Predicting every SEC team’s record in 2025 … way too early

The 2025 Southeastern Conference football schedules were released last week, and they sent fans from all 16 bandwagons scrambling to make hotel reservations and book flights to see their favorite teams play next season.

The release also sent fans across the knowledge spectrum into a tizzy trying to predict just how great their team will be in 2025. But stop prognosticating, everyone, as we have peered into our accuracy-verified crystal ball to bring to you every SEC team’s 2025 record — a good 8 months before they play their first game … or lose their quarterback to the portal!

Alabama Crimson Tide: 11-1

Key wins: vs. Tennessee (Oct. 18), vs. LSU (Nov. 8), at Auburn (Nov. 29)

Why we are right: Say what you will about Kalen DeBoer’s rookie season at Alabama, but it has been entertaining. Assuming Jalen Milroe enters the NFL Draft as expected, replacing him will be offseason priority No. 1, but the schedule aligns well in 2025. Getting Wisconsin at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 13 could be a test, but the Tide will drop its lone regular-season game 2 weeks later at Georgia on Sept. 27 before running the table the rest of the way.

Arkansas Razorbacks: 4-8

Key wins: at Memphis (Sept. 20), vs. Auburn (Oct. 25)

Why we are right: This will be Sam Pittman’s final season in Fayetteville, as a 4-game losing streak to end the campaign will seal his doom. Notre Dame coming to town Sept. 27 won’t be a picnic, either, though the Razorbacks will likely steal a game Oct. 25 at home against Auburn to ignite some false hopes. Sorry, Hogs fans … that’s just the hickory for the barbecue you’re smelling instead of a good football team.

Auburn Tigers: 6-6

Key wins: at Texas A&M (Sept. 27), vs. Missouri (Oct. 18), vs. Kentucky (Nov. 1)

Why we are right: Perhaps the hottest topic on social media when the schedules were released was Auburn fans crowing that this schedule could mean a 10-2 season. Pshaw, how soon they forget that Hugh Freeze is coaching this team into mediocrity for a 3rd season. Auburn will upset the Aggies in College Station, but embarrassing road losses to Arkansas and Vanderbilt will spell a Birmingham Bowl bid. Hey, at least they’re in the postseason in 2025!

Florida Gators: 8-4

Key wins: at Miami (Sept. 20), at Texas A&M (Oct. 11), vs. Tennessee (Nov. 22)

Why we are right: Sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway is a legitimate force multiplier and will — if healthy — make the Gators a legit contender in 2025. Florida will return the favor to the Hurricanes in Coral Gables, upend reeling Texas A&M in College Station and upset Tennessee on Nov. 22. Don’t count out a Cocktail Party upset, either, though Ole Miss will be the team on the upset end in Oxford on Nov. 15.

Georgia Bulldogs: 11-1

Key wins: vs. Alabama (Sept. 27), vs. Ole Miss (Oct. 18), vs. Florida in Jacksonville (Nov. 1)

Why we are right: We love what we saw of quarterback Gunner Stockton in the SEC title game, and you know Kirby Smart will be reloading in the offseason for another run at the Big Enchilada. Getting Alabama at home in 2025 will mean a W, as will dates at Sanford Stadium against Ole Miss and the annual Cocktail Party against resurgent Florida. Texas looms on Nov. 15, though …

Kentucky Wildcats: 3-9

Key wins: vs. Toledo (Aug. 30), vs. Eastern Michigan (Sept. 13)

Why we are right: Mark Stoops will be joining Sam Pittman on the bread line, perhaps in a midseason move as the Wildcats throw a complete 0-fer in conference play. Wildcats fans will muster up a lot of false hope after starting 2-1 with MAC lightweights Toledo and Eastern Michigan. Problem is, Kentucky will notch only 1 win after that — a home game against Tennessee Tech. Oof.

LSU Tigers: 9-3

Key wins: vs. Florida (Sept. 13), at Ole Miss (Sept. 27), at Oklahoma (Nov. 29)

Why we are right: Brian Kelly is a 9-3 coach, and he will prove it once again in 2025 by underwhelming his way out of Playoff contention and into a ReliaQuest Bowl bid. The Tigers will drop the opener to Clemson, because Dabo Swinney will once again squeeze more out of less while Kelly is getting less out of more on the other sideline, and Texas A&M will figure out a way to win in Baton Rouge as well.

Mississippi State Bulldogs: 4-8

Key wins: vs. Arizona State (Sept. 6), vs. Northern Illinois (Sept. 20), at Arkansas (Nov. 1)

Why we are right: This represents a serious step up from the 2-10 debacle that was Jeff Lebby’s rookie season in Starkville. Starting 3-1 will infuse Bulldogs fans eager to ring the bejeezus out of those infernal cowbells, though their SEC slate is no walk in the park. Still, Lebby and Co. will go to Starkville and stun Arkansas to end Pittman’s career.

