STARKVILLE, MS – SEPTEMBER 16: A yard marker during an SEC game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and LSU Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
By the time a few of the games noted below kick off, they might not be of the must-see variety relative to how they look heading into the second half of this 2025 college football season. That said, the SEC boasts five teams in the top 10 and 10 in the top 25. Hence, there will likely be a bevy of bold and bright storylines with many of these matchups.
One thing seems certain, and that is Oklahoma will be front and center with how the SEC, and therefore the playoff picture, shakes out. Should the Sooners, who lost to Texas last week, make the playoff cut, they would be most deserving considering their final five regular season games are against conference foes ranked among the nation’s top 16 teams. OU could turn out to be a deserving three-loss playoff team.
Saturday
Ole Miss at Georgia
The Rebels, one of three unbeaten teams remaining in the conference, are coming off a struggle with visiting Washington State while the Bulldogs needed a late and lengthy TD drive to secure a victory at Auburn. Ole Miss, which has lost six straight in Athens, is on the front end of a big two-week road test with a trip to Norman (see below) on deck.
Tennessee at Alabama
The quarterback matchup in this 107th meeting between the schools is appealing. The Crimson Tide’s Ty Simpson leads the SEC in pass efficiency and touchdown passes (16) while the Vols’ Joey Aguilar is tops in passing yards by two over Simpson, 1,680 to 1,678. Tennessee likely cannot afford a second conference loss before the end of October.
October 25
Ole Miss at Oklahoma
The best-case scenario heading into this matchup is that the Rebels knock off Georgia this week and OU gets back on the winning track at South Carolina. Regardless this is the second of demanding back-to-back road games for Lane Kiffin’s team.
LSU vs Texas A&M
While the numbers will change, it is worth noting that through games of October 11 the Tigers were 77th nationally in total offense and Garrett Nussmeier is 78th in pass efficiency. Thanks to a defense that is allowing all of 11.8 points to rank sixth, Brian Kelly’s team is in the top 10. For the Aggies, who have allowed all of 12 points per game in three conference wins, this is the second of three straight road dates with Arkansas (this week) and Mizzou (November 8 following a bye) on either end.
November 1
Oklahoma at Tennessee
Given the schedules both teams face the remainder of October, this could be a playoff elimination game in that the loser would potentially be saddled with three conference defeats. It is an intriguing matchup of transfer quarterbacks with John Mateer and Joey Aguilar.
November 8
LSU at Alabama
Should the Tigers defeat Texas A&M on October 25 and the Crimson Tide take out Tennessee on October 18, it would be easy to see how much would be at stake with the conference and playoff pictures. Both teams still have to face Oklahoma and both teams could meet again nearly one month from this date.
Texas A&M at Missouri
The Tigers need to rebound from a tough home loss to Alabama by winning at both Auburn (October 18) and at Vandy (October 25). Otherwise, this game will not mean nearly as much in Columbia. It could be another step toward the playoff, though, for Mike Elko’s team. Both teams are coming off a bye.
November 15
Oklahoma at Alabama
This will be the eighth meeting between the schools, the fourth in the regular season and the second in Tuscaloosa. The first game at Bryant-Denny was 2003, a 20-13 Sooners’ win. By this point, it could be must-win for both teams as far as playoff hopes.
Texas at Georgia
This will be the eighth meeting between the 2024 SEC championship game participants, and the first in Athens. The only previous regular season meeting in the Peach State was the 1957 season opener in Atlanta when Darrell Royal’s Longhorns defeated Wally Butts’ Bulldogs. Should the 2025 version of UT get on a roll after besting Oklahoma, then this encounter could be huge for both.
November 22
Missouri at Oklahoma
A series that dates to 1902 and oozes with Big 8/Big 12 history was renewed last year with the Sooners having joined the SEC, which the Tigers became a member of in 2012 resulting in a dozen seasons with no meetings between the schools. This game could prove significant if both enter with no more than two losses.
November 29
LSU at Oklahoma
If the Sooners have any gas in tank following games against Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama and Mizzou, they could be playing the role of big-time spoiler. Then again, should they go 3-1 in those games, this could the headliner of Thanksgiving weekend.
Texas A&M at Texas
Not that it is light by any means as this is the SEC, after all, the Longhorns’ schedule leading into this game could allow them to build some serious momentum. There could also be plenty at stake for the Aggies, like a ticket to the SEC championship game. Regardless, it is a wonderful thing these teams renewed their rivalry last season following a 12-season hiatus. A 97-year string (1915-2011) was broken when the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomlayberger/2025/10/14/12-must-watch-sec-games-during-the-college-football-seasons-second-half/
