Getting the right collection of teams can help guide a manageable path to a conference championship game and even help set up a national championship run.  Then, there's the other side. Some years, seemingly every bad schedule break goes your way and can elevate a coach to the hot seat.

Below is the preseason AP Poll and when each ranked team is projected to lose its first game during the 2025 regular season. Ohio State, Georgia and Notre Dame are projected to be undefeated ahead of postseason play. Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

Here's a look at where SEC football teams appeared in the preseason AP Top 25 poll for the 2025 college football season.