College football is a cold, brutal, uncaring sport and the season is always over far too soon.
In many ways, it matches the change of seasons from fall to winter perfectly. It starts out colorful, beautiful, full of life and pageantry. Slowly, over the course of October and November, the cold and darkness set in. Hope dwindles, and it becomes harder for all but a few teams to take any joy in their team as the season draws to a close.
In light of this, I decided to put all 16 SEC teams on the therapy couch and rank them by whose seasonal depression is the worst heading into the postseason (from best to worst). The healing can’t begin until we bare our souls so let’s lay back, open our hearts, and ask the important question: “And how does that make you feel?”
Vanderbilt fans cheer during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Utah State, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)AP16) Vanderbilt
Sure, Vandy is probably missing the College Football Playoff by the narrowest of margins, but think about reading that sentence just five years ago. What was easily written off as a fluke after 2024 appears to be an ongoing phenomenon and with head coach Clark Lea signing and extension and then stealing a five-star quarterback recruit from Georgia, it’s clear we are at the dawn of something new. The Commodore Spring has arrived.
Young Auburn Tigers fans do the swag-surf as they play the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. (Will McLelland | AL.com)Will McLelland15) Auburn
Another missed bowl game, another lost Iron Bowl, another coaching search. By any measurable metric 2025 has been a dreadful season for Auburn. So why does every Auburn fan I see seem to have a little pep in their step lately? Why are they whistling and smiling, positively glowing? After five years of misery and mediocrity, Auburn is finally emerging from the shadows and stepping out into the light. They have a coach who doesn’t have to ask you to ignore his Wikipedia page at his opening press conference. They have a reason for optimism. Who knows how long that will last but for now, Auburn fans are putting their trauma behind them.
A Georgia fan reacts during pregame warmups before the start of an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)AP14) Georgia
They said it was all over for Georgia after two straight years of failing to win a national championship, but the Bulldogs showed them the dynasty is still going strong. Each time the doubt began to creep in, Georgia responded with an undeniable effort, culminating with a humiliatingly dominant victory over their little brother Georgia Tech on Thanksgiving weekend. This team fears nothing…except for maybe the team they have to play for the SEC Championship this weekend…
Oklahoma fans cheer as their team’s bus arrives before an NCAA college football game between Texas and Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)AP13) Oklahoma
Things were looking dicey for a while, and they’re still probably one bad day away from losing it again, but for now things seem to be pretty stable for the Sooners. Sure, the offense ain’t much to look at but it gets them to work on time! They’re not playing for an SEC Championship but they’re already safe and warm in their playoff spot! Things aren’t perfect, but Oklahoma really can’t complain.
Alabama fans cheer on their team against Louisiana Monroe at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025. (Will McLelland | AL.com)Will McLelland12) Alabama
It would be a mistake to call Alabama fans “happy” any time other than the few weeks following a national championship. For the moment, Alabama can take a breath and try to find some gratitude that things aren’t worse right now (they easily could have been) and try their best not to ruminate on intrusive thoughts like getting left out of the playoff again or Kalen DeBoer leaving for Penn State.
The afternoon sun provided enough warmth for these Mississippi fans to strip to their waists and wave their shirts during the second half of an NCAA college football game against The Citadel, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Oxford, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)AP11) Ole Miss
The Rebels have been through the ringer and are still recovering from the explosive ending of their toxic relationship. But there’s still plenty to be grateful for right now, like a likely playoff berth and the team’s wholehearted embrace of its new head coach. While the temptation is understandable, it’s important for Ole Miss not to fixate on the person who hurt them.
LSU fans in the student section wave their shirts and shout “We Want Kiffin!” referring to Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)AP10) LSU
The SEC’s most absurd failson has done it again. Despite being born on third base with every advantage a college football program could hope for, LSU once again crashed out and wound up looking for a new head coach. And of course, they made the messiest possible choice by stealing their rival’s man in the dead of night, just when things were looking good. The Tigers may be feeling good about their illicit tryst with Lane Kiffin for now but they would do well to remember this sage advice: If he cheated with you, he will eventually cheat on you.
