Arkansas
When looking at the Razorbacks schedule, one might say it's a difficult one for a rebuilding team. Of their 12 opponents, 10 played in a bowl game last season. Subtract nonconference games in Fayetteville with Nicholls State and UAB, and the rest of the opponents...Northern Illinois and Texas Tech in non-conference, and SEC rivals Auburn, Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi State, LSU, Ole Miss and Missouri combined to go 88-33 last season. Four went 12-2, starting with Auburn, which happens to be the season opening opponent, August 30, in Auburn, Alabama. The Razorbacks could vastly improve from their 0-8 SEC nightmare of 2013 and not reflect it much due to the strength of their schedule.
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Missouri
Once again, Missouri is the rare SEC team to play all its non-conference games in the first four weeks of the season. After opening with FCS South Dakota State, the Tigers travel to Toledo, where Pinkel coached from 1991-2000 and left as the program's career wins leader. Fiesta Bowl champion Central Florida visits Columbia the next week. The non-conference slate ends with a visit from Indiana, a team Mizzou beat 45-28 last year in Bloomington. The league schedule is among the SEC's least difficult: No Alabama, Auburn, LSU or Ole Miss. Missouri plays host to three teams it defeated last year by a combined 69 points (Georgia, Vanderbilt, Kentucky) and closes the regular season against Arkansas, a team the Tigers haven't faced in the regular season since 1963.
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LSU
For the fourth time in five years, the Tigers will play a nationally televised game at a neutral site when they opened the season against Wisconsin in the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff in Houston's Reliant Stadium on August 30. That will be a good early test, given that the Badgers finished 9-4 last season and won the Big Ten Conference as recently as 2012. The home opener September 6 will feature two time FCS runner-up Sam Houston State in the first of seven games inside Tiger Stadium. Kentucky replaces Georgia from the SEC Eastern Division after the Bulldogs handed LSU one of its three losses last year. So, that's a trade LSU can live with this season. Last year's other losses came against Ole Miss and Alabama and the Tigers will be looking for revenge at home against both teams.
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When looking at the Razorbacks schedule, one might say it's a difficult one for a rebuilding team. Of their 12 opponents, 10 played in a bowl game last season. Subtract nonconference games in Fayetteville with Nicholls State and UAB, and the rest of the opponents...Northern Illinois and Texas Tech in non-conference, and SEC rivals Auburn, Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi State, LSU, Ole Miss and Missouri combined to go 88-33 last season. Four went 12-2, starting with Auburn, which happens to be the season opening opponent, August 30, in Auburn, Alabama. The Razorbacks could vastly improve from their 0-8 SEC nightmare of 2013 and not reflect it much due to the strength of their schedule.
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Missouri
Once again, Missouri is the rare SEC team to play all its non-conference games in the first four weeks of the season. After opening with FCS South Dakota State, the Tigers travel to Toledo, where Pinkel coached from 1991-2000 and left as the program's career wins leader. Fiesta Bowl champion Central Florida visits Columbia the next week. The non-conference slate ends with a visit from Indiana, a team Mizzou beat 45-28 last year in Bloomington. The league schedule is among the SEC's least difficult: No Alabama, Auburn, LSU or Ole Miss. Missouri plays host to three teams it defeated last year by a combined 69 points (Georgia, Vanderbilt, Kentucky) and closes the regular season against Arkansas, a team the Tigers haven't faced in the regular season since 1963.
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LSU
For the fourth time in five years, the Tigers will play a nationally televised game at a neutral site when they opened the season against Wisconsin in the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff in Houston's Reliant Stadium on August 30. That will be a good early test, given that the Badgers finished 9-4 last season and won the Big Ten Conference as recently as 2012. The home opener September 6 will feature two time FCS runner-up Sam Houston State in the first of seven games inside Tiger Stadium. Kentucky replaces Georgia from the SEC Eastern Division after the Bulldogs handed LSU one of its three losses last year. So, that's a trade LSU can live with this season. Last year's other losses came against Ole Miss and Alabama and the Tigers will be looking for revenge at home against both teams.
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big recruiting week for next year as a lot of HS kids are getting their commitments done before the school year starts. this week 3 SEC targets will give a verbal:
Shane Simmons - #2 DE in nation down to Bama, FSU, MD, State Penn, OSU
Adonis Thomas = LB has Florida and Bama as final two
Ronnie Harrison = S down to UNC, Bama, LSU
i think simmons is going to FSU, thomas to gators, harrison to ttown
Shane Simmons - #2 DE in nation down to Bama, FSU, MD, State Penn, OSU
Adonis Thomas = LB has Florida and Bama as final two
Ronnie Harrison = S down to UNC, Bama, LSU
i think simmons is going to FSU, thomas to gators, harrison to ttown
Thanks RT.........
Men, appreciate all the support and interaction here on this thread. Great bunch of KNOWLEDGABLE CFB guys who make the off season fun and rewarding and creates interest in college football here at theRX. Times are a changing as the season nears.......
I'm closing shop.....and hope to see you next off season.
(Special Thanks to guys like Russ, Go Sooners, Conan, many others........Guys who love college football.)
Men, appreciate all the support and interaction here on this thread. Great bunch of KNOWLEDGABLE CFB guys who make the off season fun and rewarding and creates interest in college football here at theRX. Times are a changing as the season nears.......
I'm closing shop.....and hope to see you next off season.
(Special Thanks to guys like Russ, Go Sooners, Conan, many others........Guys who love college football.)
espn did their top 100 CFB players heading into 2014 season. here's how it shakes out in the SEC
By Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
Finally, the moment you've all been waiting for. Our top-25 countdown ends here and now with our best five players in the SEC entering the 2014 season.
5. Landon Collins, S, Alabama Crimson Tide
It was only a matter of time before Collins became one of the league’s best DBs. The former five-star recruit had to wait his turn, but when he got his chance as a sophomore, he jumped at the opportunity. Despite switching back and forth between free and strong safety and not starting the first four games of the season, he filled up the stat sheet with 70 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and eight passes defended.
4. Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida Gators
Cornerback is one of those positions that’s supposed to take time to master. You have to learn the various coverages and physically mature to handle more experienced receivers. But Hargreaves defied convention last season, quickly becoming the top on-ball defender in the SEC by season’s end with three interceptions and 11 passes defended. "At the end of the day, he has some natural instincts that others of us don't have," his coach, Will Muschamp, explained.
3. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama Crimson Tide
We didn’t see Cooper’s best until late in 2013. By the time his foot injury healed, he tweaked his knee, and without full mobility, he wasn’t his usual elusive self. But in the final six games, he looked more like the Cooper we saw burst onto the scene as a true freshman, catching 30 passes for 507 yards and three touchdowns. Now fully healthy and armed with an offensive coordinator in Lane Kiffin who loves to highlight his playmakers, Cooper’s stock could soar even higher as a junior.
2. Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M Aggies
There’s got to be something in the water in College Station, Texas. The way the Aggies keep producing NFL-caliber offensive tackles defies any other explanation. First, it was Luke Joeckel. Then, it was Jake Matthews. Now, it’s Ogbuehi, who made himself a potential first-round pick at right tackle last season before deciding to return for his senior year and a shot at playing left tackle, the O-line’s biggest money position. You'd be hard pressed to find an offensive lineman who has a better blend of size, strength and athleticism than Ogbuehi.
1. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia Bulldogs
Coaches, players and sports writers can agree on at least one thing: Gurley is a beast. At SEC media days, nearly every player surveyed by ESPN called Georgia’s lead tailback the most intimidating player to tackle in the league. Reporters, meanwhile, made Gurley a first-team All-SEC choice, awarding him the second-most votes overall. If he can stay healthy, he’s the league's best shot at winning the Heisman Trophy. With 2,374 yards in the past two seasons, only Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah has more career rushing yards entering 2014.
AUG 1
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By Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
Finally, the moment you've all been waiting for. Our top-25 countdown ends here and now with our best five players in the SEC entering the 2014 season.
5. Landon Collins, S, Alabama Crimson Tide
4. Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida Gators
3. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama Crimson Tide
2. Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M Aggies
1. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia Bulldogs
and 6-10...
10. Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State: Like any true freshman, Jones was inconsistent at times last year. But it was obvious the talent was there. He had 32 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, and maybe his most impressive stat was the 10 quarterback hurries. He proved to be a nightmare for opposing signal-callers. This fall, the true sophomore is bigger, stronger and more experienced. The sky's the limit for the former star recruit.
9. Reese Dismukes, C, Auburn: After briefly flirting with the NFL, Dismukes felt he had unfinished business at Auburn and returned to school for his senior year. The veteran, who has started 37 games over the past three seasons, has been through the good times and the bad during his time on the Plains. He hopes to end his career on a high note, anchoring one of the best offensive lines in all of college football.
8. A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama: Fellow freshmen Jones and Robert Nkemdiche stole the headlines heading into last year but Robinson outplayed both, finishing with 38 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Nobody's sleeping on him this year. Robinson has yet to turn 20, though he looks closer to 40, and he'll be counted on to make plays up front for a Crimson Tide defense that struggled down the stretch a year ago.
7. Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida: It was a disappointing season for the Gators last year, but Fowler was one of the only bright spots for this team. The sophomore, who played all over the defense, led the team with 10.5 tackles for loss and three fumbles forced. This could be his last year in Gainesville -- he's a projected top-10 draft pick -- and his play will be critical if Florida wants to rebound and contend in a wide-open SEC East.
6. Nick Marshall, QB, Auburn: This will be the first time since Gus Malzahn has been at Auburn, both as head coach and offensive coordinator, that he has a quarterback returning. The question is, can Marshall take that next step? He's reportedly improved his throwing ability, and despite his recent citation, teammates claim he's become more of a leader this offseason. If he can stay healthy and stay out of trouble, he has the talent to be a Heisman Trophy candidate.
10. Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State: Like any true freshman, Jones was inconsistent at times last year. But it was obvious the talent was there. He had 32 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, and maybe his most impressive stat was the 10 quarterback hurries. He proved to be a nightmare for opposing signal-callers. This fall, the true sophomore is bigger, stronger and more experienced. The sky's the limit for the former star recruit.
It's very very important to remember who recruited all that talent; Mike Sherman. He will go down in football history as one of the best talent evaluators ever. His ability to find offensive line talent is the best in the history of college football. That's the truth too I really believe. People forget that Sherman is who recruited Johnny Manziel. Hell Kevin Sumlin didn't even offer Manziel while Sumlin was at The University of Houston. Manziel has said he would've gone to UH had he gotten a chance. Sherman was a phenomenal talent evaluator.
Well JB, is Sherman to blame for that shitty defense? Can't go both ways.
I hate when fans say, "Coach X won with the previous coach's players".
Did Urban Meyer win it all with Ron Zook's players? Is he a bad coach?
Did Saban win with Shula's players?
Didn't Stoops win his NC during his 2nd season in Oklahoma?
A good coach is a good coach. Now, I will say, if Sumlin doesn't get the defense in order he won't have great success there.
still no respect for the Bulldogs...
2014 Previews: Who’s up, who’s down heading into 2014
July 20, 2014 |
SEC East (alphabetical order)
Florida
Trending: Up (or at least, they better be)
Reasons: It’s hard to see Florida as being worse in 2014 than in 2013, but honestly, it could happen. Florida returns only three starters on offense and has a big question mark at the quarterback position, where Jeff Driskel simply must improve by several degrees. Head coach Will Muschamp is unquestionably the leader in the clubhouse for the title of SEC Coach With The Hottest Seat, and anything short of eight regular-season wins is going to result in his firing. New offensive coordinator Kurt Roper is Muschamp’s third offensive coordinator in as many years and will be under immense pressure to save his boss’ job. In Florida’s favor is the fact the defense, which ranked 8th in the country in 2013, returns mostly intact. Florida will need to rebuild the secondary a bit, but six of the front seven return and the new starter is JLB Dante Fowler, who could be the best player on that side of the ball.
Possible pitfalls: If Driskel isn’t healthy, or gets hurt again, Florida will be lucky to make a bowl. Placekicker Austin Hardin also must improve on his 4-for-12 numbers from last year.
Georgia
Trending: Up
Reasons: There’s no good reason for why Georgia finished 8-5 last year with all the offensive weapons the Bulldogs had at their disposal. Even with the injuries Georgia had at the running back position, losses to Vanderbilt, Missouri and Nebraska could have easily been avoided, and the loss at Auburn due to a fluke play never should have happened. Georgia returns 10 starters from a year ago, but the defense underachieved badly, and Jeremy Pruitt was brought in from Florida State to take over the unit as a result. Georgia’s out-of-conference schedule includes both Clemson and Georgia Tech, so things aren’t going to be easy, and someone has to replace Aaron Murray under center. But it’s hard to see Georgia not improving over 8-5.
Possible pitfalls: Mark Richt’s management style will always be a potential trouble spot for Georgia. His buddy-buddy demeanor and lack of consistent discipline has been indirectly responsible for several Georgia losses over the years. On a more technical note, replacing four OL starters while simultaneously breaking in a new quarterback is never a good thing.
Kentucky
Trending: Sideways
Reasons: First and foremost, Mark Stoops has something to prove from a coaching acumen standpoint. The Wildcats went 2-10 last season, at least partially due to the fact that Stoops insisted on running a tempo offense without tempo personnel. Air Raid-style offenses rarely work in the SEC due to the amount of speed in opposing secondaries, and Kentucky just doesn’t have the talent on offense to make an honest attempt at it. Defensively, Stoops was able to get the pass defense at least to the starting blocks of the right track, but the front seven got gashed the entire year and the loss of both starting tackles and the team’s middle linebacker may be too much to overcome. Offensively, Kentucky might play as many as four different quarterbacks, which is another way of saying the Wildcats don’t have a quarterback. If it was possible to rate Kentucky as “trending down,” we would have, but it’s hard to go lower than 2-10.
Possible pitfalls: The secondary will have a couple of new starters, and as a group, must prove able to hold their own until the new front seven coalesces. If that doesn’t happen, it’s Katy-bar-the-door time and Kentucky might set a few records for defensive futility.
