Overrated? Or underrated? What preseason rankings got right – or wrong – about SEC
The SEC is as strong as ever. That's what a preseason top 25 from 247Sports suggests, anyway. The website updated its rankings while spring practice concluded. Nine SEC teams are ranked in the top 25, including eight inside the top 15.
Those rankings indicate that about half of the conference enjoys realistic aspirations of contending for the College Football Playoff.
The SEC and Big Ten account for each of the top nine spots in the rankings. It really is a Power Two world.
Here's how they see it:
Georgia
247Sports ranking: No. 2 Toppmeyer: One spot too low Adams: One spot too low
No. 1 Ohio State is every bit as loaded as Georgia at most positions, but Georgia returned star quarterback Carson Beck. He should give the Bulldogs the edge for the nation's top spot.
Texas
247Sports ranking: No. 3 Toppmeyer: Just right
Adams: A smidge too high Texas returned several key performers, including quarterback Quinn Ewers, from last season's team that reached the national semifinals. It addressed its wide receiver needs with transfers. The lingering question is whether the defensive front will remain as good as last season.
Alabama
247Sports ranking: No. 5 Toppmeyer: Too high
Adams: Too high
Alabama faces a tough schedule and a few questions after Nick Saban's retirement. The Crimson Tide must replace several key defensive backs. Also, does the offense possess enough playmakers to support Jalen Milroe? A top-10 ranking is warranted, but topfive is too much love.
Ole Miss
247Sports ranking: No. 6 Toppmeyer: Just right
Adams: Too low
This is Lane Kiffin's best roster. That's saying something considering Ole Miss finished 11-2 last season. Kiffin fortified his team with another impressive transfer haul. Defensive acquisitions, like lineman Walter Nolan, were especially important as Ole Miss looks to elevate from good team to national championship contender.
Missouri
247Sports ranking: No. 8 Toppmeyer: Just right
Adams: Just right
Missouri brought back a lot of production, including quarterback Brady Cook and wide receiver Luther Burden. The Tigers are a playoff contender, especially if transfer running back Marcus Carroll performs like he did for Georgia State.
Tennessee
247Sports ranking: No. 12 Toppmeyer: Just right
Adams: Too low
The offense could elevate behind ballyhooed quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who played well in his first career start against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl. Whether Tennessee becomes a playoff qualifier might depend on how its newlook secondary performs.
LSU
247Sports ranking: No. 13 Toppmeyer: Just right
Adams: Just right
LSU's offense should remain explosive with Garrett Nussmeier at the reins, but it could still regress after leading the nation in scoring behind Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., all of whom became firstround NFL Draft picks. The defense likely will improve after last year's disaster, but enough to lift LSU into the playoffs?
Oklahoma
247Sports ranking: No. 15 Toppmeyer: Too high
Adams: Too high
Several defensive contributors returned, but OU must transition to a new conference (and a rugged Year 1 SEC schedule) while handing the reins to quarterback Jackson Arnold. He's talented but untested against this level of competition. If he endures growing pains, so will the Sooners.
Texas A&M
247Sports ranking: No. 19
Toppmeyer: Too high
Adams: Too high First-year coach Mike Elko retained enough of the talent he inherited to make the Aggies a fringe Top 25 team. To be worthy of a top-20 ranking, he would've needed to retain even more talent, like wide receiver Evan Stewart (now at Oregon). Conner Weigman's performance is a potential swing factor. He's back as the Aggies' starting quarterback after breaking his foot last September.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's SEC Columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.