First-year Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby has made a prediction for the 2024 college football season as the Southeastern Conference gets ready to welcome the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners.
“It’s completely different than it was five, six, or seven years ago,” Lebby said on the College GameDay podcast, according to Sports Illustrated, regarding the future competition in the soon-to-be 16-team league. “I don’t see multiple SEC teams being undefeated. I’m not sure if any team will be undefeated in this league.”
In other words, it’s hard to envision a repeat of Alabama’s dominance during the Nick Saban era.
“… it is incredibly tough to run the table and then win an SEC Championship Game before getting into the playoffs,” Lebby added.
In a bold statement ahead of the 2024 college football season, Mississippi State’s first-year head coach Jeff Lebby has predicted that no Southeastern Conference (SEC) team will go undefeated. This comes as the SEC prepares to expand, welcoming the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners into its fold.
Speaking on the College GameDay podcast earlier this week, Lebby reflected on the changing landscape of SEC football. “It’s completely different than it was five, six, or seven years ago,” he said, as reported by Sports Illustrated. Lebby emphasized the increased level of competition that a 16-team league will bring. “I don’t see multiple SEC teams being undefeated. I’m not sure if any team will be undefeated in this league,” he added.
This prediction underscores the challenges that lie ahead for teams in a more competitive and crowded SEC. The addition of powerhouses like Texas and Oklahoma is expected to make the path to an undefeated season even more arduous. The days of dominance seen during the Nick Saban era at Alabama may be harder to replicate in this new environment.
Lebby elaborated on the difficulties teams will face. “It is incredibly tough to run the table and then win an SEC Championship Game before getting into the playoffs,” he stated. This highlights the grueling nature of the SEC schedule and the added pressure of competing in one of the most formidable conferences in college football.
As the 2024 season approaches, all eyes will be on how the SEC teams adapt to this new dynamic. With Lebby’s insights adding to the anticipation, fans are eager to see if any team can rise to the challenge and achieve an undefeated season amidst the intensified competition. The arrival of the Longhorns and Sooners is set to make the 2024 SEC season one of the most exciting and unpredictable in recent memory.