Missouri
Trending: Down
Reasons: Missouri simply lost too much to graduation at the end of last season, not to mention the defection of WR Dorial Green-Beckham, whose immaturity finally caught up with him. As a result, Missouri will enter 2014 with nothing but question marks on both the outsides of its defense and the offensive skill group. The Tigers lost both defensive ends, both outside linebackers and both cornerbacks, and this was a defense that had a hard time stopping anything anyway. Offensively, Green-Beckham might have been a headcase, but he had become an effective headcase, and there’s not much of a chance that Bud Sasser is going to be able to replace him. Quarterback Maty Mauk should be fine, but the graduation of tailback Henry Josey leaves a huge hole that the Tigers likely will not fill.
Possible pitfalls: We’re speaking here in terms of whether Missouri can get bowl-eligible. The out-of-conference schedule includes improving Toledo and Indiana, as well as rising power UCF. Inside the conference, the schedule is manageable – Arkansas is one of the Tigers’ West opponents – but an injury to Mauk, LT Mitch Morse or MLB Kentrell Brothers would flip the scenario.
South Carolina
Trending: Sideways, maybe a tick down
Reasons: No Connor Shaw, no Jadeveon Clowney. That pretty much sums up the issue, although there are others. Chief among the second tier of concerns is the secondary, which is being rebuilt to a great degree. DT Kelcy Quarles’ departure will also be felt, especially considering South Carolina had trouble stopping the run last year even with Quarles in the game. As for the quarterback position, senior Dylan Thompson will get first crack at it, but everyone knows Steve Spurrier can’t miss an opportunity to crank up a quarterback controversy, which is why Connor Mitch is virtually guaranteed to get a shot. The running game should be stout, and South Carolina has a talented group of receivers and tight ends. The Gamecocks could win 10 games again, but that might be the very tip top of the range of possibilities.
Possible pitfalls: Defensively, this will not be a big team, and there is concern that 2014′s set of defensive ends won’t be able to live up to expectations. South Carolina used a lot of smoke and mirrors to cover up talent deficiencies in 2013, and more of the same will be needed this year.
Tennessee
Trending: Down
Reasons: The “Down” rating comes with an asterisk, because Butch Jones has shown to be a capable recruiter and might eventually recruit himself out of the cellar even if he can’t coach himself out of it. In the short term, though, this might be the worst team in the league; only Kentucky stands in the Volunteers’ way of taking that title. The main reason for this? Turnover in the offensive line; namely, the fact that Tennessee has to replace all five starters from last year and might be looking at multiple walk-ons in the depth chart heading into the first game. Defensively, six of the front seven will also be either new, or will be veterans returning from injury. True freshmen occupy nearly half the expected spots in the two-deep, and the kicking game will also be in rookie hands.
Possible pitfalls: Everything. There’s a quarterback controversy brewing, the secondary returns mostly intact (hint: that’s not a good thing, check the 2013 stats) there is no playmaker at tailback, and – perhaps most important of all – Jones is far from a sure thing as the head coach. Tennessee’s schedule is also a nightmare, with Utah State a serious threat in the season-opener, and a road trip to Oklahoma coming in Week 3.
Vanderbilt
Trending: Down
Reasons: James Franklin is the closest thing college football has to the next Nick Saban at this point, a dynamic recruiter and visionary leader who, had be stuck it out in Nashville a couple more years, might have actually gotten this woebegone program into the SEC Championship Game. Vandy did a good job in getting Stanford defensive coordinator Derek Mason to take over for Franklin, but it’s just impossible to imagine how the Commodores could back up a 9-4 season, especially with the losses this team suffered on defense. Vanderbilt will need to replace its entire secondary, find playmakers at wide receiver, and especially hope that LSU transfer Stephen Rivers is a suitable replacement at quarterback for Austyn Carta-Samuels. The worst part of losing Franklin, though, was it torpedoed the Commodores’ recruiting efforts, as Vanderbilt lost 12 commitments shortly after Franklin left for Happy Valley. Mason looks like a good long-term replacement for Franklin, but will he bolt Nashville after a couple of seasons?
Possible pitfalls: A lot hinges on Rivers, who never seemed to develop at LSU. Just as important, though, is the depth chart at receiver and tight end, which currently finds just one upperclassman in the two-deep at those positions. The ever-present depth concerns on defense could also become an issue with just one or two injuries.
SEC West (alphabetical order)
Alabama
Trending: Sideways
Reasons: In sort of the reverse of Kentucky’s situation, it’s hard to trend up from where Alabama has found itself in recent years. Alabama’s season came apart in the loss to Auburn, but the issue for the 2014 team is not the way the 2013 team closed out the year, it’s a simple matter of replacing talent. The offensive skill positions are top-notch, and the defense appeared to come together in the spring. Although Alabama only counts five returning starters on the defensive side, several of the new starters had spot starting experience over the last two seasons. Alabama’s biggest impediment to taking the next step up – which simply stated is winning another national championship – might be the special teams, which looked disjointed in the spring. Other than that, there’s nothing Alabama needs to do that it hasn’t done multiple times in its past: replace a starting quarterback, get tougher on defense, stabilize a secondary. Alabama will enter the season as the preseason favorite to win the conference, and for good reason.
Possible pitfalls: If Jacob Coker isn’t the answer at quarterback, or if Blake Sims can’t improve on his choppy A-Day performance, Alabama will have to win in spite of the quarterback and not because of it. Whether that’s possible in modern-day football is another matter. The offensive line also needs to jell together quickly, and there were issues in the spring with the left side. Continued injury problems in the secondary won’t help.
Arkansas
Trending: Down
Reasons: Long-term, Arkansas won’t stay in the 3-9/4-8 range for long. But in the short term, this is a team in need of serious help. Based on returning experience, the offensive line figures to be the team’s best unit, but even that unit isn’t very good. The defense was gutted by graduation, except for the secondary, which has talent issues. The wide receiver corps lacks explosiveness, there’s a new kicker in town and the quarterback situation is dismal. If starter Brandon Allen gets knocked out for any reason, it’s season over. Arkansas will go into its opener at Auburn on a nine-game losing streak, and shows no signs of avoiding advancing the streak into double digits.
Possible pitfalls: Aside from the quarterback issue, potential injuries in the defensive front seven would be next in line in terms of things that cause sleepless nights among the coaching staff. Depth all around just isn’t where it needs to be for this team to succeed.
Auburn
Trending: Sideways, maybe a tick down
Reasons: Auburn is in a transition, somewhat, due to issues on defense and special teams. Freshmen will be expected to carry the load in the kicking game, but the same thing that ultimately cost Auburn the national championship in 2013 threatens to be the Tigers’ undoing in 2014 – namely, a defense that can’t stop the pass. There is plenty of experience in the Auburn secondary, but like Tennessee’s group, when the experience in question has been consistently poor in its execution (106th in pass defense in 2013), it’s not necessarily an advantage to have the same guys back. Offensively, Nick Marshall will need to be more dynamic as a passer in 2014, but he has solid weapons at receiver, tight end and running back. The offensive line is deep and experienced. On the flip side, there’s no question that Auburn got supremely lucky against Georgia and perhaps Alabama as well in 2013, and counting on luck is a fool’s game. Was this really a 12-2 team in 2013, or a 10-3/9-4 team that overachieved?
