ATHENS — College football fans are in for a treat, with record television ratings potentially leading the way.
SEC Network star Peter Burns knows his audience as well as his viewers, and with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC and the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, viewers I believe it will be a feast.
“The fact that we're sitting here in the middle of May is there are probably six or seven SEC teams that could potentially be College Football Playoff teams,” Burns said. For us.
“It’s great for content, but I guarantee you it’s also very good for TV ratings.”
Georgia is widely considered the No. 1 team in the preseason rankings, but Ohio State is under consideration after poaching superstars Caleb Downs (Alabama) and Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss) from the SEC. is recieving.
Burns said he puts Texas on the same level as Georgia — “that second tier” would include Alabama, Ole Miss and perhaps even Missouri at that point. ”
However, these picks are by no means set in stone as roster turnover continues.
According to On3Sports, 3,227 players entered the transfer portal from 2024 through Thursday, and 1,797 of them (56%) found new homes.
“I feel like normally by May when spring football is over we'd have pretty good information on the SEC and where everybody is at,” Barnes said. “I don't know if I've ever felt more alone and in the dark about the season that's coming up….
“I think a lot of that is because of the transfer portal. A lot of times you look at a player on the roster and think, 'Oh, I forgot he transferred.' That stinks because one of the things I loved about college football is that you have guys who are there two of the three years and develop them. ”
Barnes singled out Alabama receiver Isaiah Bond. He was set to become a Tide legend after making his final two-TD catch against Auburn and his fourth-down catch against Georgia.
“Then he made a business decision and decided to go to Texas,” Burns said. “It's just a different sport. We've got to stop being the old men of the sport and shaking our fists.”
The preseason ranking below is way too early, but it will definitely change after SEC Media Day in July.
1. Georgia
2. Texas
3. Ole Miss
4. Alabama
5. Tennessee
6. Missouri
7.LSU
8. Oklahoma
9. Texas A&M
10. Kentucky
11.Auburn
12. Florida
13. Arkansas
14. South Carolina
15. Mississippi
16. Vanderbilt