Fans cheer during an NCAA college football game between UTSA and Texas A&M Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP9) Texas A&M
Everything was going so great for the Aggies! One week ago, they would easily be towards the bottom of this ranking, if not absolutely last. Unfortunately, sometimes the thing we fear happening the most becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. A&M fans dreaded the possibility of having to share space with the Texas tea-sips again. Just when the Aggies were about to assert themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the SEC, along comes their old bully to kick their legs out from under them.
Fans are seen in the stands during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Missouri and Massachusetts Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)AP8) Missouri
There was a while in September and early October when it looked like things might finally be different for Missouri. They were undefeated and highly ranked and boasted one of the most productive offenses in the SEC. A few crucial injuries and heartbreaking losses later, Mizzou finds itself right where it typically is — stuck into the middle of a list, mainly because the author of said list forgot they even existed when he was making the list.
Texas Longhorn fans relax before an NCAA college football game against San Jose State, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)AP7) Texas
They have it all — a massive talent base, a blue-blooded quarterback, bottomless NIL money, an elite coaching staff, political support. None of it seems to be enough to fill that void inside their hearts, the void where a trophy case filled with national championships and Heisman Trophies should be. Texas knows they are likely spending the winter in a meaningless bowl game, a fate truly worse than death for a program that needs attention like the rest of us need oxygen.
Kentucky fans cheer during the second quarter of an NCCA college football game against Tennessee Tech in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)AP6) Kentucky
Even the thrill of a coaching change doesn’t seem to be enough for Kentucky fans to overcome the overwhelming sense that this is as good as it gets for the Wildcats. In a new age of college football when NIL money can seemingly level the playing field in a new way, Kentucky football is still Kentucky football. Scratching out enough wins to make it to a bottom tier bowl game seems to be the best Big Blue can hope for, even with a stable coach and upgraded facilities.
Tennessee fans watch their team lose in overtime of an NCAA college football game against Georgia, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)AP5) Tennessee
How soon we become accustomed to a certain standard of living. In the previous decade, Tennessee football was a laughing stock more often than not, a picture of instability and incompetence. While the Josh Heupel Era has raised the standards of excellence in the program, it has also raised expectations – expectations that this year’s team fell far short of. Losses to Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma are all understandable given that all three are likely headed to the playoffs. Losing to Vanderbilt, however, isn’t something a Vol fan can stomach, regardless of how good the Commodores might be this year. The Vols head into this winter bitter and unsatisfied.
A Mississippi State fan holds up a sign during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/James Pugh)AP4) Mississippi State
Mississippi State may be one of the most improved teams in the SEC this season. That’s small consolation for a team that finished 1-7 in SEC play this year, especially with so many of those losses being tantalizingly close to wins. Being utterly pathetic is certainly no fun but it may be even more painful to know you were good enough to win so many times and yet managed to come up short nearly every single time. Starkville is an aptly named town in this cruelest of times for the Bulldogs.
Arkansas fans show their frustration with their team as they play Mississippi State during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)AP3) Arkansas
A winless SEC season for the Razorbacks was always going to lead to a change at head coach but this isn’t the result Arkansas fans were hoping for.
A Florida fans wears a paper bag on his head during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Florida and Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)AP2) Florida
Things are bad. They’ve been bad for a real long time. How did you get here? Is this real life? Does the universe hate you? Or does it just not care about you at all? These are the thoughts I imagine are running through the minds of the average Florida fan after following up yet another failed coaching tenure with yet another underwhelming hire (at least in the eyes of the fanbase). Lane Kiffin wasn’t going to solve all their problems but at least he would have made them feel something again.
A lone South Carolina fan looks at his phone during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)AP1) South Carolina
What hurts the most about watching South Carolina football from afar isn’t the losing. It’s not the heartbreaking blown leads. It’s not the horrible injury luck, the brutal schedule, or the missed opportunities year after year. It’s watching those passionate South Carolina fans fill that stadium year after year convinced that this time is going to be different. One would think they’d develop a shell of cynicism to protect themselves. Instead they just keep going back out there, baring their souls, and getting hurt all over again.