2024 SEC Preseason Media Poll: Predicted order of finish revealed

After four days of discussing football, the rubber meets the road in the SEC and the real predictions come to light with the unveiling of 2024 predicted order of finish as voted on by league media in attendance this week at SEC Media Days in Dallas.

The media has put its votes on paper and the league has compiled the votes to provide the official tally of who is expected to finish where.

Georgia enters again as your top team in the Southeastern Conference with the Bulldogs earning 165 first-place votes, which represents 77.5% of the total. They are joined by four returning names in the league with Alabama in third, Ole Miss in fourth, and LSU to round out the top-five.

Texas, one of the new entries for the SEC, comes in strong with them placing second behind only the ‘Dawgs. As for Oklahoma, they find themselves slotted in eighth for their own debut in the conference.

There’s also a pair of surprises when it comes to first-place voting. Of the 213 votes, all but three of them went to the five up top. However, South Carolina, who landed in 13th, received one while Vanderbilt, the program in last place in the entire poll, earned the final pair. Whether taken seriously or not, those tallies are officially on record when it comes to the Gamecocks and Commodores.

There’s plenty to still dissect so let’s get into it with the debut of the 16-team version of the SEC.

2024 SEC Preseason Poll

1. Georgia Bulldogs – 3,330 (165)
2. Texas Longhorns – 3,041 (27)
3. Alabama Crimson Tide – 2,891 (12)
4. Ole Miss Rebels – 2,783 (4)
5. LSU Tigers – 2,322 (2)
6. Missouri Tigers – 2,240
7. Tennessee Volunteers – 2,168
8. Oklahoma Sooners – 2,022
9. Texas A&M Aggies – 1,684
10. Auburn Tigers – 1,382
11. Kentucky Wildcats – 1,371
12. Florida Gators – 1,146
13. South Carolina Gamecocks – 923 (1)
14. Arkansas Razorbacks – 749
15. Mississippi State Bulldogs – 623
16. Vanderbilt Commodores – 293 (2)

1. Georgia Bulldogs – 3,330 (165)

One year removed from a narrow College Football Playoff miss, the Bulldogs are looking to bounce back in a big way. They certainly have the pieces to do so, starting with returning quarterback Carson Beck, who’s coming off a tremendous 2023 campaign.

The Bulldogs do need to replace a good deal of skill position talent but have mined the portal for the likes of former Florida running back Trevor Etienne, as well as a handful of capable receivers and a really talented tight end in Stanford‘s Ben Yurosek. A hungry Georgia could be a problem for the rest of the league.

2. Texas Longhorns – 3,041 (27)

While Georgia narrowly missed the playoffs last year, Texas made the field and asserted pretty firmly that it is ‘back.’ The Longhorns will get a chance to prove just how ‘back’ they really are this fall, playing in the SEC.

Quarterback Quinn Ewers will lead the charge. Like Georgia, Texas retooled its pass-catching corps through the transfer portal, bringing in the likes of Alabama’s Isaiah Bond, among others. The schedule is tough, but Texas has the know-how to emerge through it relatively unscathed.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide – 2,891 (12)

Alabama surprised the college football world last year by bouncing back from a very poor start to the season by reaching the College Football Playoff by the skin of its teeth. With an expanded field, the Crimson Tide once again must be considered a legitimate threat to factor into the postseason mix.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe will captain things, but the big question is how Alabama will adjust to new head coach Kalen DeBoer. All DeBoer has done is win, but the SEC is a different beast and Alabama will still carry a target on its back in just about every game. Can the Tide withstand the pressure?

4. Ole Miss Rebels – 2,783 (4)

Lane Kiffin has had a good number of his teams in his career that were dangerous. He hasn’t always had teams that were both dangerous and steady. Can Ole Miss handle the hype and the success and show some consistency throughout the season?

How well the Rebels answer that question likely determines whether they’re a playoff team next fall. Quarterback Jaxson Dart should be the guy on offense, while the defense was packed with impact transfers in the offseason. The pieces are there, Ole Miss just needs to execute.

5. LSU Tigers – 2,322 (2)

LSU has to replace the most dynamic player in the country, 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. It won’t be easy. The good news is the Tigers can still surround Garrett Nussmeier with a whole lot of talent, even despite losing two top targets from a year ago.

The issue for LSU of late has been the defense. Has the depth Brian Kelly has built through the last few years crystallized? If so, the Tigers could take a big step forward on that side of the ball. There’s talent at every level, so it really needs to happen now if it’s going to for Kelly and company.

6. Missouri Tigers – 2,240

While Missouri certainly has one of its most talented teams in school history, the Tigers also benefit from one of the weakest SEC schedules in recent memory. That’s not to say there aren’t tests, they just don’t exist on a week-in, week-out basis like they do for many other conference peers.

Quarterback Brady Cook and receiver Luther Burden should be one of the best combos in the league. Sure, there’s some retooling to do after losing running back Cody Schrader. But Eli Drinkwitz has recruited well and the transfer portal has also been kind. Missouri can make some noise this fall.

