6.9.23 Football Articles

[aubiefifty 18,259]

tennessean.com

 

15 SEC football games I want to see on 2024 schedule aside from obvious rivalries | Toppmeyer

Blake Toppmeyer

 

---

The SEC office gets to play matchmaker for the 2024 season, in exchange for league presidents and chancellors voting to retain an eight-game conference football schedule.

Divisions will be gone, replaced by a unified 16-team SEC with Oklahoma and Texas aboard. The SEC will be mindful of rivalries and competitive balance when concocting conference schedules.

Otherwise, it’s blank slate.

The SEC might embrace a nine conference games as soon as 2025, but if the eight-game format persists long-term, each team will be paired with one annual rival and rotate through seven other SEC opponents. So, let’s get those earmarked rivalry pairings out of the way and assume that these games will be ticketed for 2024: Alabama-Auburn, Ole Miss-Mississippi State, Oklahoma-Texas, Arkansas-Missouri, Florida-Georgia, LSU-Texas A&M, Tennessee-Vanderbilt and Kentucky-South Carolina.

TOPPMEYER:The SEC's most visible star is not a quarterback. She plays women's basketball

SEC FOOTBALL:Kirby Smart explains why placing second in SEC football will become a trap

SPORTS IN POLITICS:When Mr. Saban goes to Washington ...

Aside from those eight pairings, here are 15 matchups I’d like to see assigned for 2024.

1. Texas-Texas A&M

A no-brainer. You don’t welcome Texas into the league and then delay this rivalry renewal until 2025. You do it in Year 1, you do it during Thanksgiving week, and you earmark the Aggies as hosts. They have squatter’s rights, after all, having joined the SEC in 2012.

2. Alabama-Georgia

One upside to eliminating divisions is the creation of more frequent matchups like this one. Georgia’s 2021 team raised eyebrows by beating Alabama in the national championship. The Bulldogs repeating as national champs proved SEC supremacy had changed hands. But a Georgia victory inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, where Alabama hasn’t lost since 2019, would be a haymaker.

3. Auburn-Florida

When the SEC in 2003 reduced the number of permanent interdivision rivals from two to one, that interrupted this series. These rivals played at least once per year from 1945-2002. Many fans would like to see the rivalry restored annually. That’s not going to happen, but scheduling the game in ’24 is feasible.

4. Florida-LSU

Division play interrupted some rivalry series. (See above.)  Divisions also helped foment new rivalries, with few more heated than this one. The all-time series is 33-33-3. I’ll never say no to another clash of these bitter – and often evenly matched – foes.

5. Georgia-Oklahoma

Storied college football blueblood, meet the juggernaut currently atop the sport. These programs have met just one time – ever. Matchups like these have me looking forward to a 16-team SEC.

6. Alabama-Tennessee

This series mostly has been a snoozer since Nick Saban arrived at Alabama, but the scene inside Neyland Stadium this past Third Saturday in October served as a reminder of how good this rivalry can be when both teams are punching in the same weight class.

7. Alabama-LSU

Saban groaned about the SEC earmarking Auburn, LSU and Tennessee as Alabama’s rivals in the nine-game schedule proposal that failed to gain approval. Pitting Alabama against AU, LSU and UT within an eight-game model in 2024 would illustrate that Saban is a legendary coach, but not the SEC’s overlord.

8. Ole Miss-Tennessee

When Lane Kiffin last stood before Vols fans, someone threw a golf ball at him inside a stadium that had spiraled into cacophony. Best to schedule this game for Oxford, then. Getting struck by a red Solo cup that survived the Grove doesn't pack the same thwack as a Strata Super Range ball.

9. Arkansas-Oklahoma

Arkansas’ campus is 25 miles from the Oklahoma border, but these teams nonetheless lack much history. They’ve met three times in bowl games, but their last regular-season meeting came in 1926. Get to changing that. This matchup could become one of the best new rivalries created by this expansion.

10. Florida-Ole Miss

‘You'll never see a team play harder than we will the rest of the season. God bless.’ If Lane Kiffin’s Rebels beat Billy Napier’s Gators, Ole Miss might want Kiffin to promise he’s not Florida’s heir apparent.

