Transfer Portal Revolution Reshapes SEC as Alabama, Auburn Chase Playoff Berths
Last year, Coach Curt Cignetti of Indiana changed the recruiting landscape and the Big 10 won its third national championship in a row. Don’t think for a moment that the SEC is going to keep recruiting and building rosters the same way and expect different results. Coach Albert Einstein said that’s the definition of “insanity.”
The days of recruiting only high school seniors went the way of fullbacks with neck rolls and practices without water. Cignetti’s game plan is being copied by every team in America, just like Nick Saban’s blueprint was copied for years. Saban recruited, stockpiled and developed 5-star players. Many of these were redshirted during the “Process.”
Cignetti has mastered the “plug and play” system of taking upperclassmen from the transfer portal. Last year’s Heisman Trophy quarterback and first pick of the NFL draft, Fernando Mendoza, transferred to the Hoosiers from Cal and the rest is history.
College coaches know that quarterbacks have become the most impatient players on the team. With the transfer rules being virtually nonexistent, the signal callers look for greener pastures if they aren’t named the starter. “Greener” can be interpreted in a couple of ways.
SEC COACHING CHANGES: After a year with hardly any changes for the fall of 2025, the floodgates opened after the season. Of the 16 SEC teams, six will have new head coaches this fall.
The most famous (or infamous) change was Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss for LSU. With the Tigers’ expensive roster and expectations, Kiffin will be under tremendous pressure this fall. The “Must Watch” game will be on Sept. 19 when LSU travels to Ole Miss.
After five consecutive seven-loss seasons, the Auburn Tigers finally pulled the trigger on Hugh Freeze and made another coaching change. Alex Golesh comes to the Plains from South Florida and brings a much needed hard-nose style along with his quarterback, Byrum Brown, who passed for more than 3,000 yards at USF.
Ole Miss promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding, who led the Rebels to a couple of wins in the playoffs last year after Kiffin departed. Jon Sumrall, from Troy and Tulane, chose to coach the Florida Gators instead of Auburn. Fortunately, both programs came out better with his choice.
The other changes were at Kentucky and Arkansas. Former offensive coordinator at Oregon, Will Stein, takes over the Wildcats while Ryan Silverfield from Memphis moves over to Arkansas.
The pressure to win is greater than ever since rosters can turn over almost immediately with the transfer portal and NIL money.
ALABAMA outlook: The Tide hasn’t won a national championship since 2020, the longest drought since pre-Saban years. Kalen DeBoer enters his third year with an overall record of 20-8 at Bama. The defense, especially the secondary, should be elite this fall. The offensive questions are quite simple: Can the Tide develop a running game? Last year’s team was 123rd out of 134 teams nationally running the football.
Secondly, there is talent at quarterback, but which player will take over the team? Currently, Austin Mack came out of the spring on top but every Tide fan is clamoring for five-star phenom Keelon Russell to take over. There is experience at wide receiver, led by Ryan Coleman-Williams.
The schedule is loaded in the middle when Bama faces Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and LSU in a row. They catch Georgia, A&M, and Auburn at home. If the Tide can develop a running game and stay healthy, the Tide could go 10-2. Playing LSU on the road will make or break this team.
AUBURN outlook: Alex Golesh is doing all the right things that the previous two coaches didn’t do. He is embracing former players and having them come in and address the squad about the “Auburn Family” experience. The biggest recruiting coup was getting defensive coordinator DJ Durkin to stay on staff. Auburn had a top 30 defense last year. All-SEC linebacker Xavier Atkins could end up as an All-American this year.
It’s almost impossible to compare this year’s offense with last year’s due to a new philosophy and coaching change. Byrum Brown is considered one of the top-5 QB transfers in the nation. A senior who is familiar with the Golesh system, he could help a lot in the locker room.
The Tigers’ schedule, like Bama’s, is also middle loaded. At Tennessee, at Georgia, LSU at home, followed by Ole Miss on the road, should decide whether the Tigers make a bowl this season or not. They play Florida and Vandy at home on consecutive weekends. A split between these two should make Auburn bowl eligible with a 6-6 record.
SEC Prediction: This year, the 16 teams can be bunched in groups of four. In the top four would be Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M and Ole Miss. In the next four would be Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU and Florida. The next four: Missouri, Tennessee, Vandy and Auburn. The bottom four: South Carolina, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Arkansas. The SEC championship game should be between Georgia and Texas since they don’t face each other during the season. Make it Georgia 38. Texas 31.
Projected Playoff teams: BIG 10: Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon. SEC: Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss and Alabama. Big 12: BYU. ACC: Miami and Louisville. Group of 5: Boise State. Independent: Notre Dame.
Championship Game Prediction: Ohio State 35. Georgia 31.
It hurts to say it, but the BIG 10 makes it 4 in a row.
Brad Bradford has been making his college football predictions for Alabama Living since 2013. He is a former football staff member at Alabama and Louisville, and is married to former Auburn cheerleader Susan Moseley Bradford. His blogs can be found at coachbradford.com and hairinabiscuit.com.
