College Football Rankings: CBS Sports ranks every SEC team for 2025

CBS Sports’ ranked every SEC team ahead of the 2025 college football season in its post-spring edition. It’s expected to be another barnburner of a year.

There are some clear favorites in the conference this season. But, as always in college football, there are going to be surprises.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the SEC post-spring rankings from CBS Sports. We start with a national title favorite.

1. Texas

Texas is CBS’ No. 1 team in the SEC, led by quarterback Arch Manning. Despite losing a good amount to the NFL Draft, the Longhorns are ready to run it back.

Wide receiver Ryan Wingo should help a lot in the big play department as well as Anthony Hill Jr. and Michael Taaffe on the defensive end of things. An SEC runner-up and CFP semifinalist last year, Texas might be thinking national title or bust.

2. LSU

Maybe a little surprising to some, but CBS has LSU as the No. 2 team in the SEC. Garrett Nussmeier back at quarterback is a big reason why the Tigers are high up.

Brian Kelly has coached well throughout his career with Notre Dame and LSU, but the expectations are massive. Playoff or bust in 2025? It seems to be that way and LSU certainly reloaded via the transfer portal going into this season.

3. Georgia

Kirby Smart knows it was a missed opportunity last season. Winning the SEC but going one and done in the playoffs? Yeah, not again!

Carson Beck transferred to Miami and Gunner Stockton takes over under center. It’s up to the wide receivers to help this time around with Noah Thomas and Zachariah Branch coming in from Texas A&M and USC, respectively. The defense? Well, that’s always solid.

4. Alabama

Alabama is higher up in the rankings than some might have expected. The SEC might run through the Crimson Tide once again if Kalen DeBoer pushes all the right buttons in Year 2.

Don’t forget, this team still won nine games last season despite struggles. If they can figure out the quarterback and get minimal mistakes in the turnover department, DeBoer and company could cruise to at least 10 wins.

5. Ole Miss

Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss, ah yes, here we go again. Top five in the SEC to begin the 2025 season but making the playoff is paramount at this point.

The Rebels are always right there. This has to be the year right? QB could run through 19-year old Austin Simmons, an exciting lefty. Defense could be the name of the game though with Princewill Umanmielen, Suntarine Perkins and Zxavian Harris are the names to watch.

6. Florida

Billy Napier might have something cooking this year, starting out in the top half of the SEC rankings. DJ Lagway’s health and development are the biggest keys to 2025.

If he’s going to be as good as projected, this team might be carried by Lagway all the way to the College Football Playoff. Veterans like center Jake Slaughter, EDGE Tyreak Sapp and Caleb Banks will be relied on. But, they’ll need receiver production to help Lagway to keep up with some of the high scoring offenses.

7. South Carolina

South Carolina was a hair away from the College Football Playoff last season so what’s the goal this year? Actually getting there.

LaNorris Sellers is a hot name in the quarterback department across college football and could be one of the most important players in the SEC. Nyck Harbor is a freak athlete, we know this, but he has to prove himself as a wide receiver and an every-down playmaker. Dylan Stewart has to step up as the team’s leading pass rusher as well.

8. Texas A&M

Marcel Reed has to develop under center to see where this team can go. But there’s no doubt there’s positivity around Texas A&M due to head coach Mike Elko.

But can this team rise in the SEC? It’s a big question mark for the Aggies. The offensive line has experience, so that could aid the process, as CBS points out.

9. Oklahoma

Brent Venables has to deliver at some point right? It just hasn’t quite clicked in his tenure with Oklahoma, at least as the head coach, in the SEC. He’s now calling plays on defense, so he’s putting the onus on himself.

New offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle could be the key to unlocking the passing game, like what he did at Western Kentucky and Washington State. If the offense gets rolling, the Sooners might be a lot more competitive than projected.

10. Auburn

Auburn has to make the postseason in some sort of fashion right? High Freeze made it clear it was the minimum goal this season. Even though the Tiger fanbase wants and expects more.

Auburn does have talent to compete highly in the SEC though. Jackson Anrold was the big transfer at quarterback from Oklahoma and maybe he’s the key to the offense under Freeze.

11. Tennessee

Boy, Tennessee goes from College Football Playoff to bottom half of the SEC per CBS. The Nico Iamaleava transfer and NIL saga was the story of the spring, unfortunately for the Volunteers.

He went to UCLA so naturally, UCLA QB Joey Aguilar is coming to Tennessee this summer. It gives Josh Heupel a veteran quarterback so maybe it won’t be that bad. But there’s not much to be desired at wide receiver or offensive line right now.

12. Missouri

Eli Drinkwitz will have to get creative to replace Brady Cook and Luther Burden III at QB and WR, respectively. The Tigers have been very competitive in the SEC, but this is a new challenge.

Drinkwitz will coach up Penn State transfer Beau Pribula under center and transfer running back Ahmad Hardy should provide some balance to the run game. In fact, RPOs with Pribula and Hardy could be really fun to watch.

13. Vanderbilt

Remember when Vanderbilt beat Alabama last year? That was fun. Clark Lea has done a great job injecting some juice into the program but it’s still a long ladder to climb in the SEC.

The Commodores are coming off a bowl win but there’s a brutal schedule coming this year. The good news? QB Diego Pavia is back with an extra year of eligibility.

14. Arkansas

Taylen Green is a tantalizing talent at quarterback, one that Sam Pittman should have a field day with. Good thing new OC Bobby Petrino is in the fold to help make it happen.

However, the Razorbacks couldn’t compete well in the SEC last year due to a poor defense. They’ll have to drastically improve to make some noise in 2025.

15. Kentucky

Zach Calzada is back in the SEC, quarterbacking the Wildcats. But there are plenty of questions about Kentucky and Mark Stoops.

After a 4-8 season, Kentucky needs to figure some things out. But it seems the cupboard is bare, more so than in recent seasons, so it could be a long 2025.

16. Mississippi State

Mississippi State didn’t have much success in the transfer portal and this team is firmly last in the SEC, per CBS. Jeff Lebby is going to have to make something out of very little in 2025.

It’d be surprising to see this team compete and play in a bowl this year. But, stranger things have happened.