason Grade: B
Texas Football Offseason Grade
Though there was no major threat to losing QB Arch Manning to the transfer portal, it was still a priority to keep him happy and add weapons alongside him and defensively to make his job easier.
Kyle Flood remains as the offensive coordinator and will coach a group headlined by two transfer portal additions from the West Coast in former Cal Bears TE Jack Endries (623 receiving yards and two touchdowns) and former Stanford Cardinal WR Emmett Mosley V (525 yards and six touchdowns). Outside of those two, it’ll be talented yet unproven players stepping up on the offensive side of the ball.
It’s the same story defensively, as a number of key contributors were drafted to the NFL but the depth pieces from a CFP semifinals team will be expected to step into bigger roles come the fall.
Overall, there were no major shakeups outside of departures for the NFL. Head coach Steve Sarkisian is relying on his highly-rated recruiting classes to step up alongside Manning, who — if he lives up to the hype — will elevate everyone around him.
Texas Longhorns Offseason Grade: B
Florida Football Offseason Grade
Retaining ultra-talented true freshman QB D.J. Lagway was the top priority heading into the offseason and the Gators were able to do so, a major victory right off the bat. They also landed him a dynamic weapon in receiver J. Michael Sturdivant, formerly of the UCLA Bruins. He’s caught 13 touchdowns in his three-year career.
Freshman All-SEC running back Jaden Baugh is also back after rushing for 673 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago.
Returning a large portion of the defense as well, the Gators’ young core that led the team to four straight wins to finish off 2024 is nearly all back. Head coach Billy Napier is certainly hoping the continuity will lead to contention in the SEC.
Florida Gators Offseason Grade: B
Ole Miss Football Offseason Grade
Eight Rebels heard their names called during the 2025 draft, leaving behind massive amounts of production from a 10-3 season.
Four of their top five pass-catchers departed, leaving behind WR Cayden Lee (874 receiving yards and two touchdowns). He’ll be joined by a slew of talent at that positions in De’Zhaun Stribling (Oklahoma State), Harrison Wallace III (Penn State Nittany Lions) and Duce Alexander (Wake Forest Demon Deacons). All are accomplished players at the FBS level.
They’ll each aid in making presumed new QB Austin Simmons’ job easier as he navigates his first year starting.
The defense will take a hit, as the departures far outweigh the players they brought in. But head coach Lane Kiffin has routinely gotten the most out of his offense and that should be no different in 2025.
Ole Miss Rebels Offseason Grade: B
Mississippi State Football Offseason Grade
After a 2-10 season — including 0-8 in SEC play — it wasn’t unexpected to see over 30 players enter the portal, including top WR Kevin Coleman Jr. and starting QB Michael Van Buren Jr.
Head coach Jeff Lebby got to work however, adding depth pieces across the roster. The headlines from their haul includes former Florida State Seminoles QB Luke Kromenhoek, who will compete for the starting job, and former South Alabama Jaguars RB Fluff Bothwell, who rushed for 832 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman.
In a rebuilding state of mind, Lebby should be happy with the offseason, especially considering how many players jumped ship to begin with. While it’d be very unexpected to see the jump to bowl-eligibility, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see them push for multiple conference wins.
Mississippi State Bulldogs Offseason Grade: B
Texas A&M Football Offseason Grade
The Aggies slipped down the stretch last season, losing each of their last three games to finish 8-5. Back from that team is dynamic QB Marcel Reed and top rusher RB Le’Veon Moss, who formed a terrific running duo once Reed got his footing at midseason.
There’s more of a question mark on the outside, as former NC State Wolfpack WR Kevin Conception was a huge pickup (1,299 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns the past two seasons) but depth is a concern.
The defensive front endured several key departures to the NFL and will surely head into 2025 with a weakened unit after largely reloading via the portal. Top returning tackler LB Tauren York will provide leadership for the newcomers after totaling 82 total tackles and 2.5 sacks last season.
Head coach Mike Elko’s second season with the Aggies will once again have to be ground dependent offensively with some questions defensively, as new players will have to fit into big roles. There’s a wide range of possibilities record-wise with this group but it’s hard seeing them truly compete for an SEC title.
Texas A&M Aggies Offseason Grade: B-
Arkansas Razorbacks Offseason Grade
It’s hard to quantify the Razorbacks’ offseason as a success, as they saw a massive amount of talent walk out the door either though the portal (TE Luke Hasz, receiver Isaiah Sategna and a duo of starting offensive lineman) or NFL (leading rusher Ja’Quinden Jackson, leading receiver Andrew Armstrong and leading sacker Landon Jackson).
Though they made a good effort in bringing in six transfer offensive lineman and five transfer receivers, it’s going to be difficult for fifth-year senior QB Taylen Green to improve upon his 15-touchdown, nine-interception season output in 2024. He did rush for eight touchdowns, but with a lack of weapons around him, there’s a major cap on Arkansas’ upside.
Arkansas Razorbacks Offseason Grade: C
Tennessee Football Offseason Grade
While head coach Josh Heupel stood his ground during the Nico Iamaleava saga about no player being above the team, his Volunteers squad took a massive step back after making the CFP for the first time in school history.
The arrow was pointing up until Iamaleava, a former five-star prospect entering his second season as the starter, entered the portal citing the desire for more NIL funds. He departed to join the UCLA Bruins and the two programs conducted a de-facto QB swap, as Joey Aguilar was in Los Angeles and quickly landed with Tennessee. Considering how late in the process Iamaleava departed, Aguilar’s arrival should be lauded even though he’s nowhere near as talented.
Star RB Dylan Sampson is gone via the NFL and it’ll be intriguing to see how the Vols replace him. Star Thomas, formerly of the Duke Blue Devils, ran for 871 yards and seven touchdowns last season put lacked pop, averaging just 4.1 yards per carry. He’ll join returners DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis, who each contributed in reserve roles a season ago.
While the defense should be fine, as they return a majority of their production outside of EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee is far from being a playoff team and shouldn’t harbor rational goals of competing for an SEC title.
Tennessee Volunteers Offseason Grade: C
Kentucky Football Offseason Grade
A 4-8 2024 campaign constituted changes for head coach Mark Stoops, who overhauled the trenches on both sides of the ball after departures to the NFL defensively and ineffectiveness offensively. Both lines appear better than last year.
New QB Zach Calzada, who began his career at Texas A&M before spending the last two seasons at Incarnate Word, should have more time to operate than last year’s QB group which was constantly under duress.
The other problem is with who he’ll be throwing the ball to. Sixth-year senior WR Ja’Mori Maclin is the leading returning receiver but amassed just 313 yards a season ago as the Wildcats’ top two receivers left via the portal.
KEEP READING: Offseason Grades For All 18 Big Ten Teams: Penn State Gearing Up for Title Run, Purdue Remains at the Bottom
Stoops did as much as he could to put fires out and rebuild the trenches, but it’s still vitally important for the skill positions to have talent and Kentucky simply doesn’t match up to the rest of the league in that aspect. That doesn’t project to them improving much come the fall.
Kentucky Wildcats Offseason Grade: D
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