SEC Football Q&A: Who Is the Next SEC Assistant to Get a Head Coaching Job?

Every Thursday on The SEC Blog, we will feature questions from the Bleacher Report inbox, Twitter and email.

Do you have a question for next week's Q&A? Send it to SEC lead blogger Barrett Sallee via the B/R inbox, on Twitter @BarrettSallee or at [e-mail].

You've got SEC questions, and I've got SEC answers. Thank you, everybody, for your questions this week, and if I didn't get to them this week, they are still saved and will be used in the future.

And with that, we're off:

"

@barrettsallee Who is on the "HOT SEAT?" Not as in #BeingFired but as in #MovingUp? #KirbySmart, #RodneyGarner, #JohnChavis? #NextHeadCoach

— Andy M. Johnson (@GeorgiaGunOwner) August 2, 2012"

Those names that you mentioned are certainly interesting, but I think Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is the favorite.

Head coach Nick Saban gets a lot of credit for the Crimson Tide's success on defense, but Smart has plenty of input as well. He has learned under the brightest defensive mind in college football for the last five years (and seven total), four of which were as Saban's defensive coordinator.

He has patiently been waiting around for the right opening, and is content doing so after he saw former hot-shot defensive coordinator Will Muschamp wait around at Texas until the Florida job opened up.

Will Smart get a head coaching job next season? That depends on what's open. But don't think he will jump for the sake of jumping—he is happy to wait for the right situation.

"

@barrettsallee Who is this year's BCS buster?

— Fancred (@fancred) August 2, 2012"

That sort of depends on how you define "BCS Buster." 

If you're asking about SEC teams outside of the Big 2 that can get in, there's no doubt that South Carolina and Arkansas have the pieces in place to make a legitimate national title run. So getting into the BCS is likely.

If you're asking about SEC teams that aren't considered favorites that have outside shots to make it, Florida, Missouri and Tennessee could all get hot and make it to Atlanta.

None of those three are elite right now, but each could win the East if breaks fall their way. If you make it to Atlanta, you're 60 minutes away from the BCS (granted, that 60 minutes would likely involve playing the top team in the country out of the SEC West).

Outside of the SEC, I think Utah, Kansas State and, of course, Boise State have an outside chance to sneak into a BCS game.

"

@barrettsallee - Can #Vandy continues its success this year or will the East be better?

— Chad Dinkins (@dinkdumpdish) August 2, 2012"

Vandy absolutely can replicate last season's success—and possibly even improve upon it. 

The Commodores went to a bowl game and won six games, but they really could have reached the eight- or even nine-win mark had they caught a few breaks.

With that said, the East will be better, so Vandy and head coach James Franklin will have their work cut out for them.

I don't think immediate improvement is the way to judge this year's Vandy team. They certainly could improve, but a six-win season coupled with the way that Franklin is recruiting has the future of Commodores football looking very bright.

Follow @BarrettSallee