Grading Every SEC Football Team's Performance from First Half of 2014 Season
We’re only seven weeks through the college football season, and the SEC has already provided a season’s worth of close games, scintillating finishes and surprises.
Entering this weekend, two of the Top Three teams in the polls belong to the SEC, while five are included in the Top 10. Furthermore, the conference also boasts two of