The entirety of college football outside of the SEC derived much joy last season from watching the SEC land only three College Football Playoff berths and none of its teams reach the national championship.<\/p>\n
This year, I predict, the SEC will come storming back.<\/p>\n
The league\u2019s offenses last year largely stank. No team averaged 30 points in conference games. Not coincidentally, many of the SEC\u2019s highest-profile QBs in 2024 \u2014 Georgia\u2019s Carson Beck, Alabama\u2019s Jalen Milroe, even Texas\u2019 Quinn Ewers \u2014 regressed from the year before.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s group should fare better. It\u2019s a strong cast, led by Texas\u2019 Arch Manning<\/a>, South Carolina\u2019s LaNorris Sellers<\/a>, LSU\u2019s Garrett Nussmeier, Florida\u2019s DJ Lagway and Oklahoma\u2019s John Mateer, all of whom rank in the top 10 of The Athletic\u2019s preseason QB Tiers<\/a>. Oh, and Vanderbilt\u2019s Diego Pavia.<\/p>\n But a couple of the prime contenders will need a new guy to deliver. I\u2019m betting on Alabama\u2019s Ty Simpson<\/a>. I\u2019m selling Georgia\u2019s Gunner Stockton<\/a>.<\/p>\n SEC championship: Texas over Alabama<\/p>\n Thoughts on the top contenders<\/p>\n Texas: Manning is going to be good. How good? We\u2019ll see. But the Longhorns, who won 13 games last season, should have a much more potent rushing attack with the tandem of Quintrevion Wisner and a healthy CJ Baxter. The front seven will be dominant. If Texas flops, it will be because a less-experienced offensive line took a significant step back.<\/p>\n Alabama: Kalen DeBoer\u2019s 9-4 debut was a disaster, particularly on offense. But it\u2019s a big deal that he\u2019s reuniting with his former Washington offensive coordinator, Ryan Grubb. Bama has a great receiving corps led by Ryan Williams, a huge offensive line and a defense teeming with vets like linebacker Deontae Lawson and defensive tackle Tim Keenan III. I\u2019m all in on a Tide bounce-back.<\/p>\n LSU: Brian Kelly has the pieces. Nussmeier threw for 4,052 yards last season, and he has targets galore in Aaron Anderson, Kentucky transfer Barion Brown and breakout tight end Trey\u2019Dez Green. And the defense could be significantly better with all the transfer upgrades, to go with returning stud linebackers Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins.<\/p>\n Texas A&M: This is my SEC sleeper team. The Aggies quietly fielded the league\u2019s top scoring offense in conference play (29.4), and dynamic QB Marcel Reed<\/a> figures to be more advanced. The backfield is deep, led by Le\u2019Veon Moss. Yes, the defense has questions. But I like the Aggies to go on the road in Week 3 and upset Notre Dame.<\/p>\n Georgia: Although it won the SEC last year, Georgia did not meet the standard of Kirby Smart\u2019s previous teams. The Dawgs should have a strong rushing attack with Nate Frazier and Josh McCray, but how will OC Mike Bobo best utilize Stockton? Even the defense has questions for once. I\u2019ve got the Dawgs straddling the CFP bubble.<\/p>\n Thoughts on a few other notable teams<\/p>\n