The SEC’s place as faculty soccer’s high convention has been compromised by a two-year nationwide championship drought after six of the earlier 9 titles, courting again to the Faculty Soccer Playoff’s 2014 debut.
The arrival of Texas and Oklahoma in 2024 bolstered the SEC’s depth with a pair of blueboods, however the league bid farewell to iconic coach Nick Saban after he constructed a dynasty at Alabama and noticed Georgia slip barely after its 2023 bid for the primary three-peat for the reason that Nineteen Thirties fell brief.
The SEC failed to completely seize on the CFP’s intial enlargement to 12 groups, however pushes to reassert itself in 2025.
Storylines abound because the league appears to be like to take action:
Will Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer discover his footing?
DeBoer’s lackluster begin at Bama hinted the most effective days have been behind the SEC’s longtime standard-bearer. A 9-4 end marked the Crimson Tide’s fewest wins and most losses since Saban’s first season in 2007, whereas marking this system’s third straight yr out of the CFP. DeBoer, who has a 113-16 profession file, has received large wherever he’s been and has signed consecutive top-3 recruiting courses since he arrived at Alabama. If the offensive-minded DeBoer finds the appropriate quarterback, his offense is stacked at receiver, led by sophomore star Ryan Williams, and loaded up entrance, whereas seven starters return to a protection as proficient as any. However expectations are as excessive at Alabama because the fan base’s stage of endurance is low. If DeBoer’s second Crimson Tide workforce misses the CFP, his time in Tuscaloosa may rapidly grow to be tenuous.
Apart from DeBoer, who’s feeling essentially the most stress to provide at a nationwide energy?
LSU’s Brian Kelly and Oklahoma’s Brent Venables cleared the path, with Auburn’s Hugh Freeze shut behind. Florida’s Billy Napier would rapidly be a part of them if the Gators stumble by way of one other disappointing September. Kelly’s 29-11 file in Baton Rouge is perhaps most disappointing, given this system he inherited, the actual fact he had 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels and his earlier success. However the 63-year-old with 308 profession wins believes he has his finest roster in 4 years, led by veteran quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, and expects to succeed in the CFP. The Sooners are extremely unlikely to hitch the Tigers there, however Washington State switch sign caller John Mateer ought to elevate the defensive-minded Venables’ moribund assault. QB points have plagued Freeze, who hopes to straighten out his offense with Oklahoma switch Jackson Arnold whereas fielding a younger protection with appreciable upside.
Is Texas redshirt sophomore Arch Manning the subsequent nice within the first household of quarterbacks?
Manning patiently waited two seasons to grow to be QB1 in Austin. The 20-year-old impressed in spurts final season, accounting for 10 touchdowns, 8 of them passing, when starter Quin Ewers suffered a Week 2 belly pressure. A important 15-yard scamper throughout a highway win at Texas A&M left many questioning why coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t search a change of tempo through the postseason. The 6-foot-4, 219-pound Manning now spearheads an assault stacked with ability and backed by the SEC’s nastiest protection. Arch, the son of Cooper Manning, is effectively positioned to deliver residence the household’s first nationwide title. Grandfather Archie and uncle Eli every would have welcomed had comparable assist at Ole Miss, whereas uncle Peyton certainly needs he’d higher capitalized on his state of affairs at Tennessee.
Did Lane Kiffin miss his finest probability at Ole Miss?
The 2024 Rebels have been all in. Quarterback Jaxson Dart returned for an additional season, whereas the switch portal produced elite defensive expertise in any respect three ranges. However a 27-3 no-show at South Carolina and a 24-17 choke within the Swamp left Ole Miss out of the CFP and Kiffin to rebuild his roster. Solely 4 starters return. Redshirt sophomore left-hander Austin Simmons, a former UF commit from Pahokee, is proficient, although unpolished, and his supporting forged is unproven. The Rebels have playmakers on protection, but in addition fielded one of many nation’s high fronts in 2024. Kiffin, now 50 and in his fifteenth season as a university head coach, will battle to put up a 3rd straight double-digit end throughout Yr Six in Oxford.
Has Texas-Georgia already developed into the SEC’s showcase recreation?
Soccer followers all over the place ought to circle Nov. 15 on the calendar, when Sarkisian’s Longhorns go to the Bulldogs — probably for high spot within the convention. Kirby Sensible’s squad beat Sark’s twice in 2024, together with in extra time through the convention title recreation. If the 2025 Longhorns validate themselves as SEC favorites, they’ll must win in Athens. One other shut battle will rapidly set up a heated rivalry at a time when Alabama rivalries with LSU and Auburn are diminished, Florida has misplaced seven of eight to Georgia and the Bulldogs annual conflict with Auburn — the Deep South’s oldest rivalry — has grow to be equally one-sided.
Edgar Thompson may be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com