Florida plummets, Ole miss rises in SEC post-Spring football power rankings

05/14/2024 04:45 PM

Now that spring practices are in the rearview and most of those who entered the spring transfer portal have found their new homes, it’s time to break down each of the now Power-Four conferences. We’ll start with the SEC post-spring power rankings.

For the first time since 2012, the SEC will be expanding. Back then, it was Missouri and Texas A&M coming from the Big 12. This time, it will be two of the biggest members the Big 12 had to offer in Texas and Oklahoma, now making the SEC consist of 16 teams.

If the SEC schedule wasn’t already daunting enough for teams, adding the Longhorns and the Sooners now make each and every week a seemingly can’t-miss matchup. This is a conference now with multiple playoff contenders thanks especially to the new 12-team College Football Playoff format being implemented in 2024.

But ultimately where do these 16 teams rank from top to bottom now that spring is behind them? Let’s take a look at the SEC post-spring power rankings.

1. Georgia Bulldogs

Even though Georgia football failed to make college football history last season and lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, the Bulldogs are still one of the most talented teams in the entire country. Since 2021, Georgia has signed the second-most five-stars in the country at 16, right behind Alabama, according to On3. Granted, thanks to the transfer portal there’s been a lot of movement within rosters, but that still doesn’t change the fact that this Georgia football team is probably the best team in the country.

Firstly, quarterback Carson Beck will be returning after becoming the starter last season, where he quietly put up big numbers. He’s likely a Heisman Trophy candidate. Secondly, there’s the always talented Kirby Smart Bulldogs’ defense that finished ninth in the country in total defense last season. With talent spread far and wide across the field, the Bulldogs will be a force again in 2024.

2. Texas Longhorns

You could make a sensible argument that Texas football should be the best team in the SEC entering 2024. After all, Steve Sarkisian has built the Longhorns to resemble an SEC powerhouse all while they were still in the Big 12. That’s what helped them finally get over the hump last season, making the College Football Playoff, although losing to Washington in the semifinal.

The expectations are always high in Austin, but now they are at least mostly warranted. Quarterback Quinn Ewers will be returning and will be getting to work with some talented playmakers thanks to some notable transfer additions, along with the Longhorns’ own recruits. The big question for the Longhorns may be the defense that lost some notable players to the NFL Draft. What helped separate Texas from others last season was their big, nasty defensive front and some of those interior guys are gone now. That’s what puts them just below Georgia football here.

3. Ole Miss Rebels

This feels odd putting Ole Miss football this high in the SEC power rankings, with Alabama not above them. But here we are. Lane Kiffin has done a tremendous job in Oxford. The Rebels just came off their best season in school history, winning 11 games for the first time. If the 12-team playoff would have been installed last year, Ole Miss would have been a contender.

One of Kiffin’s biggest drawbacks was that he could never overcome Nick Saban and Alabama — something that has cost many SEC coaches their jobs. But with Saban now gone, it’s time for Kiffin and Ole Miss to make the jump. The Rebels should certainly have the talent to do so. Over the last two seasons, Ole Miss has been one of the absolute best in transfer portal additions. If all those guys jell and returning quarterback Jaxson Dart does his part, watch out for Ole Miss.

4. Missouri Tigers

All that the Missouri football did last season was finish with the second-best conference record in the SEC at 6-2 and 11-2 overall. The Missouri version of the Tigers was one of the biggest surprises in the country last season with what they did. Doing it in a much deeper conference this year will be much more challenging.

Of course, you can’t talk Missouri football without speaking of Luther Burden, one of the best wide receivers in the country. If he and quarterback Brady Cook connect often, then the Tigers could be right back in the thick of things, upsetting the elite in the conference.

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

Rounding out the top five is finally Alabama football. Figuring out where to place the Crimson Tide in the SEC power rankings felt odd. Normally, they are in the No. 1 or No. 2 spot, but this year is much different. Not only is Saban gone, but so are a number of talented recruits that decided to bolt after his departure, making hard to decipher what kind of team this is going to look like.

New head coach Kalen DeBoer did make some nice additions once the spring transfer portal opened up. Plus, Jalen Milroe didn’t go anywhere. No matter how you slice it, though, Alabama is in one of the biggest transition phases for a college football team, which makes them completely unpredictable.

6. LSU Tigers

Brian Kelly has been very successful in his two years in Baton Rouge. He failed to make the SEC title game last year like he did in his first season, but still winning 10 games was impressive, especially with the defense the Tigers had.

One of the LSU football’s biggest reasons for success last season was Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders’ new signal-caller. Taking the reins now will be Garrett Nussmeier, who looked pretty impressive during the spring game. But it remains to be seen if Nussmeier can truly replicate even a little bit of the success Daniels had. The biggest question for the Tigers will be if they fixed what was one of the worst defenses in the country last year. They certainly didn’t in the transfer portal.

7. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee football took a minor step back last season after making a major leap in 2022. The Volunteers could begin to make some noise again in 2024, however. That’s mostly thanks to their highly-touted starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The new signal-caller only has one start under his belt, which was in the Citrus Bowl game against Iowa last year. So, it’s likely to be a season of some ups and downs. Around him will be a solid offensive line and some veteran receivers and running back Dylan Sampson.