Possible pitfalls: The SEC is experimenting with an extra official on the field and a lot of the pressure the HUNH offense has put on officials the last couple of years will be dialed back by design in 2014. The defensive substitution rules have also been changed somewhat, and Auburn will be hurt more than most if teams take full advantage. As far as the Auburn team itself goes, the defensive line isn’t particularly deep on the corners, and if the Tigers can’t replace Dee Ford’s pass-rushing ability, a unit that badly needs to take a step forward might instead fall backwards.
LSU
Trending: Up
Reasons: If LSU can fix the quarterback position – not a small task, but doable nonetheless – this team has to be considered a threat to win 10 regular-season games, something it didn’t do in 2013. A veteran offensive line, linebacker corps and secondary make this a sturdy team, and there are plenty of weapons on offense. The biggest point of concern outside of quarterback, where Anthony Jennings will try to be more Matt Mauck than Jordan Jefferson, is defensive tackle. Anthony Johnson never lived up to billing, but Ego Ferguson made up the difference by overachieving in his final year. LSU ranked just 35th in rush defense and it’s hard to imagine the Tigers improving in 2014 in the face of such personnel losses, but if the Tigers can figure out a way to do it, they’ll challenge Alabama and Auburn for the division.
Possible pitfalls: If Jennings can’t get more consistent, LSU might be in trouble. His bowl game performance wasn’t the best and things didn’t get much better during spring drills. The only real alternative is a true freshman, Brandon Harris. While most defensive observers will be focusing on the interior line, the secondary, specifically the safety positions, could be just as troublesome. Given that middle linebacker D.J. Welter is borderline, being weak up the middle of the entire defense could spell doom.
Ole Miss
Trending: Up
Reasons: Depth is solidifying thanks to the recruiting efforts of Hugh Freeze, and a defense with nine returning starters makes Ole Miss a darkhorse threat to compete in the SEC West in 2014. The receiver corps is steady, there is talent at the running back position and QB Bo Wallace, although not a top-end talent, is probably the best of a thin SEC QB crop. The linebacker corps and secondary look solid, albeit not spectacular. Still, this isn’t a team ready to take a big step up to the elite level just yet. The defensive line needs more beef in the middle, Wallace is a liability as often as he is a strength, and the kicking game is in the hands of babes. The biggest challenge of all, though, will be to stabilize an offensive line that will be breaking in three new starters and wasn’t that good to begin with in 2013.
Possible pitfalls: The defensive backfield exceeded expectations in 2013, so if those results were just anomalies, the defense could be in trouble. The defensive line also failed to live up to its potential in 2013 and if Ole Miss doesn’t get some improvement here, it could get ugly. The schedule also does the Rebels no favors.
Mississippi State
Trending: Sideways, maybe a tick up
Reasons: Due to so-so recruiting, Mississippi State seems destined to remain a blue-collar team that is nothing more than just a tough out for top teams, but 2014 could be a different story. The Bulldogs fashioned a solid defense in 2013 and most of the key players return for 2014. The real reason for optimism, though, is QB Dak Prescott, who finally gives State something to shout about under center. He’s twice as dynamic as Chris Relf ever was, and when he took over for Tyler Russell mid-year, it had more to do with his much higher upside and lack of questionable decision-making than it did Russell’s injury history. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, there are some positions at which they just don’t measure up to the Alabamas and LSUs of the world. MSU is average at best at running back and safety, special teams have been an albatross at times and athleticism at the wide receiver position will be an issue likely for the entirety of Dan Mullen’s Starkville tenure.
Possible pitfalls: If Prescott gets hurt, it’s not clear how well Damian Williams could fill the void. The reality of the situation for Mississippi State is that MSU is only a contender if the team avoids all injuries to key personnel, as depth is an issue everywhere. Additional concerns include Benardrick McKinney’s health at middle linebacker and pass-rush pressure from the defensive end slots.
Texas A&M
Trending: Down
Reasons: No more Johnny Manziel, Mike Evans or Jake Matthews. Texas A&M is still a talented team, but any Aggie fan who believes A&M won’t feel the effects of those three particular personnel losses needs to spend some time in the care of Nurse Ratched. Either Kyle Allen or Kenny Hill will take over at quarterback, and while neither is Manziel, Texas A&M should be in solid hands long-term. The bigger issue is what will happen at the other skill positions. The Aggies will be dependent upon true freshmen and former role players at receiver, while Tre Carson and Trey Williams should be solid at running back but not the threat that Ben Malena was – especially with defenses not having to account for Manziel. The problem that no one is really addressing at the moment, though, is the defense – all of it. Texas A&M had a terrible defense all around in 2013, and no one expects it to be much better in 2014. The secondary is awful, and the linebacker corps lacks athleticism. A&M should be marginally better up front. Special teams will keep them in some games, but the Aggies’ biggest asset at the moment is a friendly schedule that features just one decent opponent (South Carolina) prior to the start of October.
Possible pitfalls: Luke Joeckel gave way to former right tackle Jake Matthews at left tackle in 2013, and Texas A&M is hoping Cedric Ogbuehi can make the same move over in 2014. But Ogbuehi lacks the footwork Joeckel and Matthews had, and the move destabilizes the right side of the line. The quarterback situation will depend on things like if Kenny Hill continues to have off-field problems or if Kyle Allen can hold up to SEC defenses as a true freshman, but there is no way to overstate how important it is for A&M to get better – quickly – on defense.
2014 Previews: Who’s up, who’s down heading into 2014
July 20, 2014 |
SEC East (alphabetical order)
Trending: Up (or at least, they better be)
Reasons: It’s hard to see Florida as being worse in 2014 than in 2013, but honestly, it could happen. Florida returns only three starters on offense and has a big question mark at the quarterback position, where Jeff Driskel simply must improve by several degrees. Head coach Will Muschamp is unquestionably the leader in the clubhouse for the title of SEC Coach With The Hottest Seat, and anything short of eight regular-season wins is going to result in his firing. New offensive coordinator Kurt Roper is Muschamp’s third offensive coordinator in as many years and will be under immense pressure to save his boss’ job. In Florida’s favor is the fact the defense, which ranked 8th in the country in 2013, returns mostly intact. Florida will need to rebuild the secondary a bit, but six of the front seven return and the new starter is JLB Dante Fowler, who could be the best player on that side of the ball.
Possible pitfalls: If Driskel isn’t healthy, or gets hurt again, Florida will be lucky to make a bowl. Placekicker Austin Hardin also must improve on his 4-for-12 numbers from last year.
Trending: Up
Reasons: There’s no good reason for why Georgia finished 8-5 last year with all the offensive weapons the Bulldogs had at their disposal. Even with the injuries Georgia had at the running back position, losses to Vanderbilt, Missouri and Nebraska could have easily been avoided, and the loss at Auburn due to a fluke play never should have happened. Georgia returns 10 starters from a year ago, but the defense underachieved badly, and Jeremy Pruitt was brought in from Florida State to take over the unit as a result. Georgia’s out-of-conference schedule includes both Clemson and Georgia Tech, so things aren’t going to be easy, and someone has to replace Aaron Murray under center. But it’s hard to see Georgia not improving over 8-5.
