SEC Football: Rating Each Team as a 2014 Contender or Pretender
The SEC conference has lived up to its billing as the most competitive conference in college football.
Entering Week 7, the conference has seven teams ranked in the Top 25, including four in the top seven. The next highest conference (Big 12) has just five.
All eyes will be on the SEC once again this weekend, as several high-profile matchups are on deck. Among them, No. 2 Auburn travels to face No. 3 Mississippi State, and No. 3 Ole Miss takes on No. 14 Texas A&M.
Now is the time when the contenders begin to separate themselves from the pretenders.
In determining whether a team is a contender or a pretender in the race for the SEC title, we looked a number of factors, ranging from strength of remaining schedule, depth of roster, performance in games completed and similar issues.
Here’s Bleacher Report’s take on where all 14 teams place.
Vanderbilt
1 of 14
Things have been downhill for the Commodores ever since head coach James Franklin departed over the offseason.
Not only has the team struggled to put up points—ranked No. 119 in scoring (17.0 PPG)—Vanderbilt has also conceded points in bunches, ranking No. 110 in scoring defense (36.3 PPG). Furthermore, the team has lost its five games by an average margin of 23.8 points.
And the Commodores' only win? A 34-31 squeaker against lowly Massachusetts.
The team has no answer at quarterback, with a trio of players combining to throw for 930 yards, three touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 47.2 percent passing. If there is a bright spot, it would be running back Ralph Webb, who has rushed for 499 yards and two touchdowns on 107 carries.
But it’s going to take a lot more than one player to help turn around this disastrous start.
Conclusion: Pretender
Tennessee
2 of 14
In Year 2 of the Butch Jones era, the Vols have made a lot of progress.
The team might be just 2-3, but Tennessee hung with all three of the teams that beat them. The Vols kept it close with Oklahoma before it pulled away in the second half, and then they lost to Georgia and Florida over the last two weeks by a combined four points.
This is a young team that is just getting ready to turn the corner.
The remaining conference schedule is tough, with four or five games coming up that Tennessee will likely lose. But sometimes, you learn the most from losses.
This might not be the year for the Vols, but watch out for these guys in the near future.
Conclusion: Pretender
Arkansas
3 of 14
There’s no doubt the Razorbacks are a much better team than they were a year, but unfortunately, they play in a loaded West Division that boasts five teams ranked in the Top 15.
Through five games, Arkansas’ offense has been great. The team ranks No. 7 in rushing (316.6 YPG) and No. 7 in scoring (44.6 PPG). Led by running backs Alex Collins (86 CAR, 621 YDS, 6 TD) and Jonathan Williams (66 CAR, 486 YDS, 8 TD), it’s hard to slow down this offense.
However, the Razorbacks have been unable to slow down any of their opponents’ offenses, ranking No. 74 in total defense (403.2 YPG).
Then there’s the schedule. Alabama and Georgia come into town over the next couple of weeks before Arkansas wraps up the season with a four-game slate of Mississippi State, LSU, Ole Miss and Missouri.
That’s a gauntlet this Razorbacks team just can’t handle.
Conclusion: Pretender
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Georgia
4 of 14
All season long, the Bulldogs have ridden running back Todd Gurley to success.
With Friday morning’s revelations, that could all quickly change.
According to ESPN.com, Georgia has suspended Gurley indefinitely for an alleged violation of NCAA rules, pending an investigation to determine whether the junior received money for autographs or memorabilia.
The loss of Gurley for any amount of time would be a massive blow, as the Tarboro, North Carolina, native has rushed for 773 yards and eight touchdowns in five games. He’s also considered the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy.
Even with Gurley in tow, the Bulldogs have already dropped a game to South Carolina, which was a hit to the team’s SEC title chances. With two tough road contests up next—at Missouri and then Arkansas—Georgia can’t afford for Gurley to be on the sidelines.
Thus far, quarterback Hutson Mason has been nothing more than a game manager. It would be a recipe for disaster to expect the senior to be anything more.
However, Georgia's defense has been impressive thus far. Through five games, the unit has ranked No. 30 in total defense (335.0 YPG) and has only allowed 21.6 points per game this season. If needed, the defense could be called upon to keep the Bulldogs in games this season.
Still, until we know more about Gurley’s situation, we’re believing in Georgia to contend in the weaker East Division.
