While the Southeastern Conference is unflappable in its belief that it is the undisputed number one conference in the country, several question marks surround the 16 SEC football teams as we barrel toward the start of the 2025 campaign.
Between outstanding offensive issues, defensive dilemmas, shocking schedules, and mounting pressure, what is the most significant question for every SEC football team ahead of the fall?
Alabama Crimson Tide
Who Replaces Jalen Milroe at Quarterback?
After a brief flirtation with the Alabama Crimson Tide last offseason, Ryan Grubb officially joins the program as offensive coordinator for the 2025 season. While Nick Sheridan remains as co-offensive coordinator, the capture of Kalen DeBoer’s play caller from the dominant 2023 Washington Huskies showcases a desire to extract more from that side of the ball this fall.
On the face of it, that’s understandable. The Crimson Tide only ranked 22nd in the country for points scored per game (33.8), while their ground game and passing game yardage were middle-tier in the SEC. However, the PFSN College Offense+ metric places them as the highest-graded unit in the conference last fall (84.19, B), ranking in the top 10 offenses in the country.
Although Ryan Williams had a sensational freshman campaign, snagging 865 yards, 18.0 per catch, and eight touchdowns, it was the contributions of quarterback Jalen Milroe that powered the offense. In addition to 2,844 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, the former Crimson Tide dual-threat led the team with 726 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns.
His departure opened up a three-way spring competition between Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell. The latter is a true freshman who likely won’t see the field in anger this fall, leaving a two-horse fight. Although Mack came to Tuscaloosa with DeBoer, Simpson is believed to be the front-runner. But can he replicate the unique talents that made Milroe such a force?
Arkansas Razorbacks
Can Taylen Green Take the Next Step?
After another campaign without a winning conference record, the Arkansas Razorbacks failed to feature in the AP Poll Top 25 for the second successive season. A middling offensive line and a defense that ranked 14th in the SEC by PFSN College Defense+ (76.76, C) didn’t help, but Sam Pittman’s program needs to get more out of the offense to compete in the conference in 2025.
The Razorbacks ranked 44th in the country for scoring offense a year ago (30.9 points per game), despite boasting a top-five passing offense (274.7 passing yards per game) and the third-best ground game (184.77 rushing yards per game in the SEC. Pittman snagged several players from the portal to offset the loss of Arkansas’ leading rusher and receiver from last fall.
However, offensive success will be determined at the quarterback position. Taylen Green joined the Razorbacks from the Boise State Broncos a year ago and promptly set career highs for passing yards (3,154), passing touchdowns (15), and rushing yards (602). He also received the best PFSN College QB+ grade of his career, a 79.5 (C+) that ranked 37th in the nation.
Green made a significant one-year leap from 2023 (71.7, C-), but can he become the quarterback that an offense thrives behind? He’s never thrown more than 15 touchdowns in a single season, with just 3.9% of his pass attempts resulting in a score last fall. That won’t move the needle against a top 10 strength of schedule in 2025. So, can he make the leap this fall?
Auburn Tigers
Can Jackson Arnold Ignite the Offense?
A perusal of 2024 offensive college football statistics makes for distressing reading if you’re an Auburn Tigers fan. The program finished 12th among SEC programs in scoring offense (27.8 points per game) despite ranking sixth for total offensive yards (429.4 per game). No team in the conference converted red zone trips into a touchdown less than the Tigers (48.78%).
Subsequently, Auburn ranked 14th in the SEC by PFSN’s College Offense+ metric with a 79.19 (C+). How can they change that around in the 2025 campaign?
Head coach Hugh Freeze, a master salesman who could sell water to a dolphin, went to work in the transfer portal and traditional high school recruiting to rectify that situation. Eric Singleton Jr.’s arrival from Georgia Tech gives the program a dominant one-two punch at receiver following Cam Coleman’s encouraging freshman season (598 yards and eight scores).
However, it’s the acquisition of Jackson Arnold to replace Payton Thorne that raises the biggest question ahead of the 2025 season. The former Oklahoma quarterback endured a torrid time with the Sooners last fall, with a 68.8 (D+) PFSN College QB+ grade that ranked 133rd among eligible passers. Can a change of scenery elevate his game, or is Auburn in trouble this fall?