One thing to keep an eye on is the Volunteers’ defense. They were 22nd in the country in scoring defense last season and 4th in tackles for a loss. That’s thanks in part to talented edge rusher James Pearce Jr., who Pro-Football-Focus called the No. 1 returning player at his position in 2024. They could make another leap defensively in 2024.

8. Oklahoma Sooners

It’s officially Jackson Arnold time in Norman. Sooners fans got their first look at the young quarterback back in the bowl game, where you could see the potential. But coming in as a young quarterback to a new conference, especially the SEC, is a tall task. Add on top of that the Sooners having to replace several guys up front.

Brent Venables did hit both versions of the transfer portal pretty heavy for offensive line help, with five additions, per 247Sports. Thankfully, the defensive guru that Venables is, he has completely rebuilt Oklahoma’s defense. They jumped from the 99th ranked defense in 2022 to 49th in 2023. Another big jump should be coming in 2024.

9. Texas A&M Aggies

Yes, it’s reasonable to say that Texas A&M football is a top 10 team in the SEC power rankings. Putting Jimbo Fisher and his outdated philosophy behind them now, perhaps the Aggies can simmer the expectations for a while. Mike Elko was by no means a “splashy” hire, but he may have been the best hire for the team. Elko did wonders in his first head coaching job at Duke, finishing with a 25-16 record overall and making them one of the better defensive units in the country.

Getting this team to eight wins — which hasn’t happened in College Station in the last two seasons — seems fairly reasonable for Elko in his first season. Rebuilding the Aggies football program won’t be nearly the same job as it was for the Blue Devils, but some nice portal additions and good coaching can make this team competitive in 2024.

10. Kentucky Wildcats

Gone will be running back Ray Davis and Devin Leary, who are now off to the NFL. But returning will be head coach Mark Stoops, who many thought at one point was headed to College Station. Who’s coming in will be former four-star quarterback and Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff, along with new offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan.

Kentucky football will always be a sidebar being that Lexington is basketball country. But what Stoops has built at Kentucky is still impressive. He’s led the Wildcats to eight straight bowl games. He’ll have his work cut out for him as usual in the SEC but another seven-win season is doable, and maybe even more if Vandagriff pans out.

11. Auburn Tigers

What will continue to be intriguing about Auburn football is the transformation they make under Hugh Freeze. Though there were some bad moments last year (loss to New Mexico State and Iron Bowl loss to Alabama), you could begin to see the influence that Freeze had already made.

One area that the Tigers will have to improve on is their offense, which was mostly run-heavy last year. Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne looks to be the starter once again this upcoming season, but hopefully, he will have more at his arsenal. Five-star freshman receiver Cam Coleman, Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith, and Georgia State transfer Robert Lewis should help.

12. South Carolina Gamecocks

It could be an interesting year for the South Carolina football team, who lost a ton of offensive production from last season, including quarterback Spencer Rattler and talented wide receiver Xavier Legette. There could be an open competition for who will take the reins at quarterback, although it does seem to be LaNorris Sellers’ to lose. But a first-year starter on a team that won five games last year with little to no previous offensive production returning is not ideal.

13. Florida Gators

There’s a decent chance that Billy Napier may not make it through the entire 2024 season. In his first two seasons in Gainesville, Napier has gone 11-14 and took a step back last season by not making a bowl game. The Gators also have one of if not the toughest schedule in all of college football.

Graham Mertz was better than expected last season and should once again be the starter, but he lost some playmakers to the transfer portal and NFL. As for the defense, second-year defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong is going to have to improve a unit that progressively got worse and allowed 33.6 points per game last season.

14. Arkansas Razorbacks

Speaking of coaches’ job statuses, Sam Pittman likewise might not make it the entirety of the 2024 season with the Razorbacks. Many had praised Pittman just a couple of seasons ago after they ranked as high as 8th in the AP poll. But finishing 4-8 last year has put him firmly on the hot seat.

Bobby Petrino keeps putting in the SEC, this time going from Texas A&M back to a place of familiarity at Arkansas. Petrino will have to choose the replacement for quarterback KJ Jefferson who transferred out. Wins could be scarce facing potentially seven teams out of the top 25.

15. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Things have been difficult in Starkville ever since the unfortunate passing of head coach Mike Leach. With no easy options, Mississippi State quickly pivoted toward defensive coordinator Zach Arnett last season, who then couldn’t even make it through a whole season before getting canned.

The Bulldogs’ offense was atrocious last season, averaging just 181.8 passing yards per game and 62.4 offensive plays per game. To alleviate that, they brought in Jeff Lebby out of Oklahoma, who will be a first-time head coach. This is not the best of situations for a new head coach who will be in a place that doesn’t find wins easily.

16. Vanderbilt Commodores

The de facto last team on everyone’s SEC power rankings has to be the Vanderbilt Commodores. This is a program that is beginning to feel so far removed from the conference at this point, that you feel at any moment they could get the boot. They’ve won nine games in three years and haven’t been relevant since James Franklin left for Penn State. Every single week this team will be at a major disadvantage due to what is a wide talent gap at every position.

Head coach Clark Lea will be entering Year 4 in Nashville. Who knows what will be considered a good season that will be good enough to keep his job? Would five wins be the magic number? Even that seems unlikely with non-conference games like Virginia Tech and Georgia State on the schedule.

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