Georgia Bulldogs Trail Texas Longhorns in Preseason Coaches Poll as SEC Power Shift Sparks Debate Ahead of 2025 Football Season
For the first time in years, the Georgia Bulldogs are looking up at someone else in the SEC—at least according to the preseason Coaches Poll. The latest rankings for the 2025 season have placed Texas, now a full member of the Southeastern Conference, ahead of Georgia as the top-ranked team from the league. Texas debuts at No. 1 overall, while Georgia comes in at No. 3 nationally and second among SEC programs. For a team as dominant as Georgia has been under Kirby Smart, the ranking is both a slight and a challenge—a signal that the rest of the country believes the balance of power may be shifting in the SEC.
Texas entering its first full SEC season with the top spot in the Coaches Poll is no small development. It’s an acknowledgment of the momentum Steve Sarkisian’s program has built over the past two years. Coming off a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance and an impressive showing in the 2024 campaign, the Longhorns now carry the weight of massive expectations. Their top-ranked recruiting classes, deep quarterback room, and aggressive offseason strategy have combined to create a sense that this might finally be the year Texas reclaims national dominance—not just as a program, but within the SEC itself.
For Georgia, however, this is unfamiliar territory. Since winning the 2021 and 2022 national championships, the Bulldogs have been viewed as the gold standard of college football—both in results and roster construction. They’ve dominated the SEC East, regularly won double-digit games, and maintained an iron grip on recruiting in the Southeast. To see them ranked behind a program that hasn’t won a national title since 2005 raises eyebrows, especially within the Bulldog faithful.
Kirby Smart is unlikely to show much concern about preseason rankings, publicly at least. He has always preached that championships are won in December and January, not in August. Still, there’s no denying that the Coaches Poll results will serve as bulletin board material for a Georgia team that thrives on being challenged. This isn’t just about being ranked No. 3—it’s about being viewed as second-best in the very conference they’ve ruled in recent years.
That perception shift may be driven by a few key factors. For one, Texas returns a loaded roster, headlined by quarterback Arch Manning, who is expected to take over full-time duties in 2025. Manning has been touted as the future face of college football, and if he lives up to that billing, Texas will be a nightmare for opposing defenses. Their offensive line is veteran-heavy, their skill positions are stocked with five-star talent, and their defense is quietly one of the deepest in the country.
Texas also brings an undeniable freshness to the SEC. There’s novelty in their arrival, curiosity about how they’ll stack up, and optimism that they’re ready for the gauntlet. That combination has undoubtedly swayed some poll voters, especially considering how strong the Longhorns looked against elite competition last season.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s roster—while still elite—has some question marks, at least in the eyes of outside analysts. The loss of several key defensive starters to the NFL, the graduation of veteran offensive linemen, and the departure of superstar tight end Brock Bowers are notable hits. However, this is Georgia. Rebuilding is never the right word—they reload. And returning quarterback Carson Beck may be the biggest reason Georgia fans remain confident that this team can make another championship run.
Beck, who threw for nearly 4,000 yards last season, is back with a full offseason under his belt as the unquestioned leader of the offense. His calm presence, combined with his growing rapport with a talented receiving corps, makes Georgia’s offense as dangerous as it has ever been. The Bulldogs are also loaded in the backfield with Kendall Milton and Branson Robinson providing a thunder-and-lightning punch, and the offensive line remains anchored by experienced returners who are NFL-bound themselves.
Defensively, while the Bulldogs lost high-profile names, their second unit from last season would have started on most Power Five teams. Linebackers like Smael Mondon and CJ Allen are poised for breakout seasons, and the defensive backfield, led by Malaki Starks, is fast, physical, and smart. The defensive front—anchored by Mykel Williams and Nazir Stackhouse—is still one of the most disruptive in the nation. So while questions exist on paper, Georgia’s reputation for developing defensive excellence is firmly intact.
Another factor to consider in this poll dynamic is schedule strength. Texas has a slightly more favorable schedule compared to Georgia in 2025. While both teams face an SEC gauntlet, Georgia’s path includes road trips to Ole Miss and Texas A&M, and a neutral-site showdown against Florida. Texas, on the other hand, avoids Alabama this year and gets key games like Oklahoma and LSU at home. Voters may have seen Texas as more likely to go unbeaten—or suffer fewer losses—which often influences preseason rankings, even subconsciously.
But this new SEC alignment, without divisions, also means that these teams could very well meet on the field come December. The top two teams in the conference standings will now face off in the SEC Championship Game, opening the door for a potential Georgia vs. Texas clash with not only conference supremacy but playoff seeding on the line. If the preseason Coaches Poll holds form, that could be a No. 1 vs. No. 3 showdown with massive implications.
The psychological impact of this ranking on Georgia cannot be overstated. Kirby Smart has built his program on competition, on the idea that nothing is given and everything must be earned. Being ranked second-best in their own league, especially to a newcomer, will only stoke the fire. Georgia doesn’t view itself as second to anyone—and their recent track record supports that claim.
For fans and analysts alike, this emerging rivalry between Georgia and Texas offers a fascinating subplot to the 2025 season. These are two of the sport’s biggest brands, with recruiting reach from coast to coast, passionate fanbases, and rosters littered with future NFL stars. Texas has made no secret of its desire to return to the pinnacle, and Georgia isn’t ready to give up the throne.
There’s also an increasing overlap in recruiting battles between the two programs. Players like five-star safety KJ Bolden, five-star wideout Caleb Cunningham, and elite pass rusher Elijah Griffin have found themselves courted by both schools. This isn’t just a competition on Saturdays—it’s an arms race that plays out every day of the year on the trail, in NIL negotiations, and in the media.
The Coaches Poll, while not definitive, provides a valuable lens through which to view the national landscape. It reflects where respect lies, where perception points, and where narratives are beginning to form. And for now, that narrative says Texas is the top dog in the SEC.
Georgia fans will beg to differ.
With fall camp underway and the season approaching, this ranking may fade into the background as actual games begin. But its impact will linger. Every week, every win or loss, every big performance by a Heisman hopeful will be filtered through the prism of this preseason expectation. For Texas, it’s a chance to prove that they belong. For Georgia, it’s a challenge to reassert what they believe is already proven.
The 2025 season promises to be one of the most competitive and dramatic in recent college football history. With the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff format, a new-look SEC, and teams like Georgia and Texas gunning for the top, fans are in for a wild ride.
And if the Coaches Poll is any indication, Georgia won’t have to look far to find motivation. The Bulldogs are used to being hunted. Now, they get to do a little hunting of their own.
Come December, we’ll find out if Texas was truly ready to lead—or if Georgia’s grip on the SEC remains as firm as ever.