Florida Gators
How Do the Gators Overcome A Brutal Schedule?
After defying expectations and significant pressure from fans and media analysts last fall, the Florida Gators rallied behind Billy Napier to end the year strong. They won the final three games of the regular season, including two in the SEC against ranked LSU and Ole Miss teams, to finish with an 8-5 overall record and four conference wins — the most for the program since 2020.
With the return of critical offensive line pieces, a wide receiver room that is potentially one of the top units in the country, an emerging young running back, a solid defensive front featuring one of the best interior playmakers in the country (Caleb Banks), and an exciting quarterback earning rave reviews nationally, expectations have increased exponentially for 2025.
However, they face a brutal schedule that threatens to derail any upward trajectory. Their SEC campaign starts with a road game at a strong LSU team, while their out-of-conference schedule has a potential banana skin in Miami Gardens against the Hurricanes. They have to play Texas A&M and Ole Miss on the road, while the presence of Texas and Georgia is suboptimal for success.
The Gators have the fifth-hardest strength of schedule in the nation. While the SEC prides its eight-game conference slate as more difficult than any other in college football, Florida has been dealt a tough hand. While they have some talented playmakers on both sides of the ball, is it enough to carry them to more than six wins?
Georgia Bulldogs
Who Steps Up on the Defensive Front?
The Georgia Bulldogs winning the 2024 SEC Championship Game masked a team that outperformed its individual parts. The offense received the eighth-ranked PFSN College Offense+ grade (83.04) in the SEC despite the second-highest OL+ grade (87.83), and there has been plenty of focus on that side of the ball as Gunner Stockton prepares to replace Carson Beck.
While the Stockton-led offense offers significant questions entering the 2025 season (we’re presuming he wins the competition to replace Beck over Ryan Puglisi), there is an even bigger issue afoot for Georgia.
Kirby Smart has built this current generation of Bulldogs football on a foundation of defensive dominance. For the past few seasons, the unit has been at the forefront of both basic and advanced metrics, producing a multitude of NFL Draft picks and consistently having contenders to win individual defensive awards.
Yet, last season, Georgia only ranked seventh in the SEC by PFSN College Defense+ (85.96). Team leaders such as Malaki Starks and Jalon Walker are gone to the NFL. Damon Wilson II hit the portal to join Missouri. While Gabe Harris Jr. returns and the Bulldogs added former Army pass rusher Elo Modozie, it remains to be seen who emerges from the group as a consistent threat.
Kentucky Wildcats
Will Zach Calzada Rise to the Occasion on his SEC Return?
The Kentucky Wildcats had a difficult 2024 campaign and enter 2025 ranked near the bottom of our latest SEC Power Rankings. The program has almost become a victim of its success under Mark Stoops, with rising expectations for a program where football has historically played second fiddle to a consistent challenger on the basketball court.
Stoops’ team ranked plum last in the SEC by PFSN College Offense+ last fall, with a 75.88 (C) grade that failed to crack the top 60 units in the country. Kentucky added as many as six starters from the transfer portal this offseason, with Group of Five standouts Shiyazh Pete (New Mexico State) and Alex Wollschlaeger (Bowling Green) bolstering the offensive line.
However, it’s former Incarnate Word quarterback Zach Calzada who is attracting the most attention — and scrutiny — as the Wildcats look for a bounce-back season. The Southland Player of the Year threw for 3,744 yards and 35 touchdowns for the Cardinals a year ago, paving a return to the FBS level for the first time since 2022, when he didn’t play a single down for Auburn.
The last time he was in live action in the SEC, Calzada had a season to forget. Drawing a 69.1 (D+) PFSN College QB+ grade after leading the conference with nine interceptions and completing just 56.3% of his pass attempts. While he’s been able to work on his craft away from the limelight, he’s firmly back in the spotlight with a team that lost its best receivers from 2024.
LSU Tigers
How Quickly Can the Offensive Line Gel to Protect Garrett Nussmeier?
When he opened 2025 SEC Media Days on Monday, Brian Kelly sought to downplay what most people consider the biggest weakness for an LSU Tigers team that should have conference championship aspirations. Some of the key players are back on both sides of the football, but there is no escaping the losses on the offensive line that could make or break the Tigers’ season.
