2024 SEC Football Conference Preview

2024 SEC Football Conference Preview

With the College Football season just one week away, Vendetta Sports Media will be bringing you conference previews for all Power Five conferences as well as the Group of Five. Hanifan has already done the MAC preview, which you can find here , and as the title states we will be taking a look at the absolutely loaded SEC. The additions of Texas and Oklahoma should bring some wrenches in teams’ plans, but this conference has a number of teams on the rise as well. What does the 2024 SEC Football preview look like? Let’s talk about it.

*Record predictions at the bottom of the post*

1. Georgia

A no-brainer to begin the 2024 SEC football preview, as the Dawgs are going to be a serious contender to win the College Football National Championship this year. They return Carson Beck, the nation’s best QB according to the Draft Busters , along with 15 others combined. Their schedule is SIGNIFICANTLY more difficult than last season, but missing out on the Playoff will leave a Bulldog-sized chip on their shoulders. Look for Georgia to dominate this season.

2. Ole Miss

Yes, we are already off to a bold start as I have Ole Miss as the second-best team in my 2024 SEC football preview. Lane Kiffin absolutely crushed in the transfer portal this off-season, landing multiple key defensive pieces in Walter Nolen from Texas A&M, Princley Umanmielen from Florida, and Chris Paul Jr. from Arkansas. This might be the best team Kiffin has ever coached, and if he can get the most out of QB Jaxson Dart, this is a legit Playoff contender.

3. Texas

The inaugural season for Texas in the SEC *could* be a huge success. Quinn Ewers got an influx of talent at the Wide Receiver position in the transfer portal which should help cushion the blow of losing CJ Baxter for the season. The biggest question mark surrounding this team in 2024 should be their Defensive Line after losing D’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy to the NFL. An early road game against Michigan should tell us how this Longhorns team will perform this season.

4. Alabama

It’s still Alabama, after all. Losing arguably the best coach in College Football history in Nick Saban will hurt, but new HC Kalen DeBoer is no slouch. Alabama returns 22 players from a year ago, including Jalen Milroe. We saw what DeBoer did with Michael Penix Jr. last season, and if he can have a similar amount of success with Milroe, the Crimson Tide may not lose a step this season. Road games at Wisconsin, Tennessee, LSU, and Oklahoma are certainly less than ideal, but if they can manage to go 3-1 in these games, they will be in great shape.

5. Tennessee

The Tennessee Volunteers go as Nico Iamaleava takes them. Iamaleava is Trey’s best bet to win the Heisman this year, and if he is in contention for the award, expect the Vols to be higher than they are in my 2024 SEC Football preview. James Pearce Jr., for my money, is the best EDGE in the country and could spearhead this defense this year. A depleted secondary could prove costly in games this year, but this offense might be good enough to win any shootout they get into this year.

6. Texas A&M

I am eating the cheese on Conner Weigman this season, so much so that I had him in the first-ever edition of my Stallion’s list . Mike Elko will be a breath of fresh air for the Aggies this season, getting to get his hands on a defense that is loaded. Nic Scourton, also on the aforementioned Stallion’s list, is my sleeper to be the EDGE 1 by the time the 2025 NFL Draft comes around. That defensive unit really has no noticeable holes. The loss of Rueben Owens for the year sucks big time, but that RB room is more than capable of producing even without his speed.

7. LSU

The LSU Tigers are going to be spearheaded by the best Offensive Line in the country. Both Will Campbell and Emery Jones should be first-round picks, and the interior of the line also boasts big-time talent. The rest of the offense will have to prove themselves, as they lost Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, and Brian Thomas Jr. However, Garrett Nussmeier is more than capable of leading the charge and Kyren Lacy is primed and ready to become the next great LSU receiver. The secondary might be their Achilles heel, as that unit was not good in 2023 and did little to improve this off-season.

8. Kentucky

I’ll say it: Deone Walker might be the scariest player in the country. Don’t be shocked if he is in contention for the first overall pick in 2025. Walker is the leader of a defensive unit that has talent on all three levels. Their Linebackers are legit, the Secondary will continue to improve, and the Defensive Line is legit. Really the only question mark on this roster is Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff. The former five-star prospect finally has the keys to an offense, and we will see what he can do.

