SEC power rankings: Sorting the College Football Playoff contenders before spring practice
Another national championship game came and went without any participation from the SEC. For the first time in years and years, the conference will head into the regular season behind the Big Ten in the hypothetical ranking of the Power Four leagues.
Things seem poised to change. While the Big Ten has several powerhouse teams, no Bowl Subdivision conference can match the depth of contenders the SEC will bring to the table.
This list includes Texas, Georgia, LSU, Alabama and Tennessee. Other teams with genuine College Football Playoff hopes include Texas A&M, Florida and Mississippi
And just behind this top group are several teams more than capable of double-digit wins and playoff contention. Auburn, South Carolina and Oklahoma could upend the status quo and be one of the three or four SEC teams to make the 12-team playoff field.
Here’s our pre-spring SEC power rankings, led by the Longhorns
1. Texas
Arch Manning takes the controls after backing up Quinn Ewers. To get his game going, the Longhorns have to rebuild a receiver corps dinged by graduation and attrition. Another sticking point is a defensive front that won’t have the same production along the interior. Overall, though, Texas is built to win the SEC and the national championship.
2. Georgia
Georgia must get things going in the running game to help Gunner Stockton thrive as the full-time starter. He played fairly well in relief of Carson Beck but remains a question mark. There are also some positions to fill on the defensive side but the Bulldogs’ track record under Kirby Smart eases any major concerns over that side of the ball. Once again, Georgia is a major threat to win the whole thing.
background helps erase some of the doubts lingering around the Aggies’ defense, however. A&M needs quarterback Marcel Reed to continue his development.
10. South Carolina
There are holes all over the defense – almost everywhere except at end, where sophomore Dylan Stewart is set for All-America accolades. There are also question marks about the offense with Mike Shula replacing former coordinator Dowell Loggins. If things click, the Gamecocks could build on last year’s nine-win finish and move even higher in the US LBM Coaches Poll.
11. Oklahoma
This could be the breakout team in the SEC if the offense flourishes under a pair of additions from Washington State in coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer. The Sooners desperately need to rebuild at wide receiver and stay healthy up front. If the offense rebounds, Oklahoma has the defense to be one of the most balanced teams in the conference.
12. Missouri
Look for Missouri to benefit from another relatively easy schedule to win eight or more games and contend for a home in the Top 25. The Tigers open with six games in a row at home and draw SEC road games against Auburn, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma and Arkansas. But is there more to this team than just an easier schedule? The talent level has dropped despite another solid trip through the portal for coach Eli Drinkwitz.
13. Vanderbilt
A repeat bowl bid seems very likely given the return of quarterback Diego Pavia and the way the defense has risen up the SEC rankings after coach Clark Lea’s decision to take over play-calling duties. Pavia is joined on offense by running back Sedrick Alexander and all-conference tight end Eli Stowers.
14. Arkansas
It’s hard to take Arkansas too seriously given the amount of uncertainty on the depth chart, especially on defense. The offense should be better in coordinator Bobby Petrino’s second year, with quarterback Taylen Green set for noticeable improvement as the established starter. At this point, the program’s place under Sam Pittman is pretty easy to predict: Arkansas will win as few as four but no more than seven games.
15. Kentucky
The Wildcats are in a clear state of regression. Is this the year the bottom really falls out for coach Mark Stoops’ program? It wouldn’t be Kentucky without a new transfer quarterback; this time, it’s former Texas A&M, Auburn and Incarnate Word passer Zach Calzada. The defense is a major concern given the losses from last year’s unit, which ranked 13th in the SEC in yards allowed per play.
16. Mississippi State
On the flip side to the debate over which team should lead the SEC, there’s little controversy over which team should bring up the rear. Mississippi State is still looking for a conference win under coach Jeff Lebby. One bonus for the Bulldogs: Blake Shapen returns after starting the first four games at quarterback before a season-ending injury
