SEC Preseason Rankings: CFN College Football Preview 2021

The College Football News 2021 SEC preseason rankings along with a quick take on every team. 

The College Football News 2021 SEC preseason rankings along with a quick take on every team. 


This is NOT a ranking of where the teams are going to finish. This is based on how good we think the SEC teams are going into the 2021 season.

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2021 CFN SEC Preseason Rankings: East

1. Georgia Bulldogs

Quick Take: Georgia has recruited as well as anyone, it has the quarterback in JT Daniels, and the defense is as strong as any in America. There aren’t any real excuses – it’s all there to win the SEC Championship and potentially the national title.
Georgia Preview | Schedule

2. Florida Gators

Quick Take: The pressure will be off a bit after a phenomenal 2020 0 it should all be on Georgia in the East. It’s a stretch to call this a rebuilding year, but it’s asking a whole lot to get the passing game going like that again. The Gators are still more than good enough to shoot for at least another East title.
Florida Preview | Schedule

3. Kentucky Wildcats

Quick Take: It’s a rock-solid team that’s going to try to be a bit more explosive. The defense is sound, the running game will be good, and the coaching is top-drawer. Around a fantastic linebacking corps and great O line, the Cats will make some noise.
Kentucky Preview | Schedule

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4. Tennessee Volunteers

Quick Take: Josh Heupel has to get the offense going. As long as the Vols start to show more explosion and bring hope to the fan base, it’ll be a good year. There are enough good skill parts around a strong line to expect a quick improvement.
Tennessee Preview | Schedule

5. Missouri Tigers

Quick Take: After getting up to speed under Eliah Drinkwitz, now the Tigers are supposed to be far more consistent and efficient. The linebackers and D line will be the biggest plus, but the O needs to be more dangerous.
Missouri Preview | Schedule

6. South Carolina Gamecocks

Quick Take: Give it time. New head coach Shane Beamer should have a decent starting 22, and the team will be competitive, but it’s going to take a year to start building this all up. The defensive line and running game are good enough to beat the mediocre teams.
South Carolina Preview | Schedule

7. Vanderbilt Commodores

Quick Take: It’s going to be a long climb for new head coach Clark Lea. The receiving corps is good, and the secondary should grow into a plus. It’ll take something big to get an SEC win, but the Commodores miss most of the big boys from the West.
Vanderbilt Preview | Schedule

NEXT: 2021 CFN SEC Preseason Rankings: West

SEC Rankings: 2020 CFN Five Year College Football Program Analysis

In the 2020 CFN Five-Year College Football Program Analysis, where do all the SEC teams rank?

In the 2020 CFN Five-Year College Football Program Analysis, where do all the SEC teams rank?


It’s our annual look at where all the college football programs rank with a five-year snapshot looking at attendance, players drafted, APR, and wins, wins, wins.

How do all of the SEC college football programs stack up over the last five seasons?

Which college football programs are doing the best jobs overall, which once have all the advantages, and most of all, who’s winning?

How are the rankings determined? Click here for all of the category descriptions.

Five-Year Program Analysis Categories, Rankings
2019 5-Year Program Analysis Rankings 1-130
FBS Wins | Attendance | Quality Wins
Elite Wins | Bad Losses | Bad Wins | Elite Losses
Conference Win % | APR | NFL Draft
Ranking Categories Explained

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Contact @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

14 Vanderbilt 48.38

2020 National Ranking: 85
2019 National Ranking: 87
2018 National Ranking: 77
2017 National Ranking: 65

13 Missouri 56.33

2020 National Ranking: 69
2019 National Ranking: 41
2018 National Ranking: 28
2017 National Ranking: 27

2020 CFN Five Year Program Analysis: Rankings 1-130
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12
AAC | C-USA | IND | MAC | MW | Sun Belt

12 Arkansas 59.15

2020 National Ranking: 62
2019 National Ranking: 57
2018 National Ranking: 52
2017 National Ranking: 53

11 South Carolina 63.29

2020 National Ranking: 55
2019 National Ranking: 48
2018 National Ranking: 37
2017 National Ranking: 24

10 Kentucky 68.63

2020 National Ranking: 49
2019 National Ranking: 59
2018 National Ranking: 83
2017 National Ranking: 92

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9 Ole Miss 72.87

2020 National Ranking: 42
2019 National Ranking: 27
2018 National Ranking: 23
2017 National Ranking: 26

8 Tennessee 79.63

2020 National Ranking: 30
2019 National Ranking: 33
2018 National Ranking: 31
2017 National Ranking: 32


2020 SEC Team Previews, 5 Things To Know
East Florida | Georgia | KentuckyMissouri
South Carolina | Tennessee | Vanderbilt
West Alabama | Arkansas | Auburn | LSU
Miss State | Ole Miss | Texas A&M
CFN Preview 2020: All 130 Team Previews