9. Missouri

Missouri is a weird eval. This team has gone 23-5 the last two seasons and many expect them to be good this season. However, they land ninth in my 2024 SEC Football preview because of my lack of faith in Brady Cook. You’d have good stats too if you were throwing to Luther Burden III, let’s be honest. This offense is also relying on two transfers at RB to replace Cody Schrader. There are also too many losses on the defensive side of the ball for me to have confidence in the Tigers in 2024.

10. Oklahoma

Growing up is realizing to never put stock in the Oklahoma Sooners. I also will never put stock into a team that is turning over their ENTIRE Offensive Line. Yes, Brent Venables will be playing five new starters in 2024, not to mention a new starting QB and Offensive Coordinator. There are just far too many moving pieces for me to believe in this team. I will close their preview by mentioning that their Secondary is fairly solid. That’s about it.

11. Auburn

The Auburn Tigers could surprise folks, including me who has them 11th in my 2024 SEC Football preview. They are a trendy pick right now to hit their over on win projections, which stand now at 7.5. Jarquez Hunter will bring a change from what the Tigers fans have seen at the RB position. What gets me excited about this team is WR Cam Coleman, the number five prospect in the 2024 class. He has all the tools to be a monster, but unfortunately for him, he has Payton Thorne throwing him the ball. 62.6% completion percentage, a 15/9 TD-INT ratio, and a QBR of 57.7 should instill confidence in literally nobody, but if the run game catches fire this team could be a very tough out.

12. Arkansas

I LOVE Landon Jackson. 6.5 sacks a year ago and I expect him to take a pretty noticeable jump in 2024. This Defensive Line returns four players who logged 300+ snaps a year ago, which will be huge in getting after the QB and stopping the run. However, this Offensive is going to be BAD. Incoming QB Taylen Green was awful at Boise State last season (57.1%, 1,752 yards, 11/9 TD-INT) and he will be playing behind a makeshift Offensive Line that includes two transfers who have never started.

Sorry, Jackson Law.

13. South Carolina

Nyck Harbor and Raheem “Rocket” Sanders. That’s it.

All somewhat jokes aside, it’s clear that this Gamecocks team is going to struggle in 2024. The Defensive leaves quite a bit to be desired at all three levels, I don’t have a ton of confidence in HC Shane Beamer, and their schedule is brutal (but not the worst in the SEC, spoiler for what’s to come). However, I do like LaNorris Sellers and what he brings as a running QB. If he can show improvement in his throwing mechanics, they might be ok.

14. Mississippi State

RIP Mike Leach.

Jeff Lebby certainly wouldn’t have been the hire I made as Head Coach, but that’s where we stand. The Bulldogs place 14th in my 2024 SEC Football preview because this defense is atrocious. I do believe the offense will improve from last season, but what good is it if the defense is going to be Swiss cheese? This team lost eight starters from a year ago and I have major concerns about the guys coming in.

15. Florida

I’m not kidding when I say the Florida Gators might have the hardest schedule in College Football history. Just look at this:

• vs. Miami
• vs. Samford
• vs. Texas A&M
• at. Mississippi State
• vs. UCF
• at. Tennessee
• vs. Kentucky
• vs. Georgia
• at. Texas
• vs. LSU
• vs. Ole Miss
• at. Florida State

Their floor is two wins this season. I’m serious. Losing Trevor Etienne is crushing, having to rely on Graham Mertz is never wise, and they have zero pass rush. The Offensive Line is solid, but there are just far too many concerns for me.

Bold prediction: Billy Napier gets fired after the UCF game.

16. Vanderbilt

The brutal schedule of Florida is not enough to put them last in my 2024 SEC Football preview. The lone bright spot on this Commodores roster is Diego Pavia. Pavia finished fourth among QBs in rushing yards last season with 1,058. I believe he will finish with more in 2024, as he will be running for his life every single game.

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