Conference Breakdown: SEC

What a year it was for Georgia. The Dawgs never lost and looked like the obvious best team in the SEC from the jump. They won their second consecutive national championship, and some say that they have now dethroned Nick Saban and Alabama. In my opinion, that remains to be seen.

For 2023, we will see the last version of the SEC without Texas and Oklahoma. The SEC is expected to move to a form of permanent opponents for league play when they arrive, which is both good and bad. It means that all of the teams will play each other within the span of a few years. It also means that rivalries couldn't be played every year. Texas A&M, for example, wouldn't get Texas, Arkansas, LSU, and Bama under what is currently proposed. However, this year we will get what we are used to in the SEC. Will Bama bounce back to reclaim the West? Does Texas A&M compete? Who will challenge Georgia? Let's dig deeper:

West

Alabama

What a standard that Nick Saban has set at alabama; the Tide finished 11-2 and won the Sugar Bowl and it wasn't all that satisfying for the Alabama faithful. That's because they missed the SEC Championship game and they Playoff for only the second time since its inception. "Nick Saban is losing his edge", no, he's not. The Tide bring in the number one recruiting class and Jalen Milroe will get his opportunity to make his mark on the SEC this year. I look for them to get back to winning the West.

LSU

In year one, Brian Kelly reminded us all that he is one of the best in the college coaching game. He racked up 9 regular season wins and an appearance in the SEC championship game. He also destroyed Purdue in the bowl game, which gave him win number 10. Next year he has Jayden Daniels returning and a top 10 class coming in. The only issue is that he will have to once again beat Alabama to remain atop the division, which is certainly tough to do, especially in Tuscaloosa.

Texas A&M

The Aggies disappointed everyone by failing to reach a bowl, but changes have been made. Bobby Petrino will be running the offense, and like him or not, he will probably do way better than what Jimbo had last year. The Aggies also remain a very talented team and brought in the #15 class this year to add to it. The question isn't about the players, it's about whether the players can be utilized correctly. I think they reach a bowl, and they have the potential to reach the championship game in Atlanta, but they have to actually reach that potential.

Arkansas

Sam Pittman was a great hire for Arkansa, and if they weren't in the SEC West they would be a top 10 team. However, they are in the SEC West, and they also play BYU this year. The good news is that KJ Jefferson returns at quarterback, and the Hogs bring in a top 25 class, so this year could be good if they can perform well.

Auburn

Well that didn't last long! Bryan Harsin has exited the building, and Hugh Freeze has entered as his replacement. This job means playing in the toughest division in college, as well as getting compared to Nick Saban as a measuring stick. The good news is that the Ole Miss teams that he coached recruited well, had 10 win seasons, and beat Nick Saban. The bad is that he will have to climb that mountain from scratch. Auburn did recruit a top 20 class last year and Robby Ashford returns, so a bowl game is certainly attainable. They could get to more if everything comes together quickly for Hugh Freeze.

Ole Miss

The Lane Train started 7-0 and reached #7 before a massive derailment. The Rebels finished 1-5, including a bowl loss. The good news is that there is plenty of ability to reach a higher level. The Rebels have talent and a system that allows them to be in any game they play. They also have 3 good options at quarterback: Jaxson Dart, Spencer Sanders, and Walker Howard. Any of the 3 could win games, and if the competition pushes one guy to the next level, the Rebels could compete for a spot in Atlanta.

East

Georgia

It's hard to pick anyone but Georgia to reach Atlanta. However, Tennessee is coming, and South Carolina is creeping up as well. The Dawgs do bring in the #2 class after winning the conference and the title last year, as well as getting an easy two week start to the year to figure things out. Kirby Smart has figured out his system in Athens, and it is obviously working. I do think that the Dawgs lose in the regular season, but I'm not predicting them to miss out on Atlanta.

Tennessee

The Vols had a great year. They won the Orange bowl, beat Alabama and finished 2nd in the East, which they would have won if they beat Georgia. This year, they get the Dawgs at home, but they also have to travel to Alabama. The Volunteers also have to decide who will be leading the team at quarterback: Joe Milton or 5 star Nico Lamaleava. Milton has experience and a cannon, but Nico has hype and is very talented. If either performs at a high level, The Vols could get to Atlanta.

Florida

Jalen Kitna and Jaden Rashada will not be helping the Gators this year, which certainly hurts. It will most likely be Graham Mertz or Jack Miller running the offense, which is certainly less than Billy Napier would like. The Gators do bring in the number 14 recruiting class, but they play Utah and Tennessee within their first 3 games. If they start 3-0, this team will be something to look out for, but if they are 1-2, it could be a long year.

South Carolina

The Gamecocks seem to be one of the teams on the rise. Their recruiting class is ranked number 16 and Spencer Rattler will be coming back for one more year. After beating Clemson, this team feels like one that could make noise in 2023. However, we will not have to wait long to find out: the Gamecocks play Georgia in Week 3 and Tennessee in week 5. They could win the East this year if they can at least get to 1-1 in those games, but if they go 0-2 they may be out of the race early.