Some teams in the Southeastern Conference are garnering national attention for their potential, but reality could look far different when they step onto the gridiron for the first time in 2025.

The analysts continue to predict, scrutinize and place their projected powerhouses on a pedestal. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, however, as dark horses across the conference aim to dethrone the kings and shock the country.

It is always entertaining for media outlets and college football fans to predict who will dominate each conference, especially with the SEC facing so many unanswered questions heading into this year’s campaign. But some programs are primed to disappoint this season as they continue to build hype fueled more by perception than performance.

Not all teams predicted to sit at the apex of the SEC will live up to the billing. A few popular picks could very well end the season as major disappointments, as the gap between perception and performance can grow rapidly as kickoff approaches.

With the pressure intensifying as a new season looms on the horizon, here are three of the most overrated pretenders of the Southeastern Conference in 2025:

What hasn’t already been said about the Texas Longhorns and the program’s potential this season? Everyone knows about Arch Manning, but we have yet to see what he can do on the field playing a full SEC slate. That sparks the question: Why is Texas receiving so much hype this season with a quarterback that still has a lot to prove? Well, your guess is as good as mine. Texas kicks off the season on the road against the Ohio State Buckeyes, while also playing at Florida and Georgia this season, which are no easy feats.

The complete overhaul of the offensive line seems to be a forgotten concern by some outlets that have the Longhorns winning the SEC Championship this season, with some projecting Manning to win the Heisman Trophy. Steve Sarkisian is one of the greatest masterminds in the sport today, but he is not the one who will suit up in shoulder pads and strap on a helmet come Saturday.

While the Longhorns have great talent on the roster, such as Manning, right guard DJ Campbell and a defense that should rank as one of the top five units in the country this season, the lack of depth in spots like the offensive line and the wideout position could be an insurmountable obstacle.

Do not get me wrong, the potential of Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is off the charts. However, the program in Gainesville has been nothing but a disappointment over the last few seasons. Since Billy Napier was hired to lead the Gators in 2021, he has an overall record of 19-19 (11-13 in SEC play). That kind of resume is a fireable offense at a storied program like Florida.

However, Lagway could help get the train back on track this season. The gunslinger is projected to be one of the top signal-callers in the country this season, as he can hurt you with his talented arm and his speed. Florida has some electric targets like sophomore Eugene Wilson III and true freshman Vernell Brown III, who will be home-run threats for Lagway this season. All-American center Jake Slaughter anchors the offensive line protecting the Heisman candidate, which should provide him plenty of time to settle in and throw to his targets.

The talent on the roster is not the issue, however. The incapable coaching staff continues to limit the program’s ceiling. Napier found a way to steal a game late in the season against Ole Miss that had everybody ready to crown them as one of the best teams in the country this season, but I do not see it. I predict Sun Belt Billy Napier will be lucky to win seven games this season, with a schedule that features road games against LSU, Miami, Texas A&M, Georgia and Ole Miss. If mediocrity is ahead, expect Napier to be fired at the end of this season.

I hate to do this to Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, but with the way the Crimson Tide ended its campaign in 2024, I am not a believer that things will get turned around this year. That testament is truly a shame with the amount of talent that is on the roster this season, but the daunting schedule will be the kryptonite of this team again in 2025.

Wide receiver Ryan Williams returns for his sophomore season after he stunned the world with his incredible acrobatic moves on the gridiron last season. It is not far-fetched to say that Williams will be in New York as a Heisman candidate by the end of the year, as he is one of the most talented and gifted athletes in the country.

The issues at the quarterback position are what have most people, like myself, concerned about the ceiling of the Crimson Tide offense this season. After Jalen Milroe departed for the NFL, Ty Simpson has now taken over as the starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide. With such little experience starting against SEC opponents, it is going to be an adjustment for the entire offense with a new leader on the field. Alabama’s season opener against Florida State will tell us a lot about this team and the direction it’s headed. Until then, the Crimson Tide fans will have their pitchforks and torches on standby.

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