7. Tennessee Volunteers – 2,168

After taking a small step back coming off the Hendon Hooker era, Tennessee will once again go through a quarterback change. But expectations are sky high for former five-star prospect Nico Iamaleava, who looked excellent in the team’s bowl game last year.

Can Josh Heupel‘s offense find its stride yet again in 2024? If so, the Volunteers will be a tough out for anyone on the schedule. The roster has gotten better top to bottom under Heupel, so expectations are high in Knoxville.

8. Oklahoma Sooners – 2,022

Few teams suffered as big a blow to the transfer portal as Oklahoma did in losing Dillon Gabriel to Oregon. But the Sooners have someone waiting in the wings. Jackson Arnold is a talented dual-threat quarterback who has nibbled at action the last year and is itching for the full-time role.

The Sooners have some serious pieces defensively and could put their stamp on the 2024 season in that way. Both linebacker Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman are elite leaders, and they’ll be counted on to keep Oklahoma pushing through its first SEC slate.

9. Texas A&M Aggies – 1,684

Texas A&M has been plagued by inconsistency at the quarterback position the last couple years, mainly due to injuries. Conner Weigman has looked like the highest-upside guy there but hasn’t managed to stay healthy just yet.

Then there’s the coaching turnover. Mike Elko should be able to immediately produce some results on defense, where there’s plenty of talent to work with. Can he get the rest of the roster up to speed quickly enough for Texas A&M to be a contender? Time will tell.

10. Auburn Tigers – 1,382

Hugh Freeze‘s first season on The Plains was just so-so, hampered by subpar quarterback play and an overall dearth of talent on the roster. Freeze has done his best to remedy the latter with good recruiting and nice transfer portal work, but the former will be a quality test of his development ability.

If Auburn can get above-average play at quarterback there’s a chance the Tigers surprise in 2024, but that’s proven to be a big if in recent years. Can other areas of the team step up to make up the difference?

11. Kentucky Wildcats – 1,371

For the second straight year, Kentucky is relying on a transfer quarterback to run the offense. This time it’s former Georgia gunslinger Brock Vandagriff. He’ll have the luxury of working with new offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan, considered one of the brightest young minds in the game.

But the Wildcats have been stuck a bit under Mark Stoops of late. They’re a very good program, the kind few teams want to face on any given Saturday. But they’ve yet to really break through in a major way, despite having some elite talent roll through from time to time. Will 2024 be the year?

12. Florida Gators – 1,146

All eyes are on Billy Napier going into the 2024 season, perhaps on the hottest seat of any coach in the SEC not named Sam Pittman. Florida actually returns quite a good bit, particularly offensively. Quarterback Graham Mertz is back after a very steady season, while two quality targets have been added to the passing attack from the transfer portal. Throw in Eugene Wilson III and Montrell Johnson and that’s a pretty solid nucleus.

The defense has been the thorn in the side the better part of the last three years. Florida’s hoping improved depth on that side of the ball will produce better results. But an equally big question is whether there are any true difference-makers on that side.

13. South Carolina Gamecocks – 923 (1)

Shane Beamer heads into a pivotal Year 4 after dropping back to just five wins in 2023. Quarterback is a big question mark, with homegrown LaNorris Sellers likely to at least share some snaps with Auburn transfer Robby Ashford. The addition of running back Rocket Sanders was massive.

Linebacker Debo Williams and safety Nick Emmanwori will lead the defense. Can they do enough to allow the team to find its rhythm against a very tough schedule? Managing momentum will be key, particularly given the pressure on Beamer.

14. Arkansas Razorbacks – 749

All the pressure is on Sam Pittman to produce at this point, going into Year 5 of his tenure. The loss of Sanders is a big blow as it’s virtually impossible to straight up replace a talent of that caliber. Still, Arkansas has done what it can do adjust.

Quarterback Taylen Green has been brought in as a talented dual-threat prospect, and he’s expected to lead the offense. He’ll do so while taking instruction from Bobby Petrino, an excellent offensive mind. Can Petrino’s arrival spark the program?

15. Mississippi State Bulldogs – 623

Zach Arnett is out after a short stint in charge and Jeff Lebby is in. That will immediately revamp the entire look of the Mississippi State offense after it had transitioned quite a bit from Mike Leach to Arnett. The style change will be quite interesting to watch, especially in the SEC.

Brought in to help aid the transition was Baylor transfer quarterback Blake Shapen, who will key the offense in 2024. Can he do enough to get the offense right on track without a hitch? Even if it’s a little inconsistent at times, expect more fireworks from the State offense than a year ago.

16. Vanderbilt Commodores – 293 (2)

Clark Lea appeared to have the Commodores heading in the right direction after winning five games in 2022, but the ‘Dores took a step back and went 2-10 in his third year in 2023. The pressure is once again on. Lea has done a lot to revamp the roster, bringing in 22 transfers.

For Vanderbilt, the story is a similar one in SEC. Can the ‘Dores spring a big upset or two and push their way close to bowl eligibility? That would have to be considered a successful season for Lea as he looks to establish the floor for the program a little higher than it has been in recent years.

The SEC has never been bigger and, arguably, rarely been better with 16 programs. All that’s left to do now is play this exciting season out to see who finishes where and how accurate the media got it this week while in Big D.