11. Missouri-Texas

DeLoss Dodds quit his post almost a decade ago, but the former Texas athletics director’s barb about Missouri still irks Tigers fans. After Missouri left the Big 12 for the SEC, Dodds tried to massage Texas’ mediocre 2012 season by saying the Longhorns’ bad seasons were better than Missouri’s good ones. In the 10 seasons since Dodds' comment, Texas is 69-56. Missouri is 70-56. Settle this on the field.

12. Arkansas-Texas

Can we reassemble the Southwest Conference? No? The SEC is nearly halfway there. Texas will join Arkansas and Texas A&M as former SWC members. Arkansas fans of a certain age still consider the Longhorns a prime rival. I have a feeling a lot of SEC fan bases will come to view Texas as a rival.

13. South Carolina-Tennessee

If you weren’t paying attention, you might have missed this becoming one of the SEC’s better lowkey rivalries. The fan bases of these teams have a way of getting under each other’s skin. The teams have a way of playing close games. The series is split 9-9 in the past 18 matchups.

14. Auburn-Mississippi State

Mississippi State is 6-5 against Auburn since 2012. In other news, AU fired Gene Chizik, Gus Malzahn and Bryan Harsin. Forget the Iron Bowl for a moment. Hugh Freeze first needs to elevate Auburn past MSU.

15. Texas-Vanderbilt

An old Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association “rivalry” renewed. That’ll get the juices flowing. But, seriously, nothing would humble the Longhorns’ Texas-sized ego like a loss to Vanderbilt in their SEC debut. That would never happen … right?

Blake Toppmeyer is an SEC Columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.

If you enjoy Blake’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it. Also, check out his podcast, SEC Football Unfiltered, or access exclusive columns via the SEC Unfiltered.

Edited June 9, 2023 by aubiefifty

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

sports.yahoo.com

 

Florida football in 3-way fight for 5-star Magnolia State EDGE

Adam Dubbin

~2 minutes

---

Billy Napier and the Florida Gators are still in the mix for one of the top edge defenders in the 2024 recruiting cycle despite a hyped-up recent official visit with a Southeastern Conference rival.

Five-star prospect (per 24Sports) Jamonta Waller out of Picayune (Mississippi) Memorial paid a visit to the Auburn Tigers last weekend and came away impressed with Hugh Freeze’s program in the early goings. However, the Plainsmen are among the top three schools on the 6-foot-2-inch, 225-pound defender’s preferred programs list according to 247Sports — which also includes the Penn State Nittany Lions.

That said, the Gators have been rising meteorically for the rising high school senior’s signature.

“They hit me up every day, Coach Armstrong, Coach Mike Peterson, they came to my school like three times and made it know I’m the No. 1 priority for the Florida Gators” Waller said. He’ll take his official the weekend of June 16.

“That’s going to be a huge visit too, I’m ready to get back over there.”

Waller is rated at four stars and ranked No. 102 overall and No.  at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking also rates him at four stars and ranks him at Nos. 81 and 7, respectively.

The Magnolia State product has one crystal ball projection from 247Sports for the Ole Miss Rebels and On3’s Recruiting Prediciton Machine agrees, giving them a 77% chance of landing him. Auburn, the Georgia Bulldogs and Florida follow behind, respectively, at 4.3%, 3.7% and 3.1%.

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Story originally appeared on Gators Wire

[aubiefifty 18,259]

Auburn football is keying in on Kensley Faustin

Zac Blackerby

~3 minutes

---

Kensley Faustin has tape that jumps out at you.

His natural ability to pursue and high-point the football is elite when watching his 2022 tape.

Primarily playing in the middle of the field at safety and nickel, Faustin showed off his ability to blanket receivers and force quarterbacks to make perfect throws in order for them to earn a completion. When the throw wasn't perfect, Faustin was great at getting a hand on the football.

Recruiting expert Brian Smith joined Locked On Auburn to talk about Faustin and Auburn's chances with recruiting him.

"He could be a safety or a corner. He can really run. He's just a raw kid, but that's what South Florida is famous for," Smith said. "Naples is about as far south as you go before you hit the ocean. He's a great kid too, and he's not somebody that's shy about competition. He will not have a difficult time adjusting to the Southeastern Conference. If he played at a different high school in a more populated area of Florida, he would probably be ranked a lot higher. With that being stated, I have full confidence that he can play in the SEC West. That's really all you need to know."

