The women's SEC lived up to the drama of its football counterpart with coaches trading programs, stars joining rivals, and teams landing controversial recruits.
Here is a preview covering everything you need to know ahead of what promises to be a drama-filled SEC season.
2024 SEC Regular Season Standings:
1. Mississippi State 10-0 (19-3) - NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Despite a record-setting season, Mississippi State is set for a new era as Nick Zimmerman takes over for James Armstrong, who left for the Auburn job. Replacing a senior-heavy team will be brutal, but a silver lining is that Zimmerman, a six-year assistant with the program, will be knowledgeable on the roster and incoming recruits.
2. Arkansas 8-1-1 (16-2-3) - NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Masters of one of the more unique playing styles in college soccer, the Razorback build their strength off incredible natural athletes and a home standing where they have lost just once in four years. It feels like it is only a matter of time before that recipe leads to a College Cup berth, and the No. 19-ranked recruiting class will help in that push.
3. Texas 6-3-1 (17-4-2) - NCAA Second Round
Few teams recruit at the standards the Longhorns do, and the No. 6-ranked class is another example. Stacking quality recruits on top of one another should eventually lead to a tournament run, even with a few program legends heading to professional soccer.
4. South Carolina 5-2-3 (11-4-7) - NCAA Second Round
Catherine Barry may have graduated after an eye-catching 18-goal season, but the Gamecocks already have a replacement lined up with Katie Shea Collins returning after a stellar 13-goal freshman year. Her talents will be aided by a top-25-ranked recruiting class.
5. Auburn 4-2-4 (12-4-5) - NCAA Second Round
Auburn will be over the moon to have signed the reigning SEC Coach of the Year, James Armstrong. It will take time to implement his style and standards, but the Tigers already have an impressive roster worthy of consideration
6. Vanderbilt 4-2-4 (10-4-7) - NCAA Sweet Sixteen
The Commodores made a Cinderella run to the Sweet Sixteen last season, knocking out the defending national champions as part of that success. That was with a relatively young team, adding to the excitement about what Vanderbilt may be able to do with those returners and the 15th-ranked recruiting class.
7. Georgia 3-3-4 (8-7-6) - NCAA First Round
Keidane McAlpine continues to recruit well for the Bulldogs, amassing a roster capable of making a run at any point. The latest rendition mixes transfer portal stars with elite freshmen, a recipe that, if cooked correctly, could equal a deep postseason run.
8. Kentucky 3-3-4 (12-5-4) - NCAA Second Round
The Wildcats must be overjoyed with an SEC schedule that avoids Mississippi State, Arkansas, and Texas. If Kentucky takes advantage of that lucky break, then a regular-season championship challenge is not out of the question.
9. Tennessee 3-4-3 (9-7-4) - NCAA First Round
Tennessee had a goal-scoring problem last season, averaging just 1.1 goals a game. Those concerns are out of the window thanks to a few impressive transfer portal additions, specifically Anaiyah Robinson, who comes over after scoring 11 as a freshman at conference rival Arkansas. Addressing an area of need that aggressively suggests the coaching staff feels the team is good enough to make a run.
10. Alabama 2-3-5 (10-6-5)
Keep an eye on the Alabama team that has a few outstanding returners joined by four recruits ranked in the top 100. The Tide are building toward another College Cup run to match 2022, and this year could be the foundation.
11. LSU 3-5-2 (9-9-3) - NCAA First Round
The Tigers snuck into the NCAA tournament, but that was short-lived as they finished with just two wins from the final ten matches of the year. Finding a way to be more consistent is the focus for 2025.
12. Texas A&M 3-5-2 (8-9-2)
There is no telling what will happen with a Texas A&M team that had as much roster turnover as any in the country. It will either be a resounding success or a disappointing campaign; it feels like there is no in-between when that much change occurs in a short period.
13. Missouri 3-6-1 (5-10-2)
Already a struggling program, the SEC did Missouri no favors with conference games against Texas, Mississippi State, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Auburn. This is setting up for a year where the Tigers are forced to fight for scraps.
14. Oklahoma 3-6-1 (10-7-1)
An inability to compete against the best in the conference cost this team last season, with losses to Arkansas, Texas, Georgia, and Mississippi State. A relatively mundane non-conference schedule may doom the Sooners to the same issues.
15. Florida 1-7-2 (4-8-6)
Progress is not always linear, and Florida learned that last season with just four wins after achieving a three-year high of six in 2023. But a lot of that had to do with SEC Freshman of the Year Megan Hinnenkamp missing the season with injury. Her return, plus a top 20-ranked recruiting class, could be a record-breaking combination.
16. Mississippi 0-9-1 (5-13-1)
It goes without saying that Ole Miss has to find a way to do better in the SEC. Time will tell if the off-season changes yield positive results.
