WATCH: Two SEC Teams That Could Be Terrible, Make Playoff in 2025

The SEC is now one of the deepest conference in college football now that it is up to 16 members. Parity among teams has never been closer as 14 of the schools ranked in the top-26 of 247sports total team talent composite rankings.

Auburn and third-year coach Hugh Freeze are expected to bounce back after missing a bowl game in 2024 with a disappointing 5-7 season. That SEC Podcast host Mike Bratton and Athlon’s Steve Lassan discussed which two teams in the league could miss bowl season entirely but have a playoff ceiling.

Which SEC team has the widest range of potential in 2025?

The floor being missing a bowl game to the ceiling being making the Playoff?

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— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) February 8, 2025

Case for Auburn Tigers

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze has an opportunity to go from jeers to cheers in 2025 as the Tigers have playoff hopes in 2025. There will be a total rehaul of the offense as he searches for a new starting quarterback this spring.

“Number one, [Auburn] could could be terrible. They could make a deep playoff run. I don’t think there’s a any better definition,” Bratton said. “I think Hugh Freeze could be fired by October 11, you know, I don’t think that’s highly unrealistic. They could be top five, maybe top eight team in the country. I think it’s gonna be spectacular, or it’s gonna be an epic disaster.”

Case for Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma enters its second season in the SEC and finished 6-6 during the regular season before losing its bowl game, its second losing season in three years under Coach Brent Venables. The Sooners’ offense has been injected with new blood as offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle hopes to improve a unit which was among the worst in the nation as it ranked No. 113 in total offense, No. 124 in 4.8 yards per play and an inept passing offense that finished No. 129 at 176 yards per game.

“If Washington State transfer quarterback John Mateer comes in and is amazing, if this offensive coordinator makes a huge impact, they shore up the offensive line, if the receivers hit. I mean, this is a lot of what ifs but they just have to be, like competent on offense with the defense they’re likely to field next year,” Bratton said. “I think Oklahoma could make a deep run. I think they could. They could be the most underrated team in the conference, or same, same thing I said about [Auburn] and ol’ [Hugh Freeze].”