Listed at 5-foot-10, 170-pounds, Faustin isn't the biggest defensive back on Auburn's radar but Smith isn't concerned about what he can offer defensively. 

"If you're going to play man coverage and just play bump all the time, you know, you can put him at nickel, you can do different things with him, but he's an explosive kid," Smith said. "So I'm not really worried about it. Yeah. Kids get hurt more often if they're smaller, but that's part of it at defensive back, man, you got to roll the dice with kids that have the hips and he can move."

Faustin is expected to visit Auburn this weekend and will spend a lot of time with defensive back coaches Wesley McGriff and Zac Etheridge.

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

sports.yahoo.com

 

Athlon Sports drops its preseason SEC outlook. Where’s Auburn?

Taylor Jones

9–11 minutes

---

Auburn fans have plenty of hope heading into the 2023 season. Hugh Freeze has brought in new ideas and a revamped roster thanks to the transfer portal.

Is it enough for publications across the country to start giving Auburn higher expectations than in recent years? At least one has not bought into the hype.

Athlon Sports recently released its preseason SEC outlook, which includes a prediction of the SEC standings. The Auburn Tigers are dead last.

Low expectations are a good thing for Auburn. The Tigers will have plenty of fresh, new faces on both sides of the ball, and it will give Freeze and staff time to build momentum without possible scrutiny.

Here’s how Athlon Sports is projecting the SEC West to shake out this season.

Alabama

Alabama’s success in 2023 will hinge on quarterback play. Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner will compete for the starting job. The winning candidate will not only be tasked with getting Alabama back into the College Football Playoff, but will have to lead the Tide to wins over LSU and the inevitable matchup with Georgia at the SEC championship.

Athlon Sports’ take: It’s a toss-up between Alabama and LSU at the top of the SEC West. With the game in Tuscaloosa next fall, a slight edge goes to the Crimson Tide at No. 1. But coach Nick Saban’s team also possesses more question marks than usual, so this will not be an easy path to the SEC title game. The post-spring arrival of Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner adds to a quarterback battle featuring Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson. Until the offense stabilizes behind a new QB and play-caller Tommy Rees, expect this unit to lean heavily on a deep stable of backs and a solid line featuring preseason All-American JC Latham at tackle. The defense has a new play-caller (Kevin Steele) and must replace standout linebacker Will Anderson and a couple of key cogs in the secondary. Talent isn’t the issue for Saban’s team. How fast does this all come together?

For more news on Alabama football, visit Roll Tide Wire.

LSU

 

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

 

LSU surprised the college football world in 2022 by upsetting Alabama on its way to an SEC West championship. The Tigers return a great roster, with their only roadblock being a road trip to Tuscaloosa in November. If LSU can escape Bryant-Denny Stadium with a victory, expect them to cruise into Atlanta.

Athlon Sports’ take: There’s very little separation between LSU and Alabama in Athlon’s SEC predictions for ’23. The Bayou Bengals have to travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the Crimson Tide, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see coach Brian Kelly’s team follow up last year’s division title with another one this fall. Quarterback Jayden Daniels should be more comfortable in his second season in Kelly’s scheme, and the offensive line should emerge as a strength after struggling in ’22. Led by Malik Nabers and tight end Mason Taylor, the Tigers have one of the SEC’s top receiving corps. A defense that limited offenses to 22.5 points a game last season will be even better up front with the return of Maason Smith from a knee injury that cost him most of last year. Also, linebacker Harold Perkins is poised to cause even more havoc as a sophomore. For the second season in a row, the secondary is undergoing a massive overhaul. But thanks to a couple of key transfer additions, LSU should eventually find the right mix on the back end.

For more LSU football news, check out LSU Tigers Wire. 

Texas A&M

Texas A&M is third in Athlon Sports’ preseason predictions. Are they worthy of it? The Aggies found success in the early days of its transition to the SEC but have yet to win 10 games under head coach Jimbo Fisher. Who knows? Maybe this will be the year that Texas A&M gets it done, but are they better than Ole Miss or even Arkansas?

