SEC football rankings: OU ranks 1st, Texas 6th in hypothetical conference

The speculation about the new SEC has begun, with Pro Football Focus tweeting its SEC football rankings if Oklahoma and Texas joined this season. Oklahoma and Texas, longtime members of the Big 12 conference, have formally accepted their invitations to join the SEC.

Below are the top seven teams in a 16-team SEC, according to Anthony Treash, if it began in the 2021 season:

7. Florida Gators: Florida has to replace quarterback Kyle Trask and tight end Kyle Pitts, which will be a challenge on head coach Dan Mullen and the offense. Running back Dameon Pierce returns after leading the team with 503 rushing yards last season. He will likely take on a larger role as Emory Jones finds his footing under center in the Gators’ offense.

6. Texas Longhorns: A move to the SEC will make Texas’ path to being “back” that much harder. While Oklahoma was the Longhorns’ main roadblock in the Big 12, Alabama, Georgia, LSU and in-state rival Texas A&M present obstacles in this hypothetical new conference. With a first-year head coach in Steve Sarkisian and a new starting quarterback, the Longhorns project to struggle to compete with the upper echelon in the SEC football rankings according to PFF.

5. Texas A&M Aggies: The Aggies earned an Orange Bowl victory in Jimbo Fisher’s third year at the helm. They lose quarterback Kellen Mond and most of their offensive line but return running backs, Isaiah Spiller and Ainias Smith. With Fisher at the helm, the potential remains for A&M to remain in the hunt in this hypothetical superconference.

4. LSU Tigers: Coming off of a national championship, LSU finished last season 5-5. The Tigers should have one of the best secondary units in the conference with Derek Stingley Jr. and Eli Ricks. If the offense can come together, the Tigers will be among the top teams in the SEC.

3. Georgia Bulldogs: The Bulldogs added West Virginia transfer, Tykee Smith, to an already loaded defense. PFF projects Georgia as one of the top teams in the SEC, as has been the case under head coach Kirby Smart. The arrivals of Oklahoma and Texas will have little effect on that.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide: It’s a bit surprising to see the defending champs at No. 2, but they do lose a lot. Alabama must replace quarterback Mac Jones, running back Najee Harris and two top receivers, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle, from a year ago. The Crimson Tide typically has talent awaiting their opportunity to shine, but that is still a lot of production leaving Nick Saban’s program.

1. Oklahoma Sooners: One of the newest members of this (still not real) conference, Oklahoma tops the SEC football rankings. The Sooners have a Heisman candidate in quarterback Spencer Rattler, talented receivers and one of the best defensive players in the country in linebacker Nik Bonitto. On paper, Oklahoma is the team to beat if the Sooners joined the SEC in 2021.