Preseason College Football Rankings 2012: SEC Set to Dominate Again This Fall

Just when you thought it was safe to come outside, the SEC appears prepared to retain its ironclad grip on the BCS and college football at large.

It brings jubilation to almost everyone living south of the Mason-Dixon line and exudes chagrin to just about everyone else.

And it's not just because the nation's most powerful football conference has extended its reach into Texas and Missouri.

All those incessant chants of "S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C!" will be ringing through the rustle of the color-changing leaves in the fall as LSU, Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas and (of course) defending national champion Alabama return to the gridiron—likely with spots carved out in the preseason Top 25 in both major polls.

The Tigers/Bayou Bengals (last season's runners-up) come into spring practice as a far-too-early favorite to win it all—despite losing 15 starters to graduation or early defection to the NFL. On the flip side, 11 underclassmen earned significant playing time on defense for Les Miles in 2011.

Also, LSU will finally be rid of the quarterback quagmire between Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee, as highly-touted transfer Zach Mettenberger finally takes control under center.

Georgia (Mettenberger's old school) will be back in the saddle after edging out South Carolina for the SEC East crown. The Bulldogs will boast one of the best offenses in the conference behind the talented trio of quarterback Aaron Murray, tailback Isaiah Crowell and wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell—opposite a defense that returns 10 starters from last year's squad.

There will be worries about whether the Bulldogs can survive significant turnover on their offensive line and on special teams, though a schedule devoid of dates with the powers of the SEC West (LSU, 'Bama, Arkansas) should even things out.

South Carolina will give UGA a run for its money in the East, especially with a healthy Marcus Lattimore in the backfield and Connor Shaw at quarterback from day one.

Defense will be of some concern to Steve Spurrier's squad after losing five key starters to graduation or defection and coordinator Ellis Johnson to Southern Miss.

The same could be said for Arkansas, which loses several key contributors on defense (i.e. Jake Bequette, Tramain Thomas, Jerry Franklin) along with a pair of offensive linemen and most of last year's spectacular corps of wide receivers.

Nonetheless, the return of Tyler Wilson under center and Knile Davis behind him, along with defensive coordinator Paul Haynes' new schemes, should ensure no worse than a third-place finish for the Hogs in the West.

That is, behind LSU and (you guessed it!) Alabama. No team can match the honor roll of All-American standouts that the Crimson Tide will have to replace with the likes of Trent Richardson, Dont'a Hightower, Courtney Upshaw and Dre Kirkpatrick taking their talents to the NFL.

Then again, few can hold so much as a candle to the wealth of recruited talent from which Nick Saban can draw. That, along with the return of key contributors like AJ McCarron, Barrett Jones and Eddy Lacy, should allow the Tide to roll with the punches on their way back to the BCS.

Which, all in all, should leave maybe a scrap or two for the rest of the college football world when the SEC is done devouring the pigskin carcass.

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