ESPN ranks SEC Football teams from first to last ahead of Week 3

Conference play is already underway in the SEC. Week 3 brings even more action, putting some of the league’s top teams against one another. Metrics are taking notice as well, mainly ESPN’s FPI.

Before getting into the Saturday slate, ESPN used the FPI to rank all 16 teams, from first to last. Compared to where things stood at the preseason, some movement has taken place.

Possibly a few of surprises at the top, given the top two teams already have a tally in the loss column. That being said, let’s check out the full rankings from ESPN below.

1. Texas Longhorns

Even after Texas lost to Ohio State, the FPI still loves what the Longhorns can do. Nobody has a higher percentage chance of winning the SEC, making the College Football Playoff, or ultimately winning the national championship.

From the eye test, some might wonder otherwise. Texas possesses a couple more weeks to right the ship before getting into the meaty portion of its schedule.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama comes in at No. 2 before a nice run of current 2-0 teams follows. The metrics tell a different story from the current feeling around Tuscaloosa.

Kalen DeBoer faces another power conference opponent on Saturday, the Wisconsin Badgers. It’s another opportunity to see if Alabama lives up to the lofty FPI ranking.

3. Georgia Bulldogs

Through two weeks, Georgia did not register much due to lackluster opponents. Marshall and Austin Peay did not provide too much competition in Athens. Not too big of a surprise, though.

However, there is a reason the FPI remains high on the Bulldogs. Nobody can currently call their program more consistent than Kirby Smart, continually finding a way to be in the national picture. ESPN still projects much of the same moving forward.

4. Ole Miss Rebels

An early conference game means Ole Miss heads into Week 3 atop the SEC. Revenge against Kentucky possibly exorcized some demons of last season for the Rebels.

The FPI clearly likes what they have seen thus far. Ole Miss is given a 61.1% chance of making the CFP, something the program has yet to accomplish.

5. Tennessee Volunteers

Following an offseason full of drama, Tennessee emerged on the other end looking quite good. Two wins have Rocky Top feeling great about where the 2025 season is heading with Joey Aguilar at the helm.

But Saturday brings the first real test, welcoming Georgia to Neyland Stadium. If Tennessee walks out with a win, the program could become the talking point of college football, both within and outside the metrics.

6. Auburn Tigers

Missing out of the top five are the Auburn Tigers. This is one of the bigger drop-offs, with the distance between Tennessee and Auburn being around the same as the Tigers and No. 14 Vanderbilt.

Still, Hugh Freeze has everything in front of him thanks to a win against Baylor in the opener. South Alabama stands in the way of Auburn and four consecutive ranked SEC foes.

7. Missouri Tigers

Folks in Columbia, MO, are riding high due to a Border War victory. A game defunct since 2011, taking down Kansas was one Missouri knew they needed to get.

Expectations continue to grow, wondering if Eli Drinkwitz is able to break through. ESPN’s FPI gives Missouri a 26.1% chance of making the CFP, much higher than the 2.4% chance of winning the SEC.

8. Texas A&M Aggies

The SEC holds one more massive nonconference opportunity, at least in the early portion of the schedule. Texas A&M travels up to South Bend for the back end of a home-and-home series. As things stand, Notre Dame is up 1-0.

Maybe getting a win against the Irish helps Texas A&M out with the FPI. While they rank No. 8 overall, they are ninth when it comes to College Football Playoff percentage. A number you imagine gets a bump with a victory.

9. LSU Tigers

Arguably nobody in the SEC has a more impressive win this season than LSU. Going on the road to beat Clemson took center stage after Week 1.

Even so, ESPN’s FPI model places the Tigers in the back-end of the top 10. Projections have Brian Kelly finishing a disappointing 7-5, as LSU boasts one of the toughest schedules out there.

10. Arkansas Razorbacks

When the SEC preseason poll was released, Arkansas found itself in 14th place. Maybe a team where humans and numbers do not agree, the Hawgs enter Week 3 inside the top 10.

Getting bowl eligible for Arkansas is listed just an eyelash below 80% at 79.3%. The gauntlet for Sam Pittman begins this week in Oxford.

ESPN SEC FPI rankings: No. 11-16

11. South Carolina Gamecocks
12. Oklahoma Sooners
13. Florida Gators
14. Vanderbilt Commodores
15. Kentucky Wildcats
16. Mississippi State Bulldogs