Monday’s unveiling of the 2025 AP High 25 ballot riled up some fanbases. Together with snubbing three worthy groups exterior of the rankings. Even the time period “overrated” surfaces right here.
Texas will not earn the notorious “O” phrase, although. The Longhorns lure again an abundance of expertise. Plus characteristic Arch Manning in probably the most extremely anticipated season ever for an incoming beginning quarterback.
Penn State sparked conversations by touchdown forward of defending nationwide champion Ohio State. However the Nittany Lions stockpiled on returning expertise and large faculty soccer switch portal additions. Clemson earned an “underrated” label by CBS Sports activities, touchdown at No. 4 forward of Georgia.
So who earns the overrated label? Every of those groups reside within the Southeastern Convention.
Oklahoma Sooners land in High 25
Sure there’s renewed enthusiasm for the Sooners. Oklahoma is predicted to be higher in 2025.
However No. 18 is very excessive for a group that completed sub .500 final yr. There’s a number of different the explanation why OU falls right here.
John Mateer is an intriguing quarterback addition. However he is dealing with an enormous bounce to the SEC after taking part in within the two-team Pac-12 Convention in 2024. Incoming switch Jadyn Ott should produce proper out the gate too for one of many worst floor assaults within the convention.
Mateer and Ott occur to play behind one of many nation’s worst offensive traces final season. Head coach Brent Venables nonetheless should determine his entrance 5 within the trenches.
Oklahoma should beat Michigan early to make sure the AP did proper by putting them inside the highest 20. However No. 18 appears like a large stretch.
Ole Miss Rebels sneak into High 25
Clearly final season’s outcomes persuaded Ole Miss’s rating. Or the very fact Jaxson Dart got here from right here. Some followers will consider head coach Lane Kiffin persuaded the No. 21 rating.
Regardless, Ole Miss comes with a revamped roster forward of the season. Together with at Dart’s outdated place behind middle. It’s going to both be sophomore Austin Simmons or freshman A.J. Maddox locking down QB1 in Oxford.
In the meantime, the Rebels carry again a complete of 5 returners from their 10-3 group. That is proper — simply 5. There’s even 4 model new faces defending the incoming QB.
Fortuitously Ole Miss will get 5 of its first six video games at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. So maybe the AP envisions a 6-0 begin out the gate. However then comes back-to-back street journeys towards Georgia and the aforementioned Oklahoma. We’ll probably discover out extra about this Rebels group even earlier, when Arkansas pulls into Oxford on Sept. 13.
Tennessee Volunteers
Who’s the actual starter at quarterback? Particularly following the a lot mentioned Nico Iamaleava drama out of Knoxville?
Head coach Josh Heupel is but to decide on former UCLA QB Joey Aguilar or four-star faculty soccer recruiting signing Jake Merklinger — who’s nonetheless in play for QB1.
The Volunteers have greater than QB to determine although. A brand new lead operating again should emerge with Dylan Sampson within the league. Large receiver is one other skinny space with Dont’e Thornton gone too. Tennessee might roll with as many as three freshmen — together with prized 2025 four-star signings Travis Smith Jr. and Radarious Jackson.
Heupel must depend on protection to keep up the twenty fourth rating or shoot increased. The Vols carry again seven starters there. However an untested RB and query marks at QB spell potential rising pains early. Even the season opener towards a 10-3 Syracuse group from a yr in the past might knock Tennessee out the rankings instantly.