Top 5 SEC Coaches Who Will Define 2025-26 Playoff Power Shifts

Ranking SEC football coaches isn’t too hard—there’s usually a clear No. 1. But this season, the real drama is in the playoff race. The 2025 SEC showdown could shake up the entire college football landscape. Georgia and Alabama are still the heavyweights, but they’re not alone at the top anymore. Teams like Tennessee, LSU, and Ole Miss are coming hard, looking to change the pecking order.

Every new season also raises questions about who is safe and who is under pressure. In 2025, a few coaches have momentum or past success on their side. However, in the SEC, a single challenging month can completely change the game. With that in mind, here’s our list of five coaches most likely to rise this season.

5 SEC Coaches Who Could Make or Break the 2025 Season

Kirby Smart (Georgia Bulldogs)

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.

Now entering his 10th year as head coach, Smart holds a 105-19 record. He’s already brought home two national championships and built a team full of NFL-level talent. With that kind of firepower, Georgia heads into 2025 as one of the top favorites to win the SEC and possibly add a third national title under Smart’s leadership.

Kalen DeBoer (Alabama Crimson Tide)

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. 

Though there are rumors about his retirement, he’s not going anywhere for now. That means Alabama still has a real shot to bounce back and reclaim its place at the top of the SEC.

Brian Kelly (LSU Tigers)

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.

Kelly’s strength has always been developing quarterbacks, and LSU continues to shine in that area. The real question lies on defense. They’ve struggled there in recent years, and how much they’ve fixed it this time remains to be seen.

If the defense holds up in 2025, teams like Georgia and Alabama might have a serious problem, because Brian Kelly doesn’t back down from a fight.

Josh Heupel (Tennessee Volunteers)

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.

Heupel’s fast-paced offense is giving even the SEC’s top teams a tough time. His success comes from smart recruiting and getting the most out of his players. Now, with UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar stepping in as quarterback, Tennessee is hoping to keep the momentum going after Nico Iamaleava’s departure.

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If Heupel can unlock Aguilar’s full potential and keep the offense firing, the Vols could be on their way to another magical season.

Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss Rebels)

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.

With quarterback Jaxson Dart leading the charge, Ole Miss has a real shot at making the playoffs for the first time. Kiffin has a solid 44-18 record at Oxford, with three seasons of 10 wins. Despite his success, he’s still searching for that elusive playoff appearance. It’s not a big deal for him yet, but with some luck, that playoff berth could finally be within reach.