However, that group is not alone. Heading into the 2025 season, 16 teams play at least five games against ranked opponents. Thirteen of them are from the SEC. Auburn, Missouri and Tennessee still each play four games against ranked opponents. Wisconsin, Syracuse and Purdue are the only non-SEC interlopers.

Here's a look at where SEC football teams appeared in the preseason AP Top 25 poll for the 2025 college football season.

Texas received 25 first-place votes and 1,552 points to give the Southeastern Conference the preseason No. 1 team for a record fifth straight year. The Nittany Lions got 23 first-place votes and 1,547 points for their highest preseason ranking since they were No. 1 to open the 1997 season.