Conclusion: Contender
South Carolina
5 of 14
Although the Gamecocks may have opened the season in the Top 10, they’ll be lucky to crack the Top 25 when all is said and done.
Through six games, South Carolina has already lost three times. The team was completely embarrassed on its home field by Texas A&M, 52-28, in Week 1 and then suffered sloppy defeats over the last two weeks against Missouri and at Kentucky.
Quarterback Dylan Thompson has been better than expected, throwing for 1,577 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions on 61.1 percent passing. And running back Mike Davis has begun to get rolling, rushing for 551 yards and six scores on 103 carries.
However, the defense has struggled—the Gamecocks rank No. 93 in total defense (441.2 YPG) and No. 103 in points allowed (35.0 PPG).
With three losses already in the conference—and a road trip to No. 2 Auburn on the horizon—it’ll take complete chaos for South Carolina to be in the running for the SEC title.
Conclusion: Pretender
Ole Miss
6 of 14
The Rebels are hoping defense really does win championships.
Through five games, the team ranks No. 5 in total defense, allowing just 277.6 yards per game. More impressively, the team has only allowed two touchdowns on the ground and just one through the air while intercepting 10 passes.
Ole Miss won’t scare you with its offense, but quarterback Bo Wallace is more than efficient.
Through five games, the senior has thrown for 1,522 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions on 68.5 percent passing. But he saved his most impressive performance for last weekend, throwing for 251 yards and three touchdowns to help the Rebels upset Alabama.
Only time will tell if Ole Miss can keep it up. But with matchups against Texas A&M, Auburn and Mississippi State left, we’ll find out sooner than later.
Conclusion: Contender
Florida
7 of 14
The Gators may have felt like their luck was turning around after they rallied for an improbable 10-9 victory over Tennessee in Knoxville last weekend.
But just a couple of days after the victory, any hope all but faded away.
First, last weekend’s hero—backup quarterback Treon Harris—was suspended by the university after being accused of sexual assault. But if that wasn’t bad enough, two Florida players were involved in a fight with each other over a pair of cleats, per The Associated Press (h/t ESPN).
“You handle things in life, and you move forward,” Florida head coach Will Muschamp said, per the report. “That’s what we’re going to do.”
That’s a lot easier said than done with the way the Gators have performed this season. The offense has been stagnant, just barely topping 400 yards of offense per game and averaging 33.0 points per game.
Meanwhile, the defense—an area that was supposed to be a major strength—has started out slow. Florida ranks just No. 51 in total defense (370.0 YPG).
The next month could be a major hurdle for the team. Games against LSU, Missouri and Georgia make up the Gators’ next three opponents.
If Florida doesn’t beat up itself, the schedule certainly will.
Conclusion: Pretender
Texas A&M
8 of 14
The Aggies looked unstoppable until they traveled down to Starkville, Mississippi, last weekend.
After looking like Superman over the first five weeks, quarterback Kenny Hill looked more like Clark Kent. The sophomore still had an impressive stat line, throwing for 365 yards and four touchdowns, but he also tossed three interceptions and only completed 37 of 62 passes.
Against Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott, Texas A&M’s defense was burned for 559 yards. To make matters worse, the unit conceded one big play after another.
To the Aggies' defense, the team has been a lot better on that side of the ball, only allowing a little more than 20 points per game.
The team still has Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn and Missouri on the schedule, so it’s going to take some work to get through unscathed. But with an offense as high-powered as Texas A&M’s, you have to like its chances.
Conclusion: Contender
Kentucky
9 of 14
It took three overtimes for an opponent to top the Wildcats this season.
Through five games, the team is easily one of the biggest surprises in the conference. Quarterback Patrick Towles has played decently enough—throwing for 1,325 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions on 63.4 percent passing—and the team has combined to rush for 193.8 yards per game.
More impressively, Kentucky’s defense has come to play, ranking No. 43 in total defense (358.4 YPG) and No. 24 in points allowed (19.6 PPG).
Still, as talented as the Wildcats are, they’re still inexperienced when it comes to the big games. And from Oct. 18 onward, they play a stretch of six games—with four on the road—against quality opponents.
Kentucky is almost a lock for postseason play, but a run at the SEC title is still a couple of years away.
Conclusion: Pretender
Mississippi State
10 of 14
Over the last three weeks, the Bulldogs have become everybody’s darlings.
