As College Football season gets closer and closer, we are on a national tour evaluating each conference in the P4. On top of that, we’ll have a Group of 5 preview. Next up on our list is the SEC! Let’s dive into it and look at the key components of each roster. From the depths of Austin, Texas all the way to Columbia, South Carolina on the East Coast, it’s all covered below!
Alabama
Kalen DeBoer is in a make-or-break season at Alabama this year. He has gone with an extremely new group, returning less than 50% of last season’s roster. The offense is anchored by star WR Ryan Williams and returning RB Daniel Hill. They return a strong secondary, highlighted by Bray Hubbard and Zabien Brown. This squad will have to click or Alabama fans’ patience with DeBoer will dwindle fast.
Ceiling: 11-1
Floor: 8-4
Arkansas
The Razorbacks may be in for a rough year, we’re projecting them at 3-9. If they were to win more than that, it would be thanks to their talent on offense.
On the bright side, hoops season will be promising.
Ceiling: 5-7
Floor: 2-10
Auburn
New HC Alex Golesh has brought in a ton of new blood to the program, including 46 transfers (#2 in SEC) and only returning one offensive starter. Byrum Brown, a transfer from USF, has some serious potential. On the defensive side, they have a loaded linebacker room, highlighted by standout Xavier Atkins. The Tigers will be fighting in the middle of the pack this year.
Ceiling: 7-5
Floor: 4-8
Florida
We have yet another team with lots of new blood, this time it’s the Florida Gators. Jon Sumrall has added 34 transfers and brought in 24 freshmen for year one. On offense, RB Jadan Baugh is a name to watch. He rushed for 1,170 yards last year and was named Preseason All-SEC. The Gators are ranked 10th in overall roster talent-composite, meaning they have plenty of talent on their squad. Despite that, they will likely be fighting in the middle of the pack.
Ceiling: 8-4
Floor: 3-9
Georgia
Per usual, Kirby Smart has got a loaded squad on his hands. They only lost 12 players to the transfer portal this offseason, which is remarkable in today’s landscape. Everything starts with QB Gunner Stockton, as he looks to compete for the Heisman this year. Beside Stockton in the backfield is star RB Nate Frazier, who rushed for 947 rushing yards and 6 TDs in his sophomore season. Defensively, they have a loaded secondary, highlighted by veterans KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson IV. The Bulldogs are a top-ten team in the nation.
Ceiling: 12-0
Floor: 10-2
Kentucky
Next up, we jump to the Kentucky Wildcats. On this one, I worked with @drewbyous05! He is Sansom Sports Media’s writer for everything Kentucky. QB Kenny Minchey will be asked to step up and lead this offense. He will be working closely with TE Willie Rodriguez, as he is a reliable, talented target. UK has also put together an elite offensive line, ranked #3 nationally according to CBS Sports. This is another squad that will be in the middle of the SEC pack.
Ceiling: 7-5
Floor: 2-10
LSU
Lane Kiffin’s squad will be one of the most hated in all of College Football. Despite the hate, there is some serious talent here. Sam Leavitt is a fit leader for this offense after showcasing his talent at Arizona State the past two seasons. On the other side of the ball, they have some of the best talent in the nation. LB Whit Weeks and DE Princewill Umanmielen will be a deadly combo, shutting down anything that comes their way. This is a squad with College Football Playoff potential.
Ceiling: 11-1
Floor: 8-4
Mississippi State
The Bulldogs are another SEC squad that is in for a rough year. In the third year under Jeff Lebby, the Bulldogs look to continue their steady progress. However, this core is young and has tons of upside. QB Kamario Taylor has a lot of exciting buzz surrounding him, as everyone is hoping he will turn into something great. This year may be rough, but a lot of potential is here.
