CONFERENCE SPOTLIGHT: SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE (SEC)

Since the inception of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) in 1998, a team from the SEC has played for a National Championship 20 times. During the past 23 year stretch, the conference has brought home 14 National Titles and if you go back 2 more years, add a 15th title in 25 years. This stretch of success is pure dominance. Some say it’s just Alabama, but 5 other programs have lifted the trophy including the defending National Champion Georgia Bulldogs.

The mystique of the conference is built by names like Herschel, Bo, Archie, Tebow, McFadden, Peyton, Eli, Burrow, Clowney, Cam, Champ, Spurrier, Cannon, Namath, and the Hefty Lefty. It is littered with legendary traditions like cowbells, gator chomps, Sandstorm, hitting the WIN bar, playing the Battle Hymn, calling the Hogs, running through the T, the 12th Man, The Grove and singing Dixieland Delight in Tuscaloosa. Iconic head coaches like The Ole Ball Coach, General Neyland, Vince Dooley, Lou Holtz, Nick Saban and The Bear have patrolled these sidelines. On Saturdays, coliseums like Tiger Stadium, Jordan-Hare, Kyle Field, Bryant Denny, Williams Bryce, Neyland Stadium, The Swamp and Sanford Stadium become caldrons of football and fight songs. Theses programs are the lifeblood of their fan bases and regions. It is much more than 12-15 games every Fall, but a year long battle for bragging rights.

As we look ahead to the 2022 campaign, expectations for Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky are very high. As other programs push to increase their recruiting classes and play on the field, their sights are set on matching and surpassing the standards in Tuscaloosa and Athens. The Aggies rattled their sabers on the recruiting trail this past winter, can they turn those blue chip wins into SEC wins? As a good number of programs are ready to compete, others such as Florida, Auburn, LSU, Mizzou, Hail State and South Carolina look to reclaim past glories.

This past offseason also saw the Big Ten make their move on the realignment front as a way to counter the SEC’s move in July of 2021. Oklahoma and Texas officially moving to the Southeastern Conference is still a few years away, but they might enter the league with other schools if the powerbrokers have their say. In addition to the ever escalating NIL footprint, the conference is looking to strengthen the league and maximize the astronomical media deal they have with ESPN & ABC. As it stands on September 1, 2022, I think the best options for additional expansion would be picked from a pool of FSU, Clemson, UNC, Miami and Oklahoma State. These schools fit the footprint and also bring additional brand awareness.

The stakes continue to be raised every year and all eyes are on the SEC to see if they can continue to win trophies. Last season, the league brought home the Dave’s O’Brien, Maxwell, Butkus, Outland, Bednarik, Nagurski, Burlsworth, and Heisman in addition to the National Title. Can Georgia repeat, can Bryce Young and/or Will Anderson capture additional hardware or will another player/ program scale the mountain?

INSTITUTIONS COMING TO THE SEC IN THE 2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR:

• OKLAHOMA SOONERS
• TEXAS LONGHORNS

CURRENT INSTITUTIONS:

• ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
• ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
• AUBURN TIGERS
• FLORIDA GATORS
• GEORGIA BULLDOGS
• KENTUCKY WILDCATS
• LSU TIGERS
• MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
• MISSOURI TIGERS
• OLE MISS REBELS
• SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
• TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
• TEXAS A&M AGGIES
• VANDERBILT COMMODORES

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR: QB BRYCE YOUNG — ALABAMA

• He is the defending Heisman Trophy winner and primed to build of the 4,872 passing yards from last year. Can he push the new crop of Bama playmakers to loftier heights minus Jameson Williams and John Metchie?

HONORABLE MENTION: QB WILL ROGERS — MISSISSIPPI STATE

• The Cowboy threw for 4,739 yards last year, which was 3rd in FBS and 2nd in the SEC, behind Bryce. If he can lead the Bulldogs to more touchdowns this year, he could push Hail State to a great year.

HONORABLE MENTION: QB HENDON HOOKER — TENNESSEE

• Hooker was electric once he finally took the job on Rocky Top. The Vols offense goes as he goes and they’re aiming for 40 plus every game

4 PROGRAMS WE’RE WATCHING THIS SEASON:

KENTUCKY WILDCATS

• Expectations are very high in Lexington this Fall.
• The Cats allowed 22.1 Points per Game last year, which was 4th best in the SEC
• The defense allowed the 5th fewest total yards per game with 337.1
• They had the 4th best run defense and 7th against the pass in the conference
• Names to remember on the Wildcat defense…LB Jacquez Jones, LB Deandre Square, S Carrington Valentine and LB JJ Weaver.
• Last season the offense was energized by QB Will Levis, WR Wan’Dale Robinson and now former Offensive Coordinator Liam Cohen….the only one remaining is Will Levis
• The Wildcats ran for 199.5 yards per game last year, which was 5th in the league. They were led by RB Chris Rodriguez Jr (1,379 yds), bu he is suspended to start the year.
• Can Kavosiey Smoke (416 yards & 4 TD’s in 21’) shoulder the load during Rodriguez’s absence?
• The offense under Levis’s guidance totaled 425 yards per game, which was 8th in the conference. Can he surpass his 2,826 passing yards and 24 TD’s?
• Their schedule sets up nicely…..only true stretch is October 1st thru the 29th when they travel to Ole Miss, host South Carolina and Mississippi State, then conclude with a trip to Rocky Top.
• They close out the 2022 regular season by hosting Georgia and Louisville….is this the season where Kentucky puts it all together?