Possible pitfalls: Mark Richt’s management style will always be a potential trouble spot for Georgia. His buddy-buddy demeanor and lack of consistent discipline has been indirectly responsible for several Georgia losses over the years. On a more technical note, replacing four OL starters while simultaneously breaking in a new quarterback is never a good thing.
Trending: Sideways
Reasons: First and foremost, Mark Stoops has something to prove from a coaching acumen standpoint. The Wildcats went 2-10 last season, at least partially due to the fact that Stoops insisted on running a tempo offense without tempo personnel. Air Raid-style offenses rarely work in the SEC due to the amount of speed in opposing secondaries, and Kentucky just doesn’t have the talent on offense to make an honest attempt at it. Defensively, Stoops was able to get the pass defense at least to the starting blocks of the right track, but the front seven got gashed the entire year and the loss of both starting tackles and the team’s middle linebacker may be too much to overcome. Offensively, Kentucky might play as many as four different quarterbacks, which is another way of saying the Wildcats don’t have a quarterback. If it was possible to rate Kentucky as “trending down,” we would have, but it’s hard to go lower than 2-10.
Possible pitfalls: The secondary will have a couple of new starters, and as a group, must prove able to hold their own until the new front seven coalesces. If that doesn’t happen, it’s Katy-bar-the-door time and Kentucky might set a few records for defensive futility.
Trending: Down
Reasons: Missouri simply lost too much to graduation at the end of last season, not to mention the defection of WR Dorial Green-Beckham, whose immaturity finally caught up with him. As a result, Missouri will enter 2014 with nothing but question marks on both the outsides of its defense and the offensive skill group. The Tigers lost both defensive ends, both outside linebackers and both cornerbacks, and this was a defense that had a hard time stopping anything anyway. Offensively, Green-Beckham might have been a headcase, but he had become an effective headcase, and there’s not much of a chance that Bud Sasser is going to be able to replace him. Quarterback Maty Mauk should be fine, but the graduation of tailback Henry Josey leaves a huge hole that the Tigers likely will not fill.
Possible pitfalls: We’re speaking here in terms of whether Missouri can get bowl-eligible. The out-of-conference schedule includes improving Toledo and Indiana, as well as rising power UCF. Inside the conference, the schedule is manageable – Arkansas is one of the Tigers’ West opponents – but an injury to Mauk, LT Mitch Morse or MLB Kentrell Brothers would flip the scenario.
Trending: Sideways, maybe a tick down
Reasons: No Connor Shaw, no Jadeveon Clowney. That pretty much sums up the issue, although there are others. Chief among the second tier of concerns is the secondary, which is being rebuilt to a great degree. DT Kelcy Quarles’ departure will also be felt, especially considering South Carolina had trouble stopping the run last year even with Quarles in the game. As for the quarterback position, senior Dylan Thompson will get first crack at it, but everyone knows Steve Spurrier can’t miss an opportunity to crank up a quarterback controversy, which is why Connor Mitch is virtually guaranteed to get a shot. The running game should be stout, and South Carolina has a talented group of receivers and tight ends. The Gamecocks could win 10 games again, but that might be the very tip top of the range of possibilities.
Possible pitfalls: Defensively, this will not be a big team, and there is concern that 2014′s set of defensive ends won’t be able to live up to expectations. South Carolina used a lot of smoke and mirrors to cover up talent deficiencies in 2013, and more of the same will be needed this year.
Trending: Down
Reasons: The “Down” rating comes with an asterisk, because Butch Jones has shown to be a capable recruiter and might eventually recruit himself out of the cellar even if he can’t coach himself out of it. In the short term, though, this might be the worst team in the league; only Kentucky stands in the Volunteers’ way of taking that title. The main reason for this? Turnover in the offensive line; namely, the fact that Tennessee has to replace all five starters from last year and might be looking at multiple walk-ons in the depth chart heading into the first game. Defensively, six of the front seven will also be either new, or will be veterans returning from injury. True freshmen occupy nearly half the expected spots in the two-deep, and the kicking game will also be in rookie hands.
Possible pitfalls: Everything. There’s a quarterback controversy brewing, the secondary returns mostly intact (hint: that’s not a good thing, check the 2013 stats) there is no playmaker at tailback, and – perhaps most important of all – Jones is far from a sure thing as the head coach. Tennessee’s schedule is also a nightmare, with Utah State a serious threat in the season-opener, and a road trip to Oklahoma coming in Week 3.
Trending: Down
Reasons: James Franklin is the closest thing college football has to the next Nick Saban at this point, a dynamic recruiter and visionary leader who, had be stuck it out in Nashville a couple more years, might have actually gotten this woebegone program into the SEC Championship Game. Vandy did a good job in getting Stanford defensive coordinator Derek Mason to take over for Franklin, but it’s just impossible to imagine how the Commodores could back up a 9-4 season, especially with the losses this team suffered on defense. Vanderbilt will need to replace its entire secondary, find playmakers at wide receiver, and especially hope that LSU transfer Stephen Rivers is a suitable replacement at quarterback for Austyn Carta-Samuels. The worst part of losing Franklin, though, was it torpedoed the Commodores’ recruiting efforts, as Vanderbilt lost 12 commitments shortly after Franklin left for Happy Valley. Mason looks like a good long-term replacement for Franklin, but will he bolt Nashville after a couple of seasons?
Possible pitfalls: A lot hinges on Rivers, who never seemed to develop at LSU. Just as important, though, is the depth chart at receiver and tight end, which currently finds just one upperclassman in the two-deep at those positions. The ever-present depth concerns on defense could also become an issue with just one or two injuries.
SEC West (alphabetical order)
AlabamaTrending: Sideways
Reasons: In sort of the reverse of Kentucky’s situation, it’s hard to trend up from where Alabama has found itself in recent years. Alabama’s season came apart in the loss to Auburn, but the issue for the 2014 team is not the way the 2013 team closed out the year, it’s a simple matter of replacing talent. The offensive skill positions are top-notch, and the defense appeared to come together in the spring. Although Alabama only counts five returning starters on the defensive side, several of the new starters had spot starting experience over the last two seasons. Alabama’s biggest impediment to taking the next step up – which simply stated is winning another national championship – might be the special teams, which looked disjointed in the spring. Other than that, there’s nothing Alabama needs to do that it hasn’t done multiple times in its past: replace a starting quarterback, get tougher on defense, stabilize a secondary. Alabama will enter the season as the preseason favorite to win the conference, and for good reason.
Possible pitfalls: If Jacob Coker isn’t the answer at quarterback, or if Blake Sims can’t improve on his choppy A-Day performance, Alabama will have to win in spite of the quarterback and not because of it. Whether that’s possible in modern-day football is another matter. The offensive line also needs to jell together quickly, and there were issues in the spring with the left side. Continued injury problems in the secondary won’t help.
