The Georgia Bulldogs face Texas, Ole Miss, and Alabama on the road while they host Tennessee. The teams listed are four legitimate contenders for the first 12-team College Football Playoff. The Bulldogs face Alabama early in the season before the Crimson Tide reaches its stride. They face the Longhorns a week after Texas plays Oklahoma. Georgia finds a way to go undefeated.

Record Prediction: 12-0

The Longhorns enter the SEC at the right time. Third-year starting quarterback Quinn Ewers leads a reloaded offense that has one of the most experienced offensive lines in college football. Defensively, the edge position is as loaded as it has been in recent memory. Texas made the College Football Playoff and imposed its will on the road against Alabama on the strength of its play in the trenches last season. The team needs to shore up its secondary to beat the top competition in 2024.

Record Prediction: 11-1

Ole Miss has weapons galore on offense. Defensively, the additions of Florida edge Princely Umanmielen and Texas A&M defensive tackle Walter Nolen make the Rebels a force atop college football. Ole Miss loses only to LSU and Georgia and makes the 12-team playoff.

Record Prediction: 10-2

My initial prediction for Alabama saw the Tide going 8-4 with losses to LSU, Tennessee, Georgia, and Oklahoma. The loss of legendary head coach Nick Saban heavily factored into the prediction. Ultimately, Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe is too good to expect less than playoff-caliber football in Tuscaloosa. Milroe’s downfield passing accuracy paired with DeBoer’s scheme gets Alabama to 10 wins and into the playoff.

Record Prediction: 10-2

The Tennessee Volunteers lose their fair share of offensive production, but based on what they do return and roster additions the Volunteers could break out in 2024. Redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava has an opportunity to bring Tennessee back to the offensive success it enjoyed two years ago throwing to veteran receiver Bru McCoy and five-star freshman Mike Matthews. Defensively, the Vols continue to play at a high level. Tennessee makes the playoff.

Record Prediction: 10-2

Head coach Brian Kelly’s best days of coaching might be behind him, but the LSU Tigers have the talent to challenge for a playoff spot in the upcoming season. Starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is primed for a great season in his first year as the starter. LSU gets to 10 wins.

Record Prediction: 10-2

Missouri quarterback Brady Cook hasn’t seen much backlash for his post-Ohio State comments after upsetting the Buckeyes. After the win, Cook shared that the Missouri Tigers were “back.” It’s uncertain what the Tigers are back to, but it’s possible they get overconfident and take a step back when they next take the field.

Record Prediction: 9-3

The Texas A&M Aggies rise in my record predictions after originally placing them as a six or seven-win team. There’s too much talent on this team. The defensive front for Texas A&M might be the best in the nation much less within the conference. Starting quarterback Conner Weigman proves to be one of the top quarterbacks in college football.

Record Prediction: 9-3

Were the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas A&M to play in 2024, the Sooners might be the better team. They just happen to face a tougher schedule. Last year saw Oklahoma face one of the easiest slates in the Big 12 conference. Now they face one of the toughest schedules in the SEC. The team upsets Missouri and Alabama but drops four games in its first SEC gauntlet.

Record Prediction: 8-4

How are the Auburn Tigers going to break into the top half of the SEC? It might need five-star freshman wide receiver Cam Coleman to become a star right away. The Tigers lack playmaking at quarterback but recruit well enough everywhere else to be competitive. They win seven games.

Record Prediction: 7-5

The Florida Gators might face the toughest schedule in college football. If they go 9-3, they deserves to make the playoffs. The team faces Florida State, Miami, and UCF in nonconference. Head coach Billy Napier finds a way to reach bowl eligibility.

Record Prediction: 6-6

The Arkansas Razorbacks are a team whose final record could see plenty of variance depending on how the beginning of the season plays out. If the Razorbacks start slow, head coach Sam Pittman may not be coaching the team by the end of the season. Could new starting quarterback Taylen Green give the team the spark it needs on offense?

Record Prediction: 5-7

South Carolina might have things figured out in basketball and baseball, but the football team could be in for a long season. The loss of starting quarterback Spencer Rattler and now Ole Miss wide receiver Juice Wells could derail the team’s season.

Record Prediction: 4-8

Mississippi State has four returning starters. Is Baylor transfer quarterback Blake Shapen enough of an answer for what the team lost in 2024? New head coach Jeff Lebby might be the long-term answer in Starkville, but he’ll be building his culture and offense from scratch. The Bulldogs go through growing pains.

Record Prediction: 4-8

The transfer portal has put Vanderbilt in the unenviable position of starting over seemingly every season. Still, the portal brought the team an impact player at quarterback in New Mexico State transfer Diego Pavia. Could the Commodores shock the conference and push for a bowl in 2024?

Record Prediction: 4-8

Kentucky should be just good enough to command respect, but could struggle with Brock Vandagriff at quarterback. There’s enough talent on the team to make a bowl game, but the tough schedule makes life difficult on the Wildcats.

Record Prediction: 6-6