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

• Mike Leach has brought offense to StarkVegas…it’s Year 3 for the Pirate…can he finally lead Hail State to the sunken treasure
• The Bulldogs had the 4th best passing attack in yards per game in the Nation (378.3 yards a game) and best in the SEC.
• QB Will Rogers led them to the 7th best offense in the SEC for total yards per game with 441.5……both ends of the spectrum, best passing attack and worst rushing offense with 63 yards a game.
• They scored 29 points a game, which was 10th in the SEC. The ability to put points on the scoreboard is holding this team back, if they can turn more drives into Touchdowns, this team could take off.
• WR Makai Polk had 105 receptions, 1,048 yards and 9 TD’s in 2021, but he is currently in the NFL…..Can Jaden Walley, Austin Williams, Jo’Quavious Marks, and others increase their production?
• The defense allowed the 4th fewest yards per game with 331.3 yards and they were the best against the run, allowing 101 yards a game.
• Just like the offense, impressive in the yards gained or allowed categories, but they gave up 25 points a game, which was 9th in the league.
• They open with Memphis, Arizona and LSU, but this program will be defined by their performance between October 1st and October 22nd. That 4 game schedule consists of hosting Texas A&M and Arkansas, then traveling to Kentucky and Alabama. The schedule doesn’t let up after the Tide, because they get Georgia and Ole Miss in their final 3 games.
• This program is capable of making waves, but they need to improve and show up every Saturday.

SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS

• Coach Beamer has injected the Gamecock program with energy and intensity on the recruiting trail and the field.
• 2nd worst offense in yards per game last year with 337.5 yards per game and 2nd worst passing attack in the SEC with 201 yards per game
• Can new QB transfer Spencer Rattler ignite the offense in Columbia?
• The Gamecocks scored 22.6 points per game, which was 13th in the conference
• The Defense was the bright spot last year, finishing with the 6th best defense in total yards allowed in the league and the 2nd best pass defense in the SEC, allowing 178.8 yards per game.
• The run defense must improve if the team is going to make a jump, they gave 178 yards on the ground.
• They allowed 24 points a game, which was 7th in the conference.
• Who will emerge as leaders on the defense….keep an eye on DB Jaylan Foster, LB Brad Johnson, DB RJ Roderick, and LB Damani Staley.
• Tough start to the year with Georgia State in the opener followed by Arkansas and Georgia.
• In mid-October they have a back to back stretch of Kentucky and Texas A&M
• The final 3 games of the 2022 campaign are Florida, Tennessee and Clemson….that excessive amount of orange is a perfect metaphor for a program under construction
• 6-6 is manageable….7 plus wins would declare this team is real and turning around ahead of schedule.
• Will Year 2 be a catalyst or reality check?

FLORIDA GATORS:

• A new era in Gainesville…. Billy Napier is the new Head Coach and they just opened a brand new football facility
• The Gators had the 4th best offense in the SEC based on total yards per game last year with 462.9, 208 of which was on the ground.
• Coach Napier arrives from Louisiana where the Cajun’s were very run focused, rushing for over 2,700 yards and 34 touchdowns. That success, mixed with a lethal play action attack will be the fuel of the Gator attack. The pace will be slower than offenses under Pell, Spurrier, Meyer and Mullins, but the team might benefit in the end.
• Florida scored 30.7 points per game (13 games), but when you remove the 70 they scored against Samford, 35 vs FAU and 42 vs USF, they only managed a less than stellar 25 a game in the other 10. In those same 10 games, they allowed 26 points a game.
• The team had bright spots early, but they were very undisciplined and unraveled.
• QB Anthony Richardson has a lot of natural ability, can he put it all together?
• He threw for 529 yards, 6 TD’s and 5 INT’s in limited action last year as well as running for 400 yards and 3 touchdowns. He is the leading returning rusher.
• Interested to see if top returning Running Back Nay’Quan Wright can carry the load and if returning wide receivers Justin Shorter and Xavier Henderson can become consistent playmakers.
• The O-Line must improve and they hope Louisiana transfer O’Cyrus Torrence can be the key to their success
• The Gator defense the past few years has been down right terrible….but DC Todd Grantham is gone.
• They we’re 7th in the SEC last season in total yards allowed with 362. The Gators allowed the 4th fewest passing yards in the conference, but 9th in rushing yards allowed per game with 153.6
• Can Brenton Cox build off his 8.5 sacks and become a star….others to watch are SR LB Ventrell Miller, Sophomore CB transfer from UGA Jalen Kimber and Freshman phenom Safety Kamari Wilson.
• Very difficult schedule to start the year with Utah, Kentucky and a trip to Rocky Top in the first 4 games.
• Late season 4 game stretch of LSU, Georgia, Texas A&M and South Carolina…8 wins would be a fantastic season, but probably 6 to 7 in Year 1 of the Napier regime.

