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It’s never too early to start thinking about next season, which is why the final whistle of the 2015 season had barely been blown before some folks started talking about the new season ahead.
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach released the Way-Too-Early Top 25 for the 2016 season early Tuesday morning, and there were five SEC teams that made the cut.
In what should be no surprise following Monday night’s national title battle between Alabama and Clemson, the Crimson Tide and Tigers should again be among college football’s elite in the 2016 season and are predicted to be the top two teams once again.
Here’s a look at where the rest of the SEC shook out:
2. Alabama
7. LSU
11. Tennessee
13. Ole Miss
23. Georgia
Les Miles has plenty of talent returning at LSU, so the high ranking is predictable. Tennessee is hyped to be one of the most dangerous teams in the country with all of the players coming back for Butch Jones’ fourth season. Chad Kelly’s return makes Ole Miss a threat, and Schlabach believes Kirby Smart inherits enough talent at Georgia to crack the Top 25.
Florida, which won 10 games and an SEC East title in 2015, is absent from the list. The Gators are losing quite a bit of front-line talent from this season’s team.
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
