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LSU looks for a playoff berth and more this year, but what are expectations nationally? Here's a look at CBS' rankings.

LSU enters the season looking to compete for a national championship in year four under Brian Kelly and going into the year, seemingly every major outlet has the Tigers as a top ten team. Preseason rankings are hardly an indication for how teams will fare entering the year, but they do a great job at setting the temperature of a program.

CBS Sports released their updated rankings of all 136 teams in the country this week, headlined by Texas at the No. 1 spot. LSU, meanwhile enters the season ranked No. 9 on the list, fourth highest among SEC teams, and looking to show they’re a deserving title contender week 1 against Clemson on the road.

Here is CBS Sports’ top 25

Texas
Penn State
Ohio State
Clemson
Georgia
Notre Dame
Oregon
Alabama
LSU
Miami (FL)
Arizona State
Florida
Illinois
Kansas State
Michigan
South Carolina
SMU
Texas A&M
Iowa State
Tennessee
Texas Tech
Ole Miss
Indiana
Oklahoma
Utah

SEC rankings per CBS’ list

1. Texas Longhorns (1)

Texas gets the top spot in the SEC rankings per CBS going into 2025. Not only that, the Longhorns are No. 1 in the country and the preseason favorite to win the national title.

Yes, the roster is loaded despite losing a lot of talent to the NFL. But the Longhorns will go as far as QB Arch Manning will take them this fall.

2. Georgia Bulldogs (5)

Kirby Smart has a reloaded roster that’ll compete for yet another SEC Championship. CBS is high on the Bulldogs, putting them at No. 5 overall as well.

The biggest question is QB Gunner Stockton and if he can steer the ship. It should help that he was transfer WR Zachariah Branch at his disposal. The defense, despite a new cast of characters in some spots, should be one of the better units nationwide.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide (8)

Kalen DeBoer goes into Year 2 with heightened expectations. Basically, it’s College Football Playoff or bust for the Crimson Tide. Still, CBS likes the development over the course of the offseason and Alabama is right in the thick of the SEC race.

As a top 10 team, it’ll hinge on QB play, namely from Ty Simpson (most likely). He has star sophomore WR Ryan Williams as well as LT Kadyn Proctor. On defense, LT Overton should give people problems.

4. LSU Tigers (9)

Garrett Nussmeier, Harold Perkins and Brian Kelly. It seems like this is the trio that could make this a special season for LSU in 2025.

A Heisman contender, a veteran linebacker and high quality coach is certainly a good formula for a run in the SEC. Year 4 for Kelly is a big one as the pressure is on for this talented team to make the College Football Playoff, at minimum.

5. Florida Gators (12)

The Gators have immense pressure this season based on Billy Napier and the squad’s finish to the 2024 season. DJ Lagway’s development as a sophomore QB will be paramount to their success.

But, the team has more depth than ever in the Napier-era. Winning the SEC might be a tall task with the four teams in front of them in CBS’ ranking, but the College Football Playoff might be a possibility despite a brutal schedule.

6. South Carolina Gamecocks (16)

Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks had some juice last season, especially when it came to the CFP debate. They’re in the top half of the SEC rankings going into 2025.

Now, that could mean they have an outside shot at winning the conference crown. But after coming up just short of the playoff last year, LaNorris Sellers and crew will certainly be in the running this fall.

7. Texas A&M Aggies (18)

Mike Elko had the Aggies rolling at 7-1 before limping to an 8-5 finish last season. But the Aggies are still in the top half of this year’s SEC.

Marcel Reed is a very intriguing quarterback talent that could take the team far. This is clearly a top 20 team overall at the moment, it’s just a matter of how high they can climb.

8. Tennessee Volunteers (20)

The Tennessee saga stems from the offseason Nico Iamaleava transferred to UCLA. Then, they ended up getting, albeit brief, UCLA QB Joey Aguilar.

Josh Heupel led this team to the CFP just last season, but competing for the SEC might be a bigger ask in 2025. As of now, it’s still a middle tier, if not barely top-half SEC team this fall.

9. Ole Miss Rebels (22)

Austin Simmons is an exciting lefty quarterback taking over this season. Lane Kiffin has coached up his Ole Miss squads quite well over the years, but winning the SEC is going to be difficult this year.

Still, the Rebels are a top 25 squad, per CBS Sports. And within the top 10 of this conference, perhaps they can make a little noise once again!

10. Oklahoma Sooners (24)

Brent Venables is a bit under the gun this season as Oklahoma has to compete within the SEC. Last year was hopefully a blip on the radar for Sooner fans.

John Mateer transferred in at QB and could be one of the stars of the sport. Perhaps CBS is cautiously optimistic with the Sooners going into 2025.