LSU had the fourth-ranked SEC offensive line as per PFSN College OL+ last year. In addition to being a top-tier mark in the conference, the 86.42 (B) grade sat 13th nationally, providing a stellar base for Garrett Nussmeier to establish himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the country. Yet, four of the five starters are now on NFL rosters rather than in Baton Rouge for 2025.
Center DJ Chester is the sole returning member of that unit, and he’ll be tasked with leading a line comprised solely of redshirt sophomores and redshirt freshmen. They’re a homegrown contingent, with multiple transfers added for depth, who have developed together. That could help them with communication early on, with cohesiveness as important as talent on the line.
They’ll need to work together sooner rather than later. The season opens against a Clemson Tigers team boasting one of the best defenses in the country. SEC play starts on Sept. 13 against a Florida defense featuring several prospective early-round NFL picks. If the line isn’t up to speed, they could be 2-3 heading into October, with a trip to Oxford on Sept. 27 another tricky tie.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Can Coleman Hutzler’s Defense Take a Significant Step Forward?
After producing exciting offenses at Ole Miss and Oklahoma, Jeff Lebby was hired to transform the fortunes of the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the wake of a stagnant Zach Arnett-led team. There’s no doubt that Year 1 saw the program take an offensive stride forward, averaging an extra four points per game. Yet, they failed to win a single SEC game with a 2-10 overall record.
So, what went wrong? Well, in 2023, the Bulldogs averaged 26.6 points per game, ranking 68th in the country for scoring defense. In 2024, that figure ballooned to 34.1 points per game, or 118th nationally. Mississippi State had the worst unit in the SEC last fall, with a 65.4 (D) PFSN College Defense+ grade that ranked 119th in the FBS.
There were some on-field personnel losses that contributed to the downturn. Nathaniel Watson and Jett Johnson tallied over 130 tackles apiece in 2023, and their absence was felt a year ago. However, Bulldogs fans also pointed an accusing finger of blame in the direction of defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler.
Hutzler talked a good game last fall. He preached aggression, effort, technique, and execution ahead of the season, but that was never evident on the field. The program added 19 transfer portal players and several high school recruits (despite losing some expected signings) this offseason as they look to take a step forward in 2025. Will it be enough?
Missouri Tigers
How Does the Offense Rebound From a 2024 Regression?
Offensive coordinator Kirby Moore was a hot commodity in coaching hire circles following a 2023 season in which the Missouri Tigers averaged 32.5 points per game, the 29th-ranked scoring offense in the country, on their way to an 11-2 overall record and top-10 AP Poll finish. While that team also had a stellar defense, it was the offense that was the star of the show.
However, the team saw something of a regression last fall, dropping to 28.9 points per game, which ranked 56th overall. Quarterback Brady Cook dealt with some injury issues, and while two players rushed for over 500 yards, no one really stepped up to replace the lost production of All-American running back Cody Schrader, who led the SEC with 1,629 rushing yards in 2023.
Subsequently, Missouri slipped from having the 14th-highest PFSN College Offense+ grade (83.74, B) nationally in 2023 to having the 13th-ranked grade (79.40, C+) in the SEC (42nd nationally) during the 2024 campaign. Even the 2020 unit had a higher grade.
How does the offense rebound in 2024? Losing Brady Cook is a more significant blow than most people realize. Although the return of Cayden Green and Connor Tollison to anchor the interior offensive line is a boon, they have three new starters for a unit that was a strong element of the offense a year ago. The jury is still out on Beau Pribula, but running back Ahmad Hardy could be the offensive spark plug this team needs.
Oklahoma Sooners
How Quickly Does Pressure Pile on Brent Venables?
Brent Venables spent a large part of the 2024 college football season on the head coach hot seat. He also spent a large part of the 2024 college football season doing anything in his power to ensure that seat didn’t burn from under him. Following an admirable feat of ensuring job security, Venables returns in 2025, but still remains under pressure if results don’t improve quickly.
A 10-3 campaign in 2023 has been bookended with six-win campaigns that simply don’t meet the standard in Norman. The offense was abysmal last fall, ranking 15th in the SEC by PFSN College Offense+ grade (76.87, C) after averaging 24.0 points per game. Quarterback inconsistencies and offensive line struggles aren’t what Sooners fans are used to seeing.