GAMES TO KEEP ON YOUR RADAR:

• #11 OREGON VS #3 GEORGIA (Week 1)
• #23 CINCINNATI AT #19 ARKANSAS (Week 1)
• #7 UTAH AT FLORIDA (Week 1)
• FSU VS LSU (Week 1)
• #1 ALABAMA AT TEXAS (Week 2)
• SOUTH CAROLINA AT #19 ARKANSAS (Week 2)
• TENNESSEE AT #17 PITT (Week 2)
• #20 KENTUCKY AT FLORIDA (Week 2)
• #3 GEORGIA AT SOUTH CAROLINA (Week 3)
• PENN STATE AT AUBURN (Week 3)
• MISSISSIPPI STATE AT LSU (Week 3)
• #16 MIAMI AT #6 TEXAS A&M (Week 3)
• #19 ARKANSAS VS #6 TEXAS A&M (Week 4)
• FLORIDA AT TENNESSEE (Week 4)
• #1 ALABAMA AT #19 ARKANSAS (Week 5)
• LSU AT AUBURN (Week 5)
• #20 KENTUCKY AT #21 OLE MISS (Week 5)
• #5 TEXAS A&M AT #1 ALABAMA (Week 6)
• AUBURN AT #3 GEORGIA (Week 6)
• TENNESSEE AT LSU (Week 6)
• #19 ARKANSAS AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (Week 6)
• #1 ALABAMA AT TENNESSEE (Week 7)
• #19 ARKANSAS AT #25 BYU (Week 7)
• MISSISSIPPI STATE AT #20 KENTUCKY (Week 7)
• MISSISSIPPI STATE AT #1 ALABAMA (Week 8)
• #21 OLE MISS AT LSU (Week 8)
• FLORIDA AT #3 GEORGIA (Week 9 World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party)
• #21 OLE MISS AT #5 TEXAS A&M (Week 9)
• #20 KENTUCKY AT TENNESSEE (Week 9)
• MIZZOU AT SOUTH CAROLINA (Week 9)
• TENNESSEE AT #3 GEORGIA (Week 10)
• #1 ALABAMA AT LSU (Week 10)
• #3 GEORGIA AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (Week 11)
• #1 ALABAMA AT #21 OLE MISS (Week 11)
• LSU AT #19 ARKANSAS (Week 11)
• #5 TEXAS A&M AT AUBURN (Week 11)
• #3 GEORGIA AT #20 KENTUCKY (Week 12)
• #21 OLE MISS AT #19 ARKANSAS (Week 12)
• TENNESSEE AT SOUTH CAROLINA (Week 12)
• MISSISSIPPI STATE AT #21 OLE MISS (Week 13)
• AUBURN AT #1 ALABAMA (Week 13)
• FLORIDA AT FLORIDA STATE (Week 13)
• LSU AT #5 TEXAS A&M (Week 13)
• SOUTH CAROLINA AT #4 CLEMSON (Week 13)
• LOUISVILLE AT #20 KENTUCKY (Week 13)
• GEORGIA TECH AT #3 GEORGIA (Week 13)

BEST STADIUM IN THE CONFERENCE: SANFORD STADIUM

• This is a very tough decision, but nothing like kicking it off Between the Hedges in Sanford Stadium.

CONFERENCE CHAMPION: GEORGIA BULLDOGS

• The Dawgs and Tide will navigate their respective schedules and meet in Atlanta once again. Georgia will carry their momentum into a 2nd consecutive victory over Nick Saban and the Tide. In addition to this collision, both programs will return to the College Football Playoff.

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Irrational Confidence Podcast (@IRConfidencePod on Twitter) for year round college football podcasts. We release 2 episodes a week during the season, a preview episode and a recap episode. You can subscribe on any podcast platform as well as the Spinnable Sports YouTube page. Our Week 1 Preview Episode is dropping on September 1st. We also just released our preseason Top 25 in installments of 5 schools as well as season previews for Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, and Notre Dame. In addition to the podcast, you can locate our conference previews of the Sun Belt, Conference USA, Mountain West, MAC, AAC, PAC 12, BIG 12, ACC and B1G on SpinnableSports.com.