Athlon Sports take: The Aggies started ’22 as a preseason top-10 team but slumped to a 5-7 record as one of the nation’s biggest underachievers. However, if the hire of former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino to take offensive play-calling duties from coach Jimbo Fisher works out, this team could rebound quickly into the top 25. Petrino inherits a rising star at quarterback in Conner Weigman, along with a trio of receivers — Ainias Smith, Evan Stewart and Moose Muhammad III — that’s as good as any team in the SEC. Five-star freshman Rueben Owens will help fill the void left by Devon Achane at running back. In addition to the overall development (and better play-calling) by Petrino, the Aggies need the offensive line to improve after an uneven ’22 campaign. Texas A&M’s young defense struggled to stop the run (14th in the SEC) last year but still limited teams to 21.2 points a game. Talent isn’t the issue, and with another season to development, that youth and inexperience should turn into production (and a better defense).

For more news on Texas A&M football, visit Aggies Wire. 

Ole Miss

Placing the Rebels ahead of Texas A&M appears to be a stretch, but there are several reasons this prediction makes sense. The Aggies have been waiting to win 10 games since Jimbo Fisher took over the program in 2018. Ole Miss also has the tendency of losing games when it matters most.

Athlon Sports’ take: After a 7-0 start, the Rebels fizzled down the stretch with a 1-5 finish last season. Coach Lane Kiffin hopes another strong class of transfers on both sides of the ball, combined with the arrival of new defensive coordinator Pete Golding, helps this program reach the next level in ’23. After a good start, the Rebels regressed defensively last year and allowed over 30 points a game from November through the bowl loss at Texas Tech. Jaxson Dart had a solid debut in Oxford last fall, but Kiffin and the offensive staff brought in transfers Spencer Sanders (Oklahoma State) and Walker Howard (LSU) to push him this offseason. Dart held off a challenge in the spring, but the battle resumes in the fall. Quinshon Judkins returns as one of the nation’s top running backs after a standout freshman campaign, and the additions of Tre Harris (Louisiana Tech) and Zakhari Franklin (UTSA) solidified a thin receiving corps.

Arkansas

 

Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

 

After winning nine games in 2021, the Razorbacks had a letdown season in 2022 by winning just seven. Arkansas has plenty of talent to get to 10 wins, and may rise to the No. 3 spot in the west by the end of the season.

Athlon Sports’ take: With quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Rocket Sanders returning, scoring points will not be a problem for Arkansas. However, the Razorbacks need to make massive improvements on defense to challenge for a spot in the top three of the SEC West. New coordinator Travis Williams and coach Sam Pittman hit the portal hard for help, bringing in more than 10 players to improve a unit that allowed 30.6 points a contest last year. New offensive coordinator Dan Enos has to navigate some turnover along the line and at receiver, but Jefferson’s return should help to ease the transition at those spots.

For more on Arkansas football, check out Razorbacks Wire. 

Mississippi State

Mississippi State is one of two teams that will sport a new head coach in 2023. Zach Arnett takes his first head coaching job this season following the unfortunate passing of Mike Leach in December. The Bulldogs may have a new offensive scheme to mix in with an inexperienced head coach. Finishing sixth or seventh in the SEC while earning a bowl bid seems right for Mississippi State, but don’t expect too much more.

Athlon Sports’ take: New coach Zach Arnett put his own stamp on the program this offseason by hiring Kevin Barbay as the team’s new play-caller and indicating a shift away from the Air Raid attack. The Bulldogs are likely to aim for a little more balance under Barbay, but make no mistake: The offense still runs through quarterback Will Rogers. Arnett handed the defensive signal-calling duties to Matt Brock and little is expected to change from a unit that held teams to 23.1 points per contest last year. Led by Jett Johnson and Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State’s linebacker unit should rank among the best in the SEC.

Auburn

 

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

 

Auburn slid to a 5-7 record last season, which led to the dismissal of Bryan Harsin. Now, Hugh Freeze has taken over and revamped the roster. There’s plenty of talent on The Plains, but a smooth transition period is needed for the Tigers to compete for the SEC crown. Depending on how quickly the transition happens, Auburn could realistically finish between three and seven in the SEC standings by the season’s end.