Venables has enlisted the help of former Washington State Cougars offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to transform the Oklahoma offense. Arbuckle brings John Mateer with him to run the unit, a substantial upgrade on the situation a year ago. Mateer is the highest-graded returning passer in the 2025 college football season, according to PFSN College QB+ (84.9, B).
Although there is a relatively steady start to the campaign, Sooners have to overcome the ninth-hardest strength of schedule in 2025. The Red River Rivalry on Oct. 11 marks the start of a tough stretch that could pile pressure on Venables if results follow a similar pattern as last fall. Several variables have been removed, and the head coach remains the constant.
Ole Miss Rebels
Is Austin Simmons the Next Great Ole Miss Quarterback?
For the first time under Lane Kiffin, the Ole Miss Rebels head into a season where the defense isn’t the most significant question mark surrounding the team. The program had the third-highest graded unit in the SEC according to PFSN College Defense+ (88.9, B+), and between returning players and portal additions, there should be continuity of performance for the program.
Offense has been the hallmark of Kiffin-led teams, with a string of high-performing quarterbacks operating a friendly system that is conducive to eye-catching production. For the first time since 2021, that quarterback won’t be Jaxson Dart. The now-New York Giant was the highest-graded passer by PFSN College QB+ (90.5), leaving significant shoes to fill heading into this season.
Austin Simmons is tasked with filling them. A remarkable young man who should be in a true freshman season, but reclassified to the 2023 class, he was a four-star recruit with offers from multiple SEC programs before committing to Ole Miss. After redshirting during the 2023 campaign, he made some fleeting appearances in relief of Dart during the 2024 season.
While he’s seen limited action, there is much excitement surrounding Simmons heading into the 2025 campaign. Part of that comes from inside the program, where the cerebral passer has made quite the impression. However, part comes from a cameo appearance against Georgia, where he went 5-of-6 for 64 yards. Can he become the next great Rebels’ quarterback?
South Carolina Gamecocks
Can the Defense Absorb Some High-Profile Losses?
Make no mistake, the South Carolina Gamecocks are a team heading towards the summit of the SEC under Shane Beamer. The program ranked in the top five SEC teams for PFSN College Offense+ and Defense+ last fall as they hit nine overall and five wins in the SEC for the first time since 2017. Subsequently, they start the year second in our conference power rankings.
LaNorris Sellers powers optimism around the program after an exciting 2024 campaign. A true dual-threat capable of flipping the script with a tight window pass or scrambling away from pressure, he leads an offense with multiple playmakers, including Nyck Harbor, Jared Brown, and transfer running back Rahsul Faison (assuming his eligibility is cleared by the NCAA).
While the offense caught the eye a year ago, the defense was the foundation of success for Beamer’s team. All-American Kyle Kennard led the SEC with 11.5 sacks a year ago, while Nick Emmanwori paced the conference with two pick-sixes, and Tonka Hemingway was an underrated presence at the heart of a defense that earned an 88.42 (B+) PFSN Defense+ grade.
Those players are all gone as the Gamecocks prepare to take on the 12th-toughest strength of schedule in the 2025 college football season. Thankfully for South Carolina, they return Dylan Stewart and Jalon Kilgore, but how they replace the departed defensive standouts from a year ago will shape their season — one which has the potential to end with a playoff berth.
Tennessee Volunteers
Are the Volunteers’ Defensive Losses Being Overlooked?
Since arriving in Knoxville, Josh Heupel has made the Tennessee Volunteers one of the most exciting offensive juggernauts in college football. Naturally, the Nico Iamaleava saga has dominated offseason conversation and focused attention on the program’s offense heading into 2025, raising questions from national analysts unfamiliar with new quarterback Joey Aguilar.
The passing game will be just fine with the former Appalachian State Mountaineers (and briefly UCLA Bruins) starter, who has battled expectations his entire college football career. The most significant question mark around the offense might not even be at the quarterback position, with the program replacing star running back Dylan Sampson, who led the SEC in rushing.
Yet, there’s a bigger question mark still.