ArkansasTrending: Down
Reasons: Long-term, Arkansas won’t stay in the 3-9/4-8 range for long. But in the short term, this is a team in need of serious help. Based on returning experience, the offensive line figures to be the team’s best unit, but even that unit isn’t very good. The defense was gutted by graduation, except for the secondary, which has talent issues. The wide receiver corps lacks explosiveness, there’s a new kicker in town and the quarterback situation is dismal. If starter Brandon Allen gets knocked out for any reason, it’s season over. Arkansas will go into its opener at Auburn on a nine-game losing streak, and shows no signs of avoiding advancing the streak into double digits.
Possible pitfalls: Aside from the quarterback issue, potential injuries in the defensive front seven would be next in line in terms of things that cause sleepless nights among the coaching staff. Depth all around just isn’t where it needs to be for this team to succeed.
Trending: Sideways, maybe a tick down
Reasons: Auburn is in a transition, somewhat, due to issues on defense and special teams. Freshmen will be expected to carry the load in the kicking game, but the same thing that ultimately cost Auburn the national championship in 2013 threatens to be the Tigers’ undoing in 2014 – namely, a defense that can’t stop the pass. There is plenty of experience in the Auburn secondary, but like Tennessee’s group, when the experience in question has been consistently poor in its execution (106th in pass defense in 2013), it’s not necessarily an advantage to have the same guys back. Offensively, Nick Marshall will need to be more dynamic as a passer in 2014, but he has solid weapons at receiver, tight end and running back. The offensive line is deep and experienced. On the flip side, there’s no question that Auburn got supremely lucky against Georgia and perhaps Alabama as well in 2013, and counting on luck is a fool’s game. Was this really a 12-2 team in 2013, or a 10-3/9-4 team that overachieved?
Possible pitfalls: The SEC is experimenting with an extra official on the field and a lot of the pressure the HUNH offense has put on officials the last couple of years will be dialed back by design in 2014. The defensive substitution rules have also been changed somewhat, and Auburn will be hurt more than most if teams take full advantage. As far as the Auburn team itself goes, the defensive line isn’t particularly deep on the corners, and if the Tigers can’t replace Dee Ford’s pass-rushing ability, a unit that badly needs to take a step forward might instead fall backwards.
Trending: Up
Reasons: If LSU can fix the quarterback position – not a small task, but doable nonetheless – this team has to be considered a threat to win 10 regular-season games, something it didn’t do in 2013. A veteran offensive line, linebacker corps and secondary make this a sturdy team, and there are plenty of weapons on offense. The biggest point of concern outside of quarterback, where Anthony Jennings will try to be more Matt Mauck than Jordan Jefferson, is defensive tackle. Anthony Johnson never lived up to billing, but Ego Ferguson made up the difference by overachieving in his final year. LSU ranked just 35th in rush defense and it’s hard to imagine the Tigers improving in 2014 in the face of such personnel losses, but if the Tigers can figure out a way to do it, they’ll challenge Alabama and Auburn for the division.
Possible pitfalls: If Jennings can’t get more consistent, LSU might be in trouble. His bowl game performance wasn’t the best and things didn’t get much better during spring drills. The only real alternative is a true freshman, Brandon Harris. While most defensive observers will be focusing on the interior line, the secondary, specifically the safety positions, could be just as troublesome. Given that middle linebacker D.J. Welter is borderline, being weak up the middle of the entire defense could spell doom.
Trending: Up
Reasons: Depth is solidifying thanks to the recruiting efforts of Hugh Freeze, and a defense with nine returning starters makes Ole Miss a darkhorse threat to compete in the SEC West in 2014. The receiver corps is steady, there is talent at the running back position and QB Bo Wallace, although not a top-end talent, is probably the best of a thin SEC QB crop. The linebacker corps and secondary look solid, albeit not spectacular. Still, this isn’t a team ready to take a big step up to the elite level just yet. The defensive line needs more beef in the middle, Wallace is a liability as often as he is a strength, and the kicking game is in the hands of babes. The biggest challenge of all, though, will be to stabilize an offensive line that will be breaking in three new starters and wasn’t that good to begin with in 2013.
Possible pitfalls: The defensive backfield exceeded expectations in 2013, so if those results were just anomalies, the defense could be in trouble. The defensive line also failed to live up to its potential in 2013 and if Ole Miss doesn’t get some improvement here, it could get ugly. The schedule also does the Rebels no favors.
Trending: Sideways, maybe a tick up
Reasons: Due to so-so recruiting, Mississippi State seems destined to remain a blue-collar team that is nothing more than just a tough out for top teams, but 2014 could be a different story. The Bulldogs fashioned a solid defense in 2013 and most of the key players return for 2014. The real reason for optimism, though, is QB Dak Prescott, who finally gives State something to shout about under center. He’s twice as dynamic as Chris Relf ever was, and when he took over for Tyler Russell mid-year, it had more to do with his much higher upside and lack of questionable decision-making than it did Russell’s injury history. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, there are some positions at which they just don’t measure up to the Alabamas and LSUs of the world. MSU is average at best at running back and safety, special teams have been an albatross at times and athleticism at the wide receiver position will be an issue likely for the entirety of Dan Mullen’s Starkville tenure.
Possible pitfalls: If Prescott gets hurt, it’s not clear how well Damian Williams could fill the void. The reality of the situation for Mississippi State is that MSU is only a contender if the team avoids all injuries to key personnel, as depth is an issue everywhere. Additional concerns include Benardrick McKinney’s health at middle linebacker and pass-rush pressure from the defensive end slots.
Trending: Down
Reasons: No more Johnny Manziel, Mike Evans or Jake Matthews. Texas A&M is still a talented team, but any Aggie fan who believes A&M won’t feel the effects of those three particular personnel losses needs to spend some time in the care of Nurse Ratched. Either Kyle Allen or Kenny Hill will take over at quarterback, and while neither is Manziel, Texas A&M should be in solid hands long-term. The bigger issue is what will happen at the other skill positions. The Aggies will be dependent upon true freshmen and former role players at receiver, while Tre Carson and Trey Williams should be solid at running back but not the threat that Ben Malena was – especially with defenses not having to account for Manziel. The problem that no one is really addressing at the moment, though, is the defense – all of it. Texas A&M had a terrible defense all around in 2013, and no one expects it to be much better in 2014. The secondary is awful, and the linebacker corps lacks athleticism. A&M should be marginally better up front. Special teams will keep them in some games, but the Aggies’ biggest asset at the moment is a friendly schedule that features just one decent opponent (South Carolina) prior to the start of October.
Possible pitfalls: Luke Joeckel gave way to former right tackle Jake Matthews at left tackle in 2013, and Texas A&M is hoping Cedric Ogbuehi can make the same move over in 2014. But Ogbuehi lacks the footwork Joeckel and Matthews had, and the move destabilizes the right side of the line. The quarterback situation will depend on things like if Kenny Hill continues to have off-field problems or if Kyle Allen can hold up to SEC defenses as a true freshman, but there is no way to overstate how important it is for A&M to get better – quickly – on defense.
fan day at Bama practice and i know a few guys that attended. apparently Coker is VERY FAR behind Sims which might not be a surprise as Sims has been in the huddles for years. I guess 3 Coker balls were picked, 2 more picks were dropped and some of his throws are off target by 10 yards. plenty of time to get comfortable in the offense for coker...3rd practice vs Sims' 5th year at Bama but never good to hear that your expected starting QB was awful
a couple of other takeaways...
