Arch Manning, Texas Predicted to Win SEC Over Georgia, Alabama in 2025 Preseason Poll

The Texas Longhorns were overwhelmingly chosen as the team to beat in the SEC during the 2025 college football season as part of an SEC media poll on Friday.

Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated posted the results of the poll on X with Texas accruing 96 points to lead the way as the predicted SEC champion. They were followed by Georgia (44 points), Alabama (29 points) and LSU (20 points):

There is a ton of hype surrounding the Longhorns entering the 2025 campaign thanks largely to the No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2023, Arch Manning, taking over as the starting quarterback.

The nephew of legendary NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, and the grandson of longtime New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning, Arch arrived at Texas to a ton of fanfare.

However, he had to wait his turn behind Quinn Ewers, who led the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff in each of the past two seasons.

Manning did get to start two games last season while Ewers was injured, though, and he appeared in eight others. The 21-year-old from New Orleans showcased his immense potential, completing 67.8 percent of his passes for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions, while also rushing for 108 yards and four scores.

Texas joined the SEC last season after a lengthy run in the Big 12, and the Longhorns enjoyed a great deal of success during the first year in what is widely regarded as the toughest conference in college football.

They reached the SEC Championship Game and took Georgia to overtime, but after Texas settled for a field goal, the Bulldogs won it on a walk-off, four-yard touchdown run by Trevor Etienne.

Texas had a deeper College Football Playoff run that Georgia, though, and made it further than any other SEC team.

The Longhorns reached the CFP semifinal where they fell to the eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes by a 28-14 score.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian's offense figures to be even more potent in 2025 with Manning at the controls, so it is understandable why the Longhorns are the popular pick to win the SEC.

However, head coach Kirby Smart's Bulldogs are always in the mix, as are the Crimson Tide, he figure to be better in their second season under head coach Kalen DeBoer after narrowly missing the CFP last season.

LSU could be a sneaky contender to win the SEC as well since Garrett Nussmeier now has a year of experience under his belt as the Tigers' starting quarterback.

Texas, Georgia, Alabama and LSU all stand out as strong candidates to win the SEC and reach the CFP, plus dark horses such as South Carolina, Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Auburn can't be completely counted out.