The Vols ranked sixth in the SEC last fall with an 87.6 (B+) PFSN College Defense+ grade. The defense is the underrated star of the show for the program and helped power their 10-3 (6-2 in the SEC) record a year ago. Several star pieces of that unit won’t return in 2025, headlined by James Pearce Jr., who tallied 13 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. Can the Vols still stifle opponents?
Texas Longhorns
Can the Texas Defense Replicate Its 2024 Dominance?
The 2024 Texas Longhorns were a defensive juggernaut that helped power their run to the SEC Championship Game at the first time of asking. Forget the hype around Arch Manning (but don’t overlook the importance of the ground game), the ability for this team to harness and replicate that defensive success will define the ceiling of Steve Sarkisian’s team in 2025.
Just how good was the Texas unit last year? Well, the Longhorns were the highest-graded SEC outfit by PFSN College Defense+ (92.18, A-), a mark good enough for second nationally. They also ranked inside the top 10 defensive units in our metric since 2019.
The program allowed just 15.3 points per game and ranked inside the top 15 for both rushing and passing yards allowed. Only two teams in the FBS were better at preventing red zone conversions, with just 69.23% of trips resulting in a score.
Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. led the SEC with 17 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. Andrew Mukuba and Jahdae Barron tied for the conference lead with five interceptions. True freshman Colin Simmons led the team in sacks, while Michael Taaffe was one of two players on the team with multiple pass breakups.
While several of those players return for 2025, Texas does lose some significant pieces from the defensive front and the secondary, making a repeat of their 2024 defensive dominance difficult (but not impossible). If the remaining talent steps up to fill the void, the Longhorns could be scarily good in 2025.
Texas A&M Aggies
What Is the Situation With Le’Veon Moss?
According to multiple reports, Texas A&M Aggies star running back Le’Veon Moss was arrested in College Station in the early hours of Sunday, July 13, on charges of threat or abuse. According to The Eagle, the program will deal with the situation “internally,” which should trigger a raft of questions for head coach Mike Elko when he addresses reporters at SEC Media Days.
While the Aggies return quarterback Marcel Reed, who is set for a second-year jump in 2025, the ground game was expected to be pivotal for Texas A&M’s success this fall. Moss averaged 6.3 yards per carry and rushed for 765 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago, grading as a top-75 back in college football by PFSN College RB+ (77.42, C+).
Although the Aggies’ running back room is relatively strong, with Amari Daniels and Rueben Owens already expected to contribute, Moss was going to be the head of the rotation. If the ongoing legal situation proves serious and results in a loss of playing time, it will have a detrimental impact on Texas A&M’s season.
Vanderbilt Commodores
How Does Clark Lea Build on the Successes of 2024?
The best overall record since 2013. The first bowl win since that season. The most SEC wins since 2016. The first AP Poll Top 25 ranking in over a decade. The first outright winner of the SEC Head Coach of the Year award since George MacIntyre in 1982. The first time that the program beat a top-ranked team. The first time beating Alabama and Auburn in the same year since 1955.
The 2024 season was a watershed moment for the Vanderbilt Commodores. It marked a change in the perception of the program from outside the four walls of FirstBank Stadium. Success is measured differently for every program, but for Clark Lea’s team, a 7-6 campaign was a new marker. The SEC whipping boys for the longest time, they proved they belong.
The most significant question facing this 2025 team is simple: how do they build on that success? Lea doesn’t want 2024 to be a flash in the pan. Those in and around the program want this to be the benchmark, not the exception. That is easier said than done, especially in a world where money and player movement make retaining talent and maintaining culture more difficult than ever.
One of the architects of last season’s success returns, and that’s a good start. Diego Pavia challenged the established hierarchy on the field last fall, then did the same off it in December, earning an eligibility waiver that grants him the opportunity to come back and prove that 2024 wasn’t a one-off. Incidentally, he’s the second-highest graded quarterback returning to the SEC (80.1).
Pavia alone can’t do it, but he has a nice blend of returning talent and transfer portal acquisitions alongside him to ease the load. Eli Stowers might be the best tight end in the country, while defensive players like Martel Hight showed their worth last year. An offensive line that struggled (74.74 PFSN College OL+ grade) last fall, has been retooled with multiple transfers.
The answer to how they build on that success is right there. Yet, with the 10th-hardest strength of schedule and something of a target on their backs for the first time in many years, the execution of another winning season might be easier said than done.