7 Mississippi State 86.81

2020 National Ranking: 23
2019 National Ranking: 24
2018 National Ranking: 27
2017 National Ranking: 37

6 Texas A&M 89.45

2020 National Ranking: 21
2019 National Ranking: 22
2018 National Ranking: 26
2017 National Ranking: 15

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5 Auburn 102.98

2020 National Ranking: 14
2019 National Ranking: 15
2018 National Ranking: 11
2017 National Ranking: 21

4 Florida 110.83

2020 National Ranking: 11
2019 National Ranking: 18
2018 National Ranking: 19
2017 National Ranking: 11

3 Georgia 128.66

2020 National Ranking: 6
2019 National Ranking: 5
2018 National Ranking: 9
2017 National Ranking: 13

2020 CFN Five Year Program Analysis: Rankings 1-130

2 LSU 141.06

2020 National Ranking: 5
2019 National Ranking: 9
2018 National Ranking: 12
2017 National Ranking: 7

1 Alabama 186.88

2020 National Ranking: 1
2019 National Ranking: 1
2018 National Ranking: 1
2017 National Ranking: 1

CFN Program Analysis Ranking Categories

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SEC Preseason Rankings: CFN College Football Preview 2020

In what might be the craziest of college football seasons, how good are all of the teams? Here are the CFN SEC Preseason Rankings.

In what might be the craziest of college football seasons, how good are all of the teams? Here are the CFN SEC Preseason Rankings of every team.


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

This is NOT a ranking of where the teams are going to end up. This is only based on how good we think the SEC teams are going into whatever the 2020 season is going to be.

CFN Preview 2020: All 130 Team Previews

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14. Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas CFN 2020 Preview

Be Excited About … the parts that return for new head coach Sam Pittman aren’t all that bad. It’s been a rough ride for Arkansas football over the last few years, but the offensive backfield of QB Feleipe Franks and RB Rakeem Boyd is a great place to start a new era.

Be Concerned About … the D line isn’t up to SEC snuff. The offensive skill parts and linebacking corps are solid, but it’s going to be tough to make a big push if the defensive front – and the run defense that was last in the conference and 124th in the nation – isn’t more active.

The Season Will Be Successful If … there’s a big upset on the way to a push for five wins. That might be asking for the world – especially if the schedule takes away some or all of the non-conference games – but 2016 was the last time the Hogs won more than four games.

13. Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt CFN 2020 Preview

Be Excited About … the defense is about to be a thing. Vanderbilt will never be able to keep up with the better offenses in shootouts, but the defense might not let that happen with the fantastic linebackers and safeties to keep games close.

Be Concerned About … the offense that was dead last in the SEC – averaging 299 yards and 16.5 points per game – needs to find a whole lot more pop. The passing game that couldn’t do much to make things happen down the field has to be a whole lot stronger.

The Season Will Be Successful If … the Commodores flirt with bowl eligibility. That’s going to be tough considering the schedule, but the defense should be nasty enough to pull off an upset or three to come up with a decent run.

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12. Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss CFN 2020 Preview

Be Excited About … the Lane Train is about to enter the station. New head man Lane Kiffin brings the star power, the attention, and the coaching chops – he did a whale of a job at Florida Atlantic – to make Ole Miss the annoying fly that buzzes around the big boys. He’s got the passing game to make things fun right away.

Be Concerned About … the secondary has to be a whole lot stronger. Even though the pass rush was impressive – it finished second in the SEC – the Rebels allowed the most passing yards in the conference. The offensive front has to be better, too, after giving up way too many plays behind the line.

The Season Will Be Successful If … Ole Miss goes bowling again. It’s been four years since the program has enjoyed a swag-bag game – going 10-3 with a Sugar Bowl win over Oklahoma State in 2015 – but even in a strong SEC West, the Rebels should be decent under the new coaching staff.

11. Missouri Tigers

Missouri CFN 2020 Preview

Be Excited About … the Eliah Drinkwitz era should kick off with a whole lot of energy. Former head man Barry Odom caught a raw deal, but Drinkwitz is at least a change for the Tigers after a few mediocre seasons. It’s a good all-around team without a whole lot of major concerns, but …

Be Concerned About … a pass rush that didn’t show up. Getting to the quarterback has been one of the calling cards of Mizzou football since if joined the SEC, and finishing last in the conference in sacks last season wasn’t okay. The line is good, but it has to make more big things happen.

The Season Will Be Successful If … the Tigers go bowling. They missed out on a bowl game – not their fault last year – in three of the last five seasons, and getting off to a big start would be huge for Drinkwitz. He only had one year as the Appalachian State head man, so there’s still a bit of a prove it factor.

NEXT: SEC Preseason Rankings Top Ten