Athlon Sports’ take: The SEC West is brutal, but expect a much-improved Auburn team under first-year coach Hugh Freeze. Transfer portal usage is a big reason why the Tigers should at least make a bowl in Freeze’s debut. Auburn’s haul ranks among the best in the nation, which includes three potential starters on a thin offensive line, a starting quarterback (Payton Thorne) and help at receiver and on defense. Jump-starting a sluggish passing attack and offense (24.8 points a game) is a priority for Freeze and coordinator Philip Montgomery. And on defense, new play-caller Ron Roberts has a solid secondary to build around, but the Tigers have to improve versus the run (172.7 yards a game allowed in ’22).

Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

athlonsports.com

 

SEC Football 2023 Predictions

Steven Lassan

13–17 minutes

---

The path to a 2023 college football national championship and SEC title once again runs through Athens. After winning back-to-back CFB Playoff titles, coach Kirby Smart's squad isn't showing any signs of slowing down and has the next wave of reinforcements poised to fill any gaps left behind by standouts Stetson Bennett IV, Jalen Carter and Broderick Jones. But the Bulldogs will face resistance from Alabama and LSU in the SEC, with Tennessee up next from the East Division.

The SEC boasts a strong middle class in '23, headlined by an improved Texas A&M squad, along with Kentucky, South Carolina, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Auburn and Mississippi State. Florida and Missouri should be fighting for a winning season and bowl trip, while Vanderbilt could take another step forward in its third year under coach Clark Lea.

How does Athlon Sports project the SEC for 2023? Steven Lassan predicts and ranks all 14 teams in SEC for this fall:

East Division

1. Georgia
Repeating as national champion for the third year in a row won't be easy, but Georgia is the overwhelming favorite to win it all in '23. Although both sides of the ball lost key talent, it's hard to worry too much with a roster that's loaded with blue-chip talent. Coordinator Todd Monken will be missed, but Mike Bobo isn't expected to stray too far from the gameplan that transformed Georgia's offense into one of the best in the SEC. Carson Beck left spring practice as the frontrunner to replace Stetson Bennett at quarterback and has the nation's best tight end (Brock Bowers) at his disposal. The arrival of transfers Dominic Lovett (Missouri) and RaRa Thomas (Mississippi State) give the Bulldogs even more weapons at receiver. Coach Kirby Smart lost another wave of stars from a suffocating defense (Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter, Kelee Ringo and Christopher Smith), but don't expect this unit to miss a beat. The next group of standouts is ready to emerge, which includes lineman Mykel Williams, safety Malaki Starks and linebackers Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Smael Mondon.

Related: College Football's Post-Spring Top 25 for 2023

2. Tennessee
After posting double-digit wins for the first time since 2007, the next step for Tennessee is to close the gap to Georgia in the SEC East. That won't be easy this fall with quarterback Hendon Hooker and receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman topping the list of key departures. However, coach Josh Heupel's squad still has a good foundation in place, and the team's high-powered offense should be in good hands with either Joe Milton or Nico Iamaleava at the controls. Bru McCoy and Squirrel White should help to fill the void left behind by Hyatt and Tillman. Improving the defense was a priority after this unit gave up 29.1 points a game in '21, and coordinator Tim Banks has this unit going in the right direction after they held teams to 22.8 a contest last fall. However, similar to the offense, the defense has a few key personnel losses to overcome (end Byron Young and safety Trevon Flowers) that will test the ability to take another step forward. 

3. Kentucky
A sluggish offense (20.4 points a game) was primarily to blame for last year's regression to 7-6. But coach Mark Stoops wasted no time in fixing this unit, as he was able to lure former play-caller Liam Coen back to Lexington and landed Devin Leary as a transfer from NC State to replace Will Levis at quarterback. Leary is throwing to one of the SEC's top trios at receiver - Tayvion Robinson, Barion Brown and Dane Key - and there's optimism for the line to rebound after struggling mightily last fall thanks to a couple of transfers. Defense certainly wasn't the problem for Kentucky in '22, as this unit limited teams to 19.2 points a contest. Losing lineman Justin Rogers to transfer was a setback, but the linebacker unit should rank among the best in the SEC, and Stoops should effectively fill the voids to keep this group performing at a high level. 

