USA TODAY Sports analyst's 'crazy' prediction for which team will win 2025 SEC title

Oklahoma Shocker: Analyst Predicts Sooners to Dominate SEC in 2025

Texas and Georgia Remain Top Contenders, But One Bold Prediction Shakes Up the Forecast

The consensus among Southeastern Conference experts points to Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs as the top contenders for the 2025 SEC Championship. In the preseason SEC football media poll following SEC media days in Atlanta, Texas garnered 96 votes to win the conference championship, followed by Georgia with 44 votes. Alabama Crimson Tide secured a distant third with 29 votes.

However, amidst these predictions, one analyst has made a daring claim. Matt Hayes, a veteran columnist for USA TODAY Sports, boldly predicts that the Oklahoma Sooners will emerge victorious in the SEC in 2025.

Speaking on "That SEC Podcast," Hayes stated, "I know many people here told me that I'm crazy, but I said I think Oklahoma is going to win the SEC. I think (John) Mateer is going to play really well, and that defense will be as good as any defense in the league. They're going to shock some people this year."

Hayes' prediction seems unlikely considering Oklahoma's performance last season. The Sooners finished with a 6-6 regular season record in their first year in the SEC, despite a memorable upset victory over Alabama in Norman. They ultimately ended up with a 2-6 conference record and lost to Navy in a bowl game. Head coach Brent Venables enters the 2025 season facing pressure.

Oklahoma has brought in Mateer from Washington State via the transfer portal along with offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ben Arbuckle. Mateer, entering his junior season, had a stellar year at Washington State, throwing for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns to seven interceptions while also rushing for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns on 178 carries (4.6 AVG).

Despite the preseason media poll placing Oklahoma in the middle of the pack, Hayes remains confident:

"I think Mateer is a lot better than people think he is. He's a very good player, number one. Number two, I think he is going to have that type of impact (where) it's not just on the field, it's also in the locker room. I think you're going to see that, I really do. I may be way out there, and you guys in three months may say, 'Remember when you said Oklahoma was going to win the SEC and they finished such and such?' Yeah, I think they're going to win it."

A truly unexpected SEC champion has been scarce in recent years. Gus Malzahn's Auburn team in 2013 is the last team to defy preseason expectations and claim the league title. The Tigers were predicted to finish 10th but ultimately reached the national championship game, riding Alabama's downfall in that year's Iron Bowl.

Oklahoma will face Alabama on November 15 at Bryant-Denny Stadium, a week after Alabama's annual clash with LSU. Only time will tell if Hayes' prediction holds weight or remains another bold offseason forecast.