After making the College Football Playoff last year, finishing just inside the top 10 of the conference would be quite the fall for Josh Heupel's Vols. But this is a key example of why predictions can no longer be made before the spring is over.
The Volunteers had CFP aspirations again a few months ago, but then they lost quarterback Nico Iamaleava to UCLA. More power to Heupel for standing his ground, but the Volunteers will still suffer in the immediate future after also having to replace star running back Dylan Sampson and a handful of other big-time contributors on both sides of the ball.
Ole Miss has to replace a lot, including quarterback Jaxson Dart, but transfer king Lane Kiffin is always reliable to add a lot of talent and have a high-scoring offense. Considering all the roster unknown throughout the SEC, the Rebels could also be a top-5 team but are still unproven.
Although they'll always be No. 1 in their hearts, the Aggies are consistently in the middle of the pack. Texas A&M fans will be disappointed with another above average football team, but it's actually right on cue.
Shane Beamer's Gamecocks have to replace half of their starting defense, but offensively, they still have quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who could emerge as a first-round NFL Draft pick. Because of Sellers, though, South Carolina will be able to win some shootouts if needed.
Considering all they have to replace from last season's SEC championship team, the Bulldogs would be lower than this if not for being Georgia. However, it's more than just brand recognition.
Kirby Smart always finds a way to reload and have Georgia back as a national contender. The Bulldogs should struggle some in 2025, but more than likely, they'll still be one of the best teams in the SEC. This No. 6 ranking could seem way low by December.