The SEC has become even more dangerous.
Football powerhouses like Georgia and Alabama already call the conference home. But now OU and Texas, two Big 12 heavyweights, are also in the mix.
The SEC has several teams capable of making the college football playoffs. And with the 2024 season set to begin in late August, the conference hierarchy is already being designed.
ESPN recently launched its Football Power Index (FPI), a power rating that tracks each team’s strength relative to an average FBS team. Teams are classified into offense, defense and special teams.
Here’s a look at each SEC team’s ranking in ESPN’s FPI and whether or not they should be higher or lower:
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SEC Football Power Index (FPI) Rankings
1. Georgia Bulldogs
It’s not hard to see why Georgia is ranked by FPI as the No. 1 team in the country. Quarterback Carson Beck is the Heisman favorite, and he has new wide receiver options in Miami transfer Colbie Young and Vanderbilt transfer London Humphreys. Then there is the defense, which is led by defensive linemen Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson. Georgia isn’t just the favorite to win the SEC title. He is the favorite to win a national championship.
Classification: Necessary
2. Texas Longhorns
Texas should adjust well to the SEC with quarterback Quinn Ewers leading the offense. And even though wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell are gone, Alabama’s Isaiah Bond and Houston’s Matthew Golden are now in the mix. The Texas defense also lost some key contributors, but reloaded by adding Louisville defensive lineman Jermayne Lole and UTSA linebacker Trey Moore. The Longhorns are primed to compete for an SEC title.
Classification: Necessary
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3. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Nick Saban era is over, but Alabama is still ready to compete. Quarterback Jalen Milroe should thrive under head coach Kalen DeBoer and will be protected by a strong offensive line led by returner Kadyn Proctor. Alabama also lost six defensive players in the 2024 NFL Draft, but is anchored by linebackers Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell. The Crimson Tide should keep rolling this season.
Classification: Necessary
4. Oklahoma Early
OU gave the keys to sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold. And although he has a lethal receiver group that features Purdue transfer Deion Burks, he will be behind an offensive line made up almost entirely of new pieces. The Sooners will lean on their defense, which features returners like linebacker Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman. But fourth place is high for a team that will likely be closer to the middle of the pack.
Classification: Overestimated
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5. Tennessee Volunteers
Redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava is the man now, after leading Tennessee to a 2024 Citrus Bowl victory over Iowa in his first start. The Volunteers also return a first-team All-SEC selection in edge rusher James Pearce Jr., and Oregon State transfer cornerback Jermod McCoy and Middle Tennessee State transfer safety Jakobe Thomas lead a revamped secondary. Still, fifth place is a little high for a team with so much youth.
Classification: Overestimated
6. Missouri Tigers
Missouri has everything it needs for another strong season. It has a dynamic duo of quarterback Brady Cook and wide receiver Luther Burden III. And although the Tigers lost five defensive players to the NFL Draft, additions like Georgia Tech edge rusher Eddie Kelly and five-star freshman defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri can contribute immediately. 6th place is not far away, but I believe Missouri will crack the top five in the standings.
Classification: Underrated
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7. LSU Tigers
Despite losing Heisman quarterback Jayden Daniels, along with receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., the offense isn’t LSU’s biggest concern. Second-year quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is legit and Kyren Lacy could become the team’s best receiver. The biggest concern is LSU’s defense, which allowed the second-most points per game (28) in the SEC last season and hasn’t improved much through the portal. Seventh place is fair for LSU.
Classification: Necessary
8. Texas A&M Aggies
Quarterback Conner Weigman returns along with three starting offensive linemen, and Utah transfer center Koli Faaiu is a good replacement for Bryce Foster. The Aggies also reached the portal on defense to get Purdue linebacker Nic Scourton, who led the Big Ten in sacks (10) last season, and Florida linebacker Scooby Williams. 8th place is realistic, but Texas A&M could climb a little higher in the rankings in coach Mike Elko’s first season.
Classification: Necessary
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9. Old Miss Rebels
Ole Miss is severely underrated. Jaxson Dart is one of the best defensive backs in the country, and South Carolina transfer Antwane Wells Jr. steps into a receiver room that returns Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins. The Rebels have also revamped their defense, and Texas A&M transfer defensive lineman Walter Nolen is the valuable addition. Add in a favorable schedule that doesn’t include Texas, Alabama or Tennessee, and Ole Miss has a path to compete for an SEC title.
Classification: Underrated
10. Brown Tigers
Michigan State transfer quarterback Payton Thorne wasn’t great last season in his first year with Auburn. He will have more passing targets after the team added five-star freshman Cam Coleman, Robert Lewis from Georgia State and KeAndre Lambert-Smith from Penn State. The Tigers also revamped their defensive line by adding Indiana’s Phillip Blidi and USC’s Isaiah Raikes. Still, it’s hard to place Auburn at No. 10 with such a big question mark at quarterback.
Classification: Overestimated
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11. Florida Alligators
Quarterback Graham Mertz should be solid in his second season at Florida, and Arizona State transfer Elijhah Badger will form a good receiver duo with Eugene Wilson III. The Gators must also improve defensively with several returners and transfers, such as South Carolina linebacker Grayson Howard and Washington safety Asa Turner. But Florida’s tough schedule will prevent it from cracking the top 10 in the standings.
Classification: Necessary
12. South Carolina Gamecocks
Redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers figures to start, but who will he play for? South Carolina lost several receivers, including Xavier Legette. Their top pick at that position is Florida State transfer Vandrevius Jacobs, who is just a redshirt freshman. Georgia Tech’s Kyle Kennard should provide much-needed production on the defensive line. Even so, 12th position is fair for a team with so many question marks.
Classification: Necessary
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13. Kentucky Wild Cats
Kentucky will have a fast-paced offense with Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff at quarterback and a returning receiver duo of Barion Brown and Dane Key. And although the Wildcats’ defense allowed more than 300 points in a season last year for the first time since 2016, it has a star in offensive lineman Deone Walker and a key transfer in Georgia linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson. I believe Kentucky will crack the top 10 rankings.
Classification: Underrated
14. Arkansas Razorbacks
Boise State transfer Taylen Green is tasked with replacing five-year starting quarterback KJ Jefferson, and Utah transfer running back Ja’Quinden Jackson will look to revitalize the run game. The defense also has a lot of question marks, especially after the loss of linebackers Jaheim Thomas and Chris Paul Jr. The No. 14 spot is fair for the Razorbacks, who could take some time to gel with so many new pieces.
Classification: Necessary
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15. Mississippi State Bulldogs
First-year head coach Jeff Lebby will launch an aerial attack with Baylor transfer quarterback Blake Shapen. And while Louisville transfer Kevin Coleman and UTEP transfer Kelly Akharaiyi are two creative receivers, how much time can the new offensive line buy Shapen? Lebby could eventually make it at Mississippi State, but his first season will be difficult as he navigates an SEC schedule that includes Georgia, Texas, Tennessee and Ole Miss.
Classification: Necessary
16. Vanderbilt Commodores
New Mexico State transfer Diego Pavia is the favorite to start at quarterback. He will have returners like Quincy Skinner Jr. and Junior Sherrill to play for. Vanderbilt has also overhauled its defense at all three levels with transfers like Purdue edge rusher Khordae Sydnor, TCU linebacker Randon Fontenette and Eastern Washington cornerback Marlon Jones Jr. Still, Vanderbilt will likely find itself at the bottom of the standings again of the SEC.
Classification: Necessary
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This article originally appeared in the Oklahoman: SEC Football Power Index 2024: Who is underrated, overrated?