Missouri Tigers: 6-6

Key wins: at Vanderbilt (Oct. 25), vs. Mississippi State (Nov. 15), at Arkansas (Nov. 29)

Why we are right: Eli Drinkwitz’s bubble is about to burst in a big way, as Kansas will start doing the honors at ol’ Faurot on Sept. 6. The losing will continue at home against South Carolina, Alabama and Texas A&M and on the road against Oklahoma — but Drinkwitz will pull out bowl eligibility with a season-ending W against reeling Arkansas.

Oklahoma Sooners: 7-5

Key wins: vs. Auburn (Sept. 20), vs. Ole Miss (Oct. 25), at Tennessee (Nov. 1)

Why we are right: Coach Brent Venables will find the sledding only slightly better in Year 2 in the SEC, as the Sooners will take down Ole Miss at home and Tennessee on the road for mild upsets. Too bad Michigan will outclass Oklahoma on Sept. 6, Texas will make the river run red yet again and South Carolina will deal the Sooners a road upset loss. This is a tough, tough schedule any way you slice it, so 7-5 is a serious upgrade.

Ole Miss Rebels: 9-3

Key wins: at Kentucky (Sept. 6), vs. South Carolina (Nov. 1), vs. Florida (Nov. 15)

Why we are right: Targeting Lane Kiffin’s Rebels to go 9-3 in 2025 and narrowly miss the Playoff again is high theater, seeing as how he has spent the past couple of weeks griping about the exact same spot in 2024. The preposterously easy SEC slate will feature a revenge blowout at Kentucky, but losses to LSU, Georgia and a resurgent Oklahoma will spell doom for Ole Miss. But at least Kiffin’s sideline hoodies will be on point.

South Carolina Gamecocks: 7-5

Key wins: vs. Virginia Tech in Atlanta (Aug. 31), vs. Vanderbilt (Sept. 13), at Missouri (Sept. 20)

Why we are right: Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks will be the talk of the nation, and in the Top 10, after reeling off 6 straight wins to open 2025. But Cupcake City’s population is only so big, as the back end of 2025 will feature a 5-game losing streak and only a home win vs. Coastal Carolina on Nov. 22. Bank it: Beamer and Venables will spend all offseason between now and then wondering why the SEC gave them such tough slates.

Tennessee Volunteers: 8-4

Key wins: vs. Arkansas (Oct. 11), at Kentucky (Oct. 25), vs. Vanderbilt (Nov. 29)

Why we are right: Josh Heupel’s Volunteers are overdue for a big comedown in 2025, and they will get it by losing every toss-up game they’ll face. Oh sure, Tennessee will win the opener against Syracuse in Atlanta on Aug. 30 and all its cupcake games, but Alabama will torch 100,000 cigars at Bryant-Denny on Oct. 18 and Florida will plant a Gators flag on its own turf Nov. 22.

Texas Longhorns: 11-1

Key wins: at Florida (Oct. 4), vs. Oklahoma in Dallas (Oct. 11), at Georgia (Nov. 15)

Why we are right: Welcome to the Arch Manning Era! Only a season-opening loss at Ohio State on Aug. 30 will keep the Longhorns from perfection — though the schedule-makers also ensured they avoid Alabama and Ole Miss. The Nov. 15 game at Georgia will once again be a must-see, but by then Manning will have Texas rolling up 50-burgers on teams every week.

Texas A&M Aggies: 9-3

Key wins: at Notre Dame (Sept. 13), at LSU (Oct. 25), vs. South Carolina (Nov. 15)

Why we are right: It’ll be Mike Elko’s Aggies in the Alabama position in 2025, a 9-3 team that lost a winnable game and played an FCS team late to potentially ding Playoff chances. Texas A&M will stun Notre Dame in South Bend to throw the cadets and goofy yell leaders back home into a tizzy, though Auburn will stage a massive upset 2 weeks later in College Station. Texas A&M will once again need to beat Texas in the season finale to have a Playoff shot, and we all know how that will go.

Vanderbilt Commodores: 6-6

Key wins: at Virginia Tech (Sept. 6), vs. Auburn (Nov. 8), vs. Kentucky (Nov. 22)

Why we are right: Look, coach Clark Lea’s team was a bona fide Cinderella in 2024, but the rest of the world will see the Commodores coming in 2025. That means taking Ls at South Carolina on Sept. 13 and then losing 4 straight to Alabama, LSU, Missouri and Texas. Beating Auburn and Kentucky will make for a feel-good story before losing the finale at Tennessee, and once again Vandy will be a bowl team.

David Wasson

An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.