Here is a preview covering everything you need to know ahead of what promises to be a drama-filled SEC season.
2024 SEC Regular Season Standings:
1. Mississippi State 10-0 (19-3) - NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Despite a record-setting season, Mississippi State is set for a new era as Nick Zimmerman takes over for James Armstrong, who left for the Auburn job. Replacing a senior-heavy team will be brutal, but a silver lining is that Zimmerman, a six-year assistant with the program, will be knowledgeable on the roster and incoming recruits.
2. Arkansas 8-1-1 (16-2-3) - NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Masters of one of the more unique playing styles in college soccer, the Razorback build their strength off incredible natural athletes and a home standing where they have lost just once in four years. It feels like it is only a matter of time before that recipe leads to a College Cup berth, and the No. 19-ranked recruiting class will help in that push.
3. Texas 6-3-1 (17-4-2) - NCAA Second Round
Few teams recruit at the standards the Longhorns do, and the No. 6-ranked class is another example. Stacking quality recruits on top of one another should eventually lead to a tournament run, even with a few program legends heading to professional soccer.
4. South Carolina 5-2-3 (11-4-7) - NCAA Second Round
Catherine Barry may have graduated after an eye-catching 18-goal season, but the Gamecocks already have a replacement lined up with Katie Shea Collins returning after a stellar 13-goal freshman year. Her talents will be aided by a top-25-ranked recruiting class.
5. Auburn 4-2-4 (12-4-5) - NCAA Second Round
Auburn will be over the moon to have signed the reigning SEC Coach of the Year, James Armstrong. It will take time to implement his style and standards, but the Tigers already have an impressive roster worthy of consideration
6. Vanderbilt 4-2-4 (10-4-7) - NCAA Sweet Sixteen
The Commodores made a Cinderella run to the Sweet Sixteen last season, knocking out the defending national champions as part of that success. That was with a relatively young team, adding to the excitement about what Vanderbilt may be able to do with those returners and the 15th-ranked recruiting class.
7. Georgia 3-3-4 (8-7-6) - NCAA First Round
Keidane McAlpine continues to recruit well for the Bulldogs, amassing a roster capable of making a run at any point. The latest rendition mixes transfer portal stars with elite freshmen, a recipe that, if cooked correctly, could equal a deep postseason run.
8. Kentucky 3-3-4 (12-5-4) - NCAA Second Round
The Wildcats must be overjoyed with an SEC schedule that avoids Mississippi State, Arkansas, and Texas. If Kentucky takes advantage of that lucky break, then a regular-season championship challenge is not out of the question.
9. Tennessee 3-4-3 (9-7-4) - NCAA First Round
Tennessee had a goal-scoring problem last season, averaging just 1.1 goals a game. Those concerns are out of the window thanks to a few impressive transfer portal additions, specifically Anaiyah Robinson, who comes over after scoring 11 as a freshman at conference rival Arkansas. Addressing an area of need that aggressively suggests the coaching staff feels the team is good enough to make a run.
10. Alabama 2-3-5 (10-6-5)
Keep an eye on the Alabama team that has a few outstanding returners joined by four recruits ranked in the top 100. The Tide are building toward another College Cup run to match 2022, and this year could be the foundation.
11. LSU 3-5-2 (9-9-3) - NCAA First Round
The Tigers snuck into the NCAA tournament, but that was short-lived as they finished with just two wins from the final ten matches of the year. Finding a way to be more consistent is the focus for 2025.
12. Texas A&M 3-5-2 (8-9-2)
There is no telling what will happen with a Texas A&M team that had as much roster turnover as any in the country. It will either be a resounding success or a disappointing campaign; it feels like there is no in-between when that much change occurs in a short period.
13. Missouri 3-6-1 (5-10-2)
Already a struggling program, the SEC did Missouri no favors with conference games against Texas, Mississippi State, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Auburn. This is setting up for a year where the Tigers are forced to fight for scraps.
14. Oklahoma 3-6-1 (10-7-1)
An inability to compete against the best in the conference cost this team last season, with losses to Arkansas, Texas, Georgia, and Mississippi State. A relatively mundane non-conference schedule may doom the Sooners to the same issues.
15. Florida 1-7-2 (4-8-6)
Progress is not always linear, and Florida learned that last season with just four wins after achieving a three-year high of six in 2023. But a lot of that had to do with SEC Freshman of the Year Megan Hinnenkamp missing the season with injury. Her return, plus a top 20-ranked recruiting class, could be a record-breaking combination.
16. Mississippi 0-9-1 (5-13-1)
It goes without saying that Ole Miss has to find a way to do better in the SEC. Time will tell if the off-season changes yield positive results.