Ceiling: 6-6
Floor: 2-10
Missouri
This roster underwent a complete offensive overhaul this offseason, adding talented pieces, headlined by QB Austin Simmons. Transfer WRs Caleb Goodie and Cayden Lee help fill out an explosvie receiving room, behind sophomore standout Donovan Olugbode. RB Ahmad Hardy will provide a solid workload and wear down defenses. The Tigers’ secondary went through an overhaul, and is now led by transfer Chris Graves Jr. Mizzou will look to surge out of the middle pack of the conference.
Ceiling: 8-4
Floor: 5-7
Oklahoma
The Sooners are all about experience, ranking as the 21st-most experienced roster nationally, and the fifth ranked offense. John Mateer returns, looking to produce a full Heisman-level season. Former Virginia WR Trell Harris joins the group as one of the highest-graded returning wideouts in college football. Harris and Mateer will be a filthy combo. This experience will come in handy, as the Sooners will be prepared for any big-game moment.
Ceiling: 11-1
Floor: 8-4
Ole Miss
Pete Golding returns after a magical run to the CFP semifinals as an interim HC last season. Along with Golding, star QB Trinidad Chambliss and RB Kewan Lacy bring the offensive firepower the Rebels need. Those two make Ole Miss dangerous on their own, no matter who else is on the field. The Rebels defensive front line is deadly, led by Suntarine Perkins, Will Echoles, and Jamarious Brown. I am extremely high on these guys and I’m looking for them to make noise in January.
Ceiling: 11-1
Floor: 8-4
South Carolina
The Gamecocks are the projected to be in the middle of the SEC this season. They are highlighted by the following returning stars: QB LaNorris Sellers, DE Dylan Stewart, and WR Nyck Harbor. The duo of Sellers and Harbor will cause chaos for opposing secondaries. Despite the returning talent, Shane Beamer produced a top 25 transfer class. Despite the projections, this could be a sleeper team in the SEC.
Ceiling: 7-5
Floor: 5-7
Tennessee
The Volunteers are hard to figure out this year. The headline is the addition of a new defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles, attempting to fix a pass defense that struggled last year. Star RB DeSean Bishop returns for another year, leading a RB room that has led the SEC in rushing yards for the past five years. These guys are up against a gauntlet this season, facing top teams like Texas and Alabama. Their schedule will give them every chance to prove they belong.
Ceiling: 10-2
Floor: 7-5
Texas
This is my preseason #1. The Longhorns are loaded with talent, highlighted by the duo of Heisman hopeful QB Arch Manning and WR Cam Coleman. These two will light up Texas Memorial Stadium all year. Coach Sarkisian reported an overwhelmingly healthy roster heading into Fall Camp, a stark contrast from previous years. The talent on this squad is plentiful, meaning anyone can step up and deliver a huge performance. This is the lone 12-0 team in my opinion.
Ceiling: 12-0
Floor: 10-2
Texas A&M
The Aggies face high expectations this year after last year’s CFP appearance. Returning QB Marcel Reed will lead the offense, attempting to put up a Heisman-level season. Mario Craver and Isaiah Horton will help Reed get there, as both look to have explosive years. A&M’s O-Line went through a retooling after four starters departed for the NFL. These guys will have to fight through a tough schedule to compete at the top of the SEC.
Ceiling: 11-1
Floor: 8-4
Vanderbilt
The Commodores are in an interesting spot in the post-Pavia era. Rather than relying solely on play callers, Vandy is also looking to players like running back Sedrick Alexander and defensive anchor Issa Ouattara to man their respective sides of the ball. These guys are a bit of a question mark honestly, no one really knows what will happen this year. Coach Lea’s goal is to build upon the last two winning seasons and fully establish the culture of winning in Nashville.
Ceiling: 9-3
Floor: 5-7
To sum it all up, the SEC is absolutely loaded this year. There are many teams in contention for the College Football Playoff and multiple stars looking to fight for the most coveted award in CFB: the Heisman. Despite all the SEC hate online, this conference produces entertaining games and storylines every week. Personally, I can’t wait for Ole Miss vs LSU, it may be one of the most hyped-up games of the whole year. Does Kiffin play the villain or does Ole Miss take revenge? Overall, who do you think will reign supreme down South?