1) qb's were rolling out a ton and really heavy action with bootlegs (didn't see this much in last couple OC offenses). cornwell has a sick arm although i fully expect him to redshirt. Sims is #1, Coker #2 right now but Sims was missing guys on short routes consistently
2) lots of I-formation with Fowler at fullback
3) ryan kelly could emerge as best center in the sec this year.
4) secondary vastly improved over 2013 and once eddie gets back from injury this should be an excellent group
so i think two of the 3 major questions for the tide going into 2014 are still yet to be answered:
1) QB - none of them are impressing....period. cornwell is the most gifted but he's a 2016 starter, not 2014.
2) Oline questions - right now lining up with CAM-ARIE,KELLY-TAYLOR-SHEPHERD but they can't afford any injuries. Cam was #1 OL recruit in nation and obviously is pretty talented if he's first team true freshman....Arie is weak link, Kelly/Shepherd both have shot to be 1st team all-SEC. Taylor is 3rd year in system but only in 1st team b/c Leon Brown is rehabbing a foot injury but no matter who plays it won't be easy replacing Steen
3) cornerbacks - looks like a very promising group. a lot of experience vs last year and two big 5-stars already getting a ton of reps with tony brown a potential superstar. need to get eddie jackson back asap since he's their best cb. hard to believe he's practicing just 3 months after knee surgery
a couple of other takeaways...
1) qb's were rolling out a ton and really heavy action with bootlegs (didn't see this much in last couple OC offenses). cornwell has a sick arm although i fully expect him to redshirt. Sims is #1, Coker #2 right now but Sims was missing guys on short routes consistently
2) lots of I-formation with Fowler at fullback
3) ryan kelly could emerge as best center in the sec this year.
4) secondary vastly improved over 2013 and once eddie gets back from injury this should be an excellent group
so i think two of the 3 major questions for the tide going into 2014 are still yet to be answered:
1) QB - none of them are impressing....period. cornwell is the most gifted but he's a 2016 starter, not 2014.
2) Oline questions - right now lining up with CAM-ARIE,KELLY-TAYLOR-SHEPHERD but they can't afford any injuries. Cam was #1 OL recruit in nation and obviously is pretty talented if he's first team true freshman....Arie is weak link, Kelly/Shepherd both have shot to be 1st team all-SEC. Taylor is 3rd year in system but only in 1st team b/c Leon Brown is rehabbing a foot injury but no matter who plays it won't be easy replacing Steen
3) cornerbacks - looks like a very promising group. a lot of experience vs last year and two big 5-stars already getting a ton of reps with tony brown a potential superstar. need to get eddie jackson back asap since he's their best cb. hard to believe he's practicing just 3 months after knee surgery
little Ole Miss system active next month. they are 16-1 last 17 in game 2 of a 3+ game home stand
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[FONT="]ESPN and DirecTV reached an agreement Monday for DirecTV to carry the SEC Network when it launches on Aug. 14.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Adding DirecTV will make the SEC Network available in 87 million households.[/FONT] [FONT="]DirecTV joins Bright House Networks, Comcast, Cox Media, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable, and AT&T U-Verse as companies that will carry the network. Verizon FIOS has not reached a deal yet with ESPN to feature the network.[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT]
[FONT="]Adding DirecTV will make the SEC Network available in 87 million households.[/FONT] [FONT="]DirecTV joins Bright House Networks, Comcast, Cox Media, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable, and AT&T U-Verse as companies that will carry the network. Verizon FIOS has not reached a deal yet with ESPN to feature the network.[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT]
Article claims 'almost half of vols 2 deep are true freshman. Not true. There are currently 8/44 true freshman in the 2 deep.
Piss poor reporting whoever wrote the article
Piss poor reporting whoever wrote the article
and 6-10...
10. Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State: Like any true freshman, Jones was inconsistent at times last year. But it was obvious the talent was there. He had 32 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, and maybe his most impressive stat was the 10 quarterback hurries. He proved to be a nightmare for opposing signal-callers. This fall, the true sophomore is bigger, stronger and more experienced. The sky's the limit for the former star recruit.
9. Reese Dismukes, C, Auburn: After briefly flirting with the NFL, Dismukes felt he had unfinished business at Auburn and returned to school for his senior year. The veteran, who has started 37 games over the past three seasons, has been through the good times and the bad during his time on the Plains. He hopes to end his career on a high note, anchoring one of the best offensive lines in all of college football.
8. A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama: Fellow freshmen Jones and Robert Nkemdiche stole the headlines heading into last year but Robinson outplayed both, finishing with 38 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Nobody's sleeping on him this year. Robinson has yet to turn 20, though he looks closer to 40, and he'll be counted on to make plays up front for a Crimson Tide defense that struggled down the stretch a year ago.
7. Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida: It was a disappointing season for the Gators last year, but Fowler was one of the only bright spots for this team. The sophomore, who played all over the defense, led the team with 10.5 tackles for loss and three fumbles forced. This could be his last year in Gainesville -- he's a projected top-10 draft pick -- and his play will be critical if Florida wants to rebound and contend in a wide-open SEC East.
6. Nick Marshall, QB, Auburn: This will be the first time since Gus Malzahn has been at Auburn, both as head coach and offensive coordinator, that he has a quarterback returning. The question is, can Marshall take that next step? He's reportedly improved his throwing ability, and despite his recent citation, teammates claim he's become more of a leader this offseason. If he can stay healthy and stay out of trouble, he has the talent to be a Heisman Trophy candidate.
from ESPN...
As a final farewell to the BCS era, I used my opponent-adjusted FEI ratings to identify the five best individual team seasons in each of the Power Five conferences. The ratings reward dominant victories combined with strong competition, which are key elements that we expect the College Football Playoff committee to take into account as well.(Note: Due to the lack of available play-by-play and drive data, FEI ratings have been calculated only since 2003. For the 1998-2002 seasons, we produced an alternate set of ratings based on opponent-adjusted final scores. The alternate ratings have a 0.95 correlation with FEI.)Here are the five best SEC teams from the BCS era:
[h=3]1. 2008 Florida Gators (13-1)[/h]The SEC claimed nine of the 16 championships during the BCS era, including one each by undefeated Alabama and Auburn teams in 2009 and 2010, respectively. So what pushes this one-loss team to the top over all others? The Gators lost 31-30 in late September to Ole Miss, then ripped off a dominant run down the stretch -- eight victories by at least 28 points apiece and three straight wins to end the season over teams ranked among the FEI top-10 by an average score of 33-16. Four opponents were ranked in the top 10 at the time of the game -- Florida whipped them by an average margin of 23 points.The Gators' defense and special teams contributed 149.5 points of field position value over the course of the year, more than 10 points per game. And the offense, led by Heisman finalist Tim Tebow (30 touchdowns, four interceptions), ranked third nationally in yards per play (7.1) and fourth in scoring.