Related: College Football 2023 Preseason All-America Team

4. South Carolina
Shane Beamer's program has exceeded preseason expectations two years in a row and finished last season by knocking off a pair of highly-ranked teams in Tennessee and Clemson. If the Gamecocks are going to pick up where they left off, it starts with new play-caller Dowell Loggains putting more of the offensive controls in the hands of quarterback Spencer Rattler. Depth is thin at running back, so all-purpose threat Dakereon Joyner will have to shoulder some of the work on the ground. Juice Wells is one of the nation's top receivers, while Arkansas transfer Trey Knox could emerge as a big-time threat at tight end. The offensive line is a major concern going into the fall after Jaylen Nichols suffered a significant injury in the spring. Stopping the run (13th in the SEC last year) is an area in need of improvement for defensive signal-caller Clayton White. Also, the secondary must replace standout cornerback Cam Smith. Just as it was in '22, look for South Carolina's special teams to be an x-factor in close games.

5. Florida
With quarterback Anthony Richardson off to the NFL, a Florida team that's in rebuild mode could be lucky just to get to a bowl in 2023. Second-year coach Billy Napier didn't inherit a program that could be fixed overnight, so this fall could be another struggle before a step forward in '24. Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz had an uneven career in Madison but transferred to Gainesville for a fresh start and a chance to replace Richardson. The strength of the '23 offense resides in the backfield with Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson returning. Standout guard O'Cyrus Torrence will be missed in the trenches, and the Gators also need to identify a couple of playmakers to take some of the pressure off of Ricky Pearsall at receiver. New coordinator Austin Armstrong is tasked with improving a defense that ranked near the bottom of the SEC in yards per play allowed (5.92), points allowed (28.8) and struggled to stop the run (175.2 yards per contest). Only four starters are back, so similar to the '22 unit, this group could be a work in progress throughout the upcoming season.

Related: SEC Football 2023 All-Conference Team 

6. Missouri
If coach Eli Drinkwitz and new play-caller Kirby Moore can elevate the offense (24.8 points a game last season), then Missouri could easily exceed this preseason prediction. That's largely due to a defense that was the biggest surprise in the conference last year, holding teams to 25.2 points a game behind new coordinator Blake Baker. With eight starters back, a strong foundation remains on this side of the ball, including cornerbacks Kris Abrams-Draine and Ennis Rakestraw and linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper. Reloading at end with Trajan Jeffcoat and Isaiah McGuire off to the NFL tops the list of concerns for Baker. Brady Cook missed spring practice due to shoulder surgery, but he's slated to return this fall as the No. 1 quarterback with Miami transfer Jake Garcia pushing for time. Receiver Luther Burden is primed for a breakout season after a solid freshman campaign. But in addition to getting more out of Cook or Garcia at quarterback, Missouri needs improved play in the trenches to exceed last year's six wins.

7. Vanderbilt
The Commodores just missed a bowl in coach Clark Lea's second year at the helm. Getting to six wins and the postseason will hinge on just how far quarterback A.J. Swann can develop after a promising freshman year, as well as continuing to improve up front in the trenches. Standout running back Ray Davis transferred to Kentucky, but the Commodores are set at receiver thanks to the return of Jayden McGowan and Will Sheppard. Vanderbilt's defense has ranked last in the SEC in points allowed in each of the last two seasons and surrendered nearly 40 points a contest (39.8) in conference action last fall. Seven starters are back, but Anfernee Orji's departure to the NFL is a big loss.

West Division

1. Alabama
It's a toss up between Alabama and LSU at the top of the SEC West. With the game in Tuscaloosa next fall, a slight edge goes to the Crimson Tide at No. 1. But coach Nick Saban's team also possesses more question marks than usual, so this won't be an easy path to the SEC title game. The post-spring arrival of Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner adds to a quarterback battle featuring Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson. Until the offense stabilizes behind a new QB and play-caller Tommy Rees, expect this unit to lean heavily on a deep stable of backs and a solid line featuring preseason All-American JC Latham at tackle. The defense has a new play-caller (Kevin Steele) and must replace standout linebacker Will Anderson and a couple of key cogs in the secondary. Talent isn't the issue for Saban's team. How fast does this all come together?