It all began when Mississippi State upset then-No. 8 LSU on the road in a prime-time contest. The Bulldogs followed that up with an absolute thumping of then-No. 6 Texas A&M at home last weekend.
Backed by those performances, they enter this weekend at No. 3 in the rankings. But just how good are they?
Quarterback Dak Prescott has made a case for Heisman Trophy consideration, throwing for 1,232 yards, 13 touchdowns and two interceptions on 63.9 percent passing. He’s also added another 455 yards and six scores on 85 carries.
But Prescott hasn’t done it alone, as running back Josh Robinson has also been a consistent producer, rushing for 592 yards and six touchdowns on 79 carries.
With No. 2 Auburn coming to town this weekend, we’ll get a good sense of whether Mississippi State is for real. But as of now, we’ll assume that the Bulldogs are.
Conclusion: Contender
Missouri
11 of 14
The Tigers have got to feel good after their victory over South Carolina on Sept. 27—the same team that ended their perfect record a year ago.
Still, this is a shell of the Missouri team that made an impressive run to the SEC title game a year ago.
Don’t be fooled by quarterback Maty Mauk’s ratio of 14 touchdowns to just four interceptions through five games. The sophomore has only completed 56 percent of his passes, including a performance to forget against the Gamecocks where he completed just 12 of 34 pass attempts for a raw QBR of 22.3.
Not only that, but several losses on defense have the Tigers limping on that side of the ball. That’s especially true in their run defense, where they’ve conceded nine touchdowns on the ground already.
While the 4-1 record looks nice now, Missouri’s toughest games are yet to come. And for a team that lost to Indiana at home, don’t look for its future matchups to come any easier.
Conclusion: Pretender
Alabama
12 of 14
The Crimson Tide were bound to hit a speed bump along the way.
After losing several starters from a year ago—including record-breaking quarterback A.J. McCarron—the team finally showed its vulnerability. In the first road game of the season, Alabama’s fresh faces looked nervous, falling to Ole Miss in Oxford, 23-17.
After a stretch of impressive performances, quarterback Blake Sims finally looked the part of a first-year starter, throwing for 228 yards and an interception on 19-of-31 passing. He’s now failed to throw a touchdown in both of the Tide’s contests away from Tuscaloosa.
Thankfully, all of the remaining three ranked opponents Alabama faces will be played at home. However, road trips to Tennessee and LSU could pose some difficulties.
Still, it would be foolish to underestimate a Nick Saban-coached squad.
Conclusion: Contender
LSU
13 of 14
The Tigers are in familiar territory.
Not even two weeks into October, the team is considered an afterthought in the SEC. That’s a far cry for a program that typically contends for the conference crown every year.
Last weekend’s matchup against then-No. 5 Auburn was considered a measuring stick. Following LSU’s 41-7 thumping, it’s safe to say that head coach Les Miles and his squad are clearly outmatched this season.
Although the Tigers boast another solid defensive unit, it’s been a much slower learning curve than expected for the offense. Quarterback Brandon Harris is just getting acquainted, and Leonard Fournette is still finding his footing.
Already with two losses in the SEC, don’t be surprised if LSU finishes with four or more as the team still has to play Ole Miss, Alabama, Teas A&M, Florida and Kentucky.
Conclusion: Pretender
Auburn
14 of 14
Last season’s BCS title runners-up look to be in peak form.
After a couple of sloppy performances over the first four weeks, the Tigers really flexed their muscle against LSU last weekend. Auburn knocked around Les Miles and Co. to the tune of 41-7.
The game showed the Tigers mean business.
Once again, the rushing attack leads the way, as the team has averaged 268.0 yards per game on the ground, ranking No. 15 in the nation. But the surprise performance comes from the defense, which ranks No. 14 in total defense (306.6 YPG) and No. 9 in scoring defense (14.4 PPG).
The road back won’t be easy, as Auburn travels to Starkville this weekend to take on No. 3 Mississippi State. Road games against Ole Miss, Georgia and Alabama also await.
Still, with a high-powered offense, the Tigers can hang around with anyone. Expect head coach Gus Malzahn to have his Tigers up for the challenge.
Conclusion: Contender
All stats, recruiting information and rankings used in this article are courtesy of CFBStats.com and 247Sports.
For complete coverage and everything college football, you can reach Sebastian on Twitter and via email at Sebastian.LenaBR@gmail.com.
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