SEC Preview 2014

WESTERN STATE OF MIND

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

You couldn’t ask for a much more dramatic ending to Alabama’s championship run than the kick-six that occurred on the plains of Auburn last season. It was an image that either made you rejoice or lose your lunch, depending on your allegiances, but one that will live on in what is already a storied rivalry. The Iron Bowl could, once again, decide the SEC West, but other contenders lurk in the shadows. Alabama doesn’t rebuild; they reload. But this year, there will be a new quarterback under center and, while the competition is fierce, there will be little to no experience with A.J. McCarron’s backup, Blake Sims, or the highly touted Florida State transfer, Jacob Coker, under center. Fortunately, regardless of who wins the job, talented skill players and experience will surround them up front. This should allow either player to get acclimated quickly, but look for the Tide to rely on the running game in the opener against West Virginia. On defense, you simply can’t replace a player like C.J. Mosely at linebacker, but when you recruit like Nick Saban, you can fill Superman’s shoes with three lesser superheroes and that’s just what he’ll do. This defense might not be as dominate as those of years past, but it will still be elite, and it is hard to imagine a playoff without Alabama involved.  

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

Many among college football’s disciples are still scratching their heads over Bret Bielema’s decision to leave Wisconsin for Arkansas last offseason. After a winless season in conference play and a 3-9 overall record in 2013, the Hogs will continue the rebuilding process this season in a stacked Western Division of the SEC. Their offensive success will depend largely on the development of quarterback Brandon Allen, who played injured most of last season and struggled to develop consistency with his receivers. Running back Alex Collins returns after a stellar freshman campaign in which he racked up 1,026 yards on the ground, but he will need the passing game to develop in order to keep opposing defenses from stacking the box to stop him. On the other side of the ball, Robb Smith takes over as defensive coordinator, making him the fourth person to hold that position in the past four years. With a talented defensive line, experienced linebackers, and depth at the cornerback position, the Hogs should be improved on defense and improved overall. Even with those improvements, another winless season in conference play is still highly probable. 

AUBURN TIGERS

In one year, Gus Malzahn revived a program that looked lost in 2012, taking his players all the way to the BCS National Championship game against Florida State. Nick Marshall returns at quarterback and will be one of the conferences elite signal callers this season. Dynamic running back Tre Mason is gone, but experience and talent are abundant in the Tigers’ backfield with seniors Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant back for their senior seasons. Battling them for playing time will be redshirt-freshman Peyton Barber and five-star recruit Roc Thomas. With a dynamic receiving unit led by Sammie Coates and an offensive line returning four starters, Auburn will once again score points at will. The scary thing to consider is that Auburn’s defense was one of the worst in the nation last year, and they stand to be much improved in their second year under Ellis Johnson. Look for sophomore Carl Lawson to have a big year rushing quarterbacks with a little help from his friends Montravious Adams and Gabe Wright causing problems in the middle. Auburn won’t have the element of surprise this year, but they could be a better football team and are certainly contenders for a spot in the first College Football Playoff. 

LSU TIGERS

Les Miles certainly has the Bayou Bengals in a reload – not rebuild – position in Baton Rouge, but this year could be a real struggle for the Tigers on offense. They will be replacing every starter at the skill positions with talented-yet-inexperienced players. The quarterback battle could linger into the regular season with sophomore Anthony Jennings and freshman Brandon Harris still neck and neck at the end of spring practice, so look for Miles to lean on the running game while his young quarterbacks and receivers develop. This should allow Leonard Fournette to burst onto the scene at running back, but the outcome of LSU’s season will depend on its stingy defense. That defense will keep them in the hunt for the SEC West, but too much inexperience will cost the Tigers enough games to keep them out of the SEC Championship game. 

OLE MISS REBELS

Hugh Freeze enters his third season in Oxford with more depth and experience than he has ever fielded at Ole Miss. The Rebels have playmakers on offense and a senior quarterback, Bo Wallace, who has with the ability to make them a factor in the SEC West. They are strong upfront with future NFL lineman Laremy Tunsil leading the way at left tackle and, though wide-receiver Donte Moncrief left a year early for the pro’s, sophomore Laquon Treadwell is poised to fill his shoes and then some. On defense, Robert Nkemdiche leads a defensive line that should be able to make SEC quarterbacks shiver. The defense will be improved and the playmakers are on campus, but just as last season, Bo Wallace is the X-factor. His career has been plagued by bad decisions and costly turnovers. If he shines in 2014, Ole Miss can go as far as he can take them.

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS 

Dan Mullen enters his sixth season in Starkville with high expectations surrounding his Bulldogs. Led by duel threat quarterback Dak Prescott, the MSU offense is bursting with playmakers at wide receiver and running back that will make Mullen’s spread option attack tough to stop. Defensively, this could be one of the best units in the SEC. With eight returning defensive linemen who played in at least 10 games last year, three returning starters at linebacker and even more depth in the secondary, this could be the year the Bulldogs breakthrough in the West. With a light draw (Kentucky and Vanderbilt) on their cross-divisional conference games, the schedule is also set up for success, but road games against LSU, Alabama and rival Ole Miss should put at least a few marks in the loss column. 

TEXAS A&M

Life after Johnny Football begins on the road in Columbia, S.C., for the Aggie Nation and Head Coach Kevin Sumlin. In many ways, surely it’s a relief for everyone involved in the program. The media circus is gone, but so are the dazzling results Manziel created on the field. Sumlin is confident, however, that whoever takes the reins of his “air raid” offense will be capable of winning a lot of football games. Inexperience is unavoidable, whether Kenny Hill or Kyle Allen are under center, but solid recruiting classes will provide stability up front and all around the man who wins the job. Recruiting has been kind to the defense as well and – with one of the most highly touted groups of linemen in the nation now on campus – the Aggies have the meat and potatoes needed to generate a fierce pass rush. Don’t be surprised if A&M is in the hunt for the West, but the schedule and inexperience suggest it will be at least another year before they are once again front-runners.