Related: College Football's Post-Spring Top 25 for 2023

2. LSU
There's very little separation between LSU and Alabama in Athlon's SEC predictions for '23. The Bayou Bengals have to travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the Crimson Tide, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see coach Brian Kelly's team follow up last year's division title with another one this fall. Quarterback Jayden Daniels should be more comfortable in his second season in Kelly's scheme, and the offensive line should emerge as a strength after struggling in '22. Led by Malik Nabers and tight end Mason Taylor, the Tigers have one of the SEC's top receiving corps. A defense that limited offenses to 22.5 points a game last season will be even better up front with the return of Maason Smith from a knee injury that cost him most of last year. Also, linebacker Harold Perkins is poised to cause even more havoc as a sophomore. For the second season in a row, the secondary is undergoing a massive overhaul. But thanks to a couple of key transfer additions, LSU should eventually find the right mix on the back end. 

Related: SEC Football 2023 All-Conference Team

3. Texas A&M
The Aggies started '22 as a preseason top-10 team but slumped to a disappointing 5-7 record as one of the nation's biggest underachievers. However, if the hire of former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino to take offensive play-calling duties from coach Jimbo Fisher works out, this team could rebound quickly into the top 25. Petrino inherits a rising star at quarterback in Conner Weigman, along with a trio of receivers - Ainias Smith, Evan Stewart and Moose Muhammad III - that's as good as any team in the SEC. Five-star freshman Rueben Owens will help fill the void left by Devon Achane at running back. In addition to the overall development (and better play-calling) by Petrino, the Aggies need the offensive line to improve after an uneven '22 campaign. Texas A&M's young defense struggled to stop the run (14th in the SEC) last year but still limited teams to 21.2 points a game. Talent isn't the issue, and with another season to development, that youth and inexperience should turn into production (and a better defense). 

Related: College Football 2023 Preseason All-America Team

4. Ole Miss
After a 7-0 start, the Rebels fizzled down the stretch with a 1-5 finish last season. Coach Lane Kiffin hopes another strong class of transfers on both sides of the ball, combined with the arrival of new defensive coordinator Pete Golding, helps this program reach the next level in '23. After a good start, the Rebels regressed defensively last year and allowed over 30 points a game from November through the bowl loss at Texas Tech. Jaxson Dart had a solid debut in Oxford last fall, but Kiffin and the offensive staff brought in transfers Spencer Sanders (Oklahoma State) and Walker Howard (LSU) to push him this offseason. Dart held off a challenge in the spring, but the battle resumes in the fall. Quinshon Judkins returns as one of the nation's top running backs after a standout freshman campaign, and the additions of Tre Harris (Louisiana Tech) and Zakhari Franklin (UTSA) solidified a thin receiving corps. 

5. Arkansas
With quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Rocket Sanders returning, scoring points won't be a problem for Arkansas. However, the Razorbacks need to make massive improvement on defense to challenge for a spot in the top three of the SEC West. New coordinator Travis Williams and coach Sam Pittman hit the portal hard for help, bringing in over 10 players to improve a unit that allowed 30.6 points a contest last year. New offensive coordinator Dan Enos also has to navigate some turnover along the line and at receiver, but Jefferson's return should help to ease the transition at those spots.

Related: 5 College Football Teams Poised to Rebound in 2023

6. Mississippi State
New coach Zach Arnett put his own stamp on the program this offseason by hiring Kevin Barbay as the team's new play-caller and indicating a shift away from the Air Raid attack. The Bulldogs are likely to aim for a little more balance under Barbay, but make no mistake: The offense still runs through quarterback Will Rogers. Arnett handed the defensive signal-calling duties to Matt Brock and little is expected to change from a unit that held teams to 23.1 points per contest last year. Led by Jett Johnson and Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State's linebacker unit should rank among the best in the SEC. 

Related: Which New Coach is Poised for the Most Success in 2023?

7. Auburn
The SEC West is brutal, but expect a much-improved Auburn team under first-year coach Hugh Freeze. Transfer portal usage is a big reason why the Tigers should at least make a bowl in Freeze's debut. Auburn's haul ranks among the best in the nation, which includes three potential starters on a thin offensive line, a starting quarterback (Payton Thorne) and help at receiver and on defense. Jumpstarting a sluggish passing attack and offense (24.8 points a game) is a priority for Freeze and coordinator Philip Montgomery. And on defense, new play-caller Ron Roberts has a solid secondary to build around, but the Tigers have to improve versus the run (172.7 yards a game allowed in '22).

SEC Championship: Georgia over Alabama

Podcast: Complete Top 25 Breakdown and Rankings Debate

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]