[h=3]2. 2010 Auburn Tigers (14-0)[/h]
The Tigers played dominant football at times in 2010, scoring at least 49 points in seven games and racking up nearly 7,000 yards of total offense. But they also won a number of close games -- seven victories decided by eight points or fewer. Quarterback Cam Newton shepherded an explosive and efficient offense (No. 1 in opponent-adjusted efficiency, No. 1 in passing yards per attempt). The defense was a liability at times, but the powerful front seven ranked ninth in rushing yards allowed.What makes them look especially strong in this methodology is the overall schedule. Auburn posted victories against four 10-win opponents -- Arkansas, LSU, Alabama and Oregon -- all of whom ranked among the FEI end-of-year top 10. They also handed 9-5 SEC East champion South Carolina two of its losses, in the regular season and in the conference title game.
[h=3]3. 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide (14-0)[/h]
The only reason coach Nick Saban's first championship team isn't higher on the list is because it didn't have the opportunity to play as many elite teams as the two above it. The Tide's victories in the SEC championship game and BCS title game handed Florida and Texas their only losses of the season, but only two top-25 opponents were on the regular-season schedule, according to FEI. Bama's closest call required two blocked field goals in the fourth quarter to edge out six-loss Tennessee by two points. The Tide were rarely tested otherwise.Running back Mark Ingram won the Heisman Trophy with a strong and efficient ground game -- his 1,658 yards ranked fourth nationally, and he fumbled only once in 271 attempts. The defense carried the Crimson Tide first and foremost, however. Ten opponents were held to 15 points or fewer, and the defense chipped in 56 points in turnover value during the season.
[h=3]4. 2012 Alabama Crimson Tide (13-1)[/h]
The third championship in a four-year stretch for Alabama featured an especially dominant run at the start of the season. Through the first eight games, the Crimson Tide allowed an average of only 203 yards per game and won by an average margin of 32.5 points. None of those wins came against opponents ranked in the FEI top 25, however. The final month of the season included a few more challenges, including a loss to Texas A&M, a pair of close wins over LSU and Georgia, all top-12 opponents in FEI.The championship game blowout over Notre Dame ranks as the single most dominant opponent-adjusted single-game victory I've measured, a ruthlessly efficient example of Alabama at its best. The Tide allowed only 2.3 yards per rushing attempt and ranked No. 1 in adjusted QBR defense.
[h=3]5. 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1)[/h]Alabama's 2011 defense stands alone as the most exceptional we've measured in the BCS era. The Crimson Tide forced three-and-outs or turnovers on 59.7 percent of opponent possessions, allowed only 11 percent of opponent drives to reach the Alabama 30-yard line, and allowed only 2.4 percent of opponent drives to average at least 10 yards per play. The Tide famously prevented No. 1 LSU from crossing midfield in a rematch victory in the BCS title game -- LSU averaged 35.7 points per game that season but were kept out of the end zone in two games against the Crimson Tide.Alabama played a weaker overall strength-of-schedule in 2011 than in its other championships, however, in part because it didn't play in the SEC title game. Aside from LSU, only two other opponents -- 9-4 Penn State and 8-5 Auburn -- finished the season with fewer than six losses.
5. 2006 Florida Gators (12-1)
7. 2011 LSU Tigers (13-1)
8. 2004 Auburn Tigers (13-0)
9. 2009 Florida Gators (13-1)
10. 2012 Texas A&M Aggies (11-2)
As a final farewell to the BCS era, I used my opponent-adjusted FEI ratings to identify the five best individual team seasons in each of the Power Five conferences. The ratings reward dominant victories combined with strong competition, which are key elements that we expect the College Football Playoff committee to take into account as well.(Note: Due to the lack of available play-by-play and drive data, FEI ratings have been calculated only since 2003. For the 1998-2002 seasons, we produced an alternate set of ratings based on opponent-adjusted final scores. The alternate ratings have a 0.95 correlation with FEI.)Here are the five best SEC teams from the BCS era:
The Tigers played dominant football at times in 2010, scoring at least 49 points in seven games and racking up nearly 7,000 yards of total offense. But they also won a number of close games -- seven victories decided by eight points or fewer. Quarterback Cam Newton shepherded an explosive and efficient offense (No. 1 in opponent-adjusted efficiency, No. 1 in passing yards per attempt). The defense was a liability at times, but the powerful front seven ranked ninth in rushing yards allowed.What makes them look especially strong in this methodology is the overall schedule. Auburn posted victories against four 10-win opponents -- Arkansas, LSU, Alabama and Oregon -- all of whom ranked among the FEI end-of-year top 10. They also handed 9-5 SEC East champion South Carolina two of its losses, in the regular season and in the conference title game.
The only reason coach Nick Saban's first championship team isn't higher on the list is because it didn't have the opportunity to play as many elite teams as the two above it. The Tide's victories in the SEC championship game and BCS title game handed Florida and Texas their only losses of the season, but only two top-25 opponents were on the regular-season schedule, according to FEI. Bama's closest call required two blocked field goals in the fourth quarter to edge out six-loss Tennessee by two points. The Tide were rarely tested otherwise.Running back Mark Ingram won the Heisman Trophy with a strong and efficient ground game -- his 1,658 yards ranked fourth nationally, and he fumbled only once in 271 attempts. The defense carried the Crimson Tide first and foremost, however. Ten opponents were held to 15 points or fewer, and the defense chipped in 56 points in turnover value during the season.
The third championship in a four-year stretch for Alabama featured an especially dominant run at the start of the season. Through the first eight games, the Crimson Tide allowed an average of only 203 yards per game and won by an average margin of 32.5 points. None of those wins came against opponents ranked in the FEI top 25, however. The final month of the season included a few more challenges, including a loss to Texas A&M, a pair of close wins over LSU and Georgia, all top-12 opponents in FEI.The championship game blowout over Notre Dame ranks as the single most dominant opponent-adjusted single-game victory I've measured, a ruthlessly efficient example of Alabama at its best. The Tide allowed only 2.3 yards per rushing attempt and ranked No. 1 in adjusted QBR defense.
[h=3]5. 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1)[/h]Alabama's 2011 defense stands alone as the most exceptional we've measured in the BCS era. The Crimson Tide forced three-and-outs or turnovers on 59.7 percent of opponent possessions, allowed only 11 percent of opponent drives to reach the Alabama 30-yard line, and allowed only 2.4 percent of opponent drives to average at least 10 yards per play. The Tide famously prevented No. 1 LSU from crossing midfield in a rematch victory in the BCS title game -- LSU averaged 35.7 points per game that season but were kept out of the end zone in two games against the Crimson Tide.Alabama played a weaker overall strength-of-schedule in 2011 than in its other championships, however, in part because it didn't play in the SEC title game. Aside from LSU, only two other opponents -- 9-4 Penn State and 8-5 Auburn -- finished the season with fewer than six losses.
[h=3]Next five:[/h]5. 2006 Florida Gators (12-1)
7. 2011 LSU Tigers (13-1)
8. 2004 Auburn Tigers (13-0)
9. 2009 Florida Gators (13-1)
10. 2012 Texas A&M Aggies (11-2)
