SEC Shakeup: Cole Cubelic Ranks Texas as 2025’s Top Team, Signaling a Bold New Era in College Football

Cole Cubelic, one of the most respected analysts in college football and a voice of authority on all things SEC, has made a bold declaration: Texas is the best team in the Southeastern Conference heading into the 2025 season. That’s not a typo or a slip of the tongue—it’s a definitive statement from a man known for measured takes and deep insight into the nuances of offensive line play, roster construction, and program culture. For Texas fans, it’s music to their ears. For traditional SEC powerhouses like Georgia, Alabama, and LSU, it’s both a challenge and a sign of the rapidly shifting landscape within college football.

Texas, which officially joined the SEC alongside Oklahoma in July 2024, has wasted no time in making waves. The Longhorns enter their first full SEC season as not just contenders, but as the consensus favorites in some circles—and Cubelic has now added his voice to that chorus. During a recent segment on SEC Network, Cubelic cited a blend of experience, recruiting, offensive firepower, and defensive improvement as key reasons behind his pick. But perhaps more than anything, it was a vote of confidence in head coach Steve Sarkisian and the culture he has built in Austin.

Cubelic’s endorsement isn’t just a passing headline—it has deep implications for the 2025 college football season. For Texas, it affirms that their patient climb back to national relevance has reached a critical peak. For the SEC, it signals the potential for a new order, one in which the Longhorns immediately challenge the league’s elite and potentially unseat the status quo.

One of the main drivers behind Cubelic’s ranking is Texas’ returning talent on both sides of the ball. The Longhorns are stacked with veterans and NFL-caliber players, particularly on the offensive line, a unit that Cubelic—himself a former Auburn lineman—watches with laser focus. Texas boasts what many believe to be the best offensive line in the conference, if not the country. Anchored by future first-round tackles and interior linemen who have started dozens of games, the Longhorns’ front is not just big and physical, but also remarkably well-coached and disciplined. That group will be tasked with protecting quarterback Arch Manning, the face of the program and one of the most anticipated players in recent memory.

Manning’s development has been under a national microscope since the moment he stepped foot on campus, but by all accounts, he has lived up to expectations. With a year of experience and a deeper understanding of Sarkisian’s pro-style scheme, Manning appears poised for a breakout year in 2025. His ability to read defenses, extend plays, and deliver accurate throws under pressure gives Texas a dimension that many SEC defenses haven’t had to worry about on a weekly basis. And with a deep stable of wide receivers, tight ends, and versatile running backs, the offense has the pieces in place to be the best in the league.

Cubelic also pointed out Texas’ improvement on defense, especially at key positions like edge rusher, linebacker, and cornerback. The Longhorns hit the transfer portal aggressively this past offseason, adding immediate-impact players who bring not only experience but also leadership and versatility. Combined with a crop of blue-chip recruits who are now maturing into their second and third seasons, Texas has built a defense that can stand toe-to-toe with anyone in the SEC.

Of course, talent alone doesn’t win championships. The SEC is a gauntlet, and Texas faces a challenging schedule in its debut campaign. Games against Alabama, Georgia, and Texas A&M loom large, and the physical toll of a full SEC slate can’t be underestimated. But Cubelic believes Texas has both the depth and the mindset to handle it. His comments suggest that Texas has grown beyond the inconsistencies that plagued the program in past eras. They’re not just talented—they’re tough, disciplined, and united under Sarkisian’s vision.

That vision has been several years in the making. Sarkisian took over in 2021 with a mandate to restore Texas to prominence. The road wasn’t always smooth, but his emphasis on culture, competition, and accountability has paid off. The Longhorns made a statement in 2023 by beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and followed that with a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024. Now, entering 2025, they’re no longer hunting respect—they’re commanding it.

Cubelic’s ranking also sends a message to the rest of the SEC. Programs like Alabama and Georgia, which have dominated the last decade, are undergoing transitions of their own. Nick Saban’s retirement has left Alabama in the hands of Kalen DeBoer, while Kirby Smart’s Georgia team is still elite but slightly less dominant than in recent years. LSU, meanwhile, is trying to find its footing after another tumultuous offseason. All of this opens the door for a new face at the top, and Texas appears ready to walk through it.

It’s not just about 2025, either. Texas is recruiting at an elite level and investing in facilities and infrastructure at a pace matched by few programs nationally. The move to the SEC wasn’t just a geographical shift—it was a philosophical one. Texas wants to be the gold standard in college football, and joining the sport’s premier conference was a necessary step in that journey. Cubelic’s pick is validation that the Longhorns are on the right path.

For Sarkisian and his staff, the challenge now becomes maintaining focus amid growing expectations. It’s one thing to be a surprise contender; it’s another to carry the weight of being preseason No. 1 in the SEC. Every team on the schedule will give Texas their best shot, and the margin for error will be razor-thin. But with leaders on both sides of the ball and a coaching staff that has been battle-tested, the Longhorns appear well-equipped to handle the pressure.

The fan base, too, has rallied behind this moment. There’s a sense of excitement and belief in Austin that hasn’t been felt in decades. DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium will be one of the toughest environments in college football this fall, and the Longhorns will have the chance to prove they belong at the top every single week.

Still, skepticism remains in some corners. Critics point out that Texas has yet to navigate a full SEC schedule and question whether the program has the consistency to win week in and week out in the toughest conference in America. Others wonder whether Manning, despite his pedigree, can live up to the immense hype now that he’ll face SEC defenses every Saturday. These are fair questions—and the answers will come in time.

But for now, Cole Cubelic has made his stance clear. Texas is the best team in the SEC heading into 2025. That’s a powerful statement, and one that will reverberate across college football for months to come. It’s a testament to the work done by Sarkisian, the buy-in from the players, and the long-term vision that Texas has finally executed after years of missteps.

If Cubelic is right, and the Longhorns do emerge as the class of the SEC, it will mark one of the most successful transitions to a new conference in modern college football history. More than that, it will represent the dawn of a new era—one in which Texas is not just back, but leading the charge in the sport’s most competitive arena.

All eyes are now on Austin. The SEC crown is up for grabs, and the Longhorns are not just in the race—they might be leading it.