1.LSU
As the top seed in the CFP, having won five games versus then top ten teams (Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, and Texas) they have the best resume in college football and it’s not that close. A dominant performance in Saturday’s SEC Championship, vulted LSU to the top spot in the rankings and rightly so.
2.Georgia
Despite getting their butts kicked by LSU this past Saturday, Georgia will play in a New Year’s Six Bowl Game and have earned the right do so. Georgia won the SEC East for the third straight year and have been dominant while doing it.
3.Florida
Florida was very competitive during the first half of the 2019 campaign but since losses to LSU and Georgia, they have flown under the radar. Florida will s still play in a high tier bowl game, though.
4.Auburn
A win in the Iron Bowl kept Coach Gus Malzahn off of the hot seat as things are looking up on the plains for 2020-21.
5.Alabama
Nick Saban’s team had its first two loss season since 2013-14. Because of injuries to the defense this season, the Tide have looked pitiful on that side of the ball. But a win in a bowl game should get this team fired up headed into next season.
6.Texas A&M
A tough 7-5 season for the Aggies doesn’t mean they didn’t have success. They played LSU, Alabama, Clemson, and Georgia who were all ranked inside the top three at one point and were competitive in all of those games. Another highly ranked recruiting class from Jimbo Fisher and his staff needs to mean a ten win season within the next two years.
7.Tennessee
Since losing to BYU and Georgia State early in the season, Jeremy Pruitt turned it around, as they went six and one in their final seven games. Things should be looking up for the Vols in 2020.
8.Kentucky
Despite losing two QBs, receiver turned QB Lynn Bowden led Kentucky this season to bowl elgibility. Mark Stoops, Kentucky’s head man, may be a high profile candidate for bigger jobs, but if he is retained expect another season like this or better in 2020 for the basketball power in football.
9.South Carolina
Even with an early season win over Georgia, South Carolina still went 4-8 and did not have any success after that. So, what does keeping Will Muschamp as coach do. Who knows?
10.Mississippi State
Despite the ideal hiring of former Penn State OC Joe Moorhead, things have not looked so hot for Mississippi State. A win versus Ole Miss a few weeks ago should do some healing, though.
11.Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt retained Derek Mason as its head coach, meaning not many transfers. That’s the only reason why Vandy is this high in the rankings.
12.Missouri
Missouri fired Barry Odom and after a week, have not found anyone as its new head coach. So, many players leave regarding transfer, so don’t expect huge things from Missouri next season.
13.Ole Miss
Ole Miss hired former USC and Tennessee Head Coach Lane Kiffin (who also used to be Alabama’s OC) as its next head coach after firing Matt Luke. So, expect an offensive explosion from Ole Miss next season, despite many players leaving due to transfer.
14.Arkansas
Arkansas was the first to fire their coach of these three but have lost their top two candidates many presume (Kiffin to Ole Miss, Norvell to Florida State) to other jobs. So, at this point, Arkansas is at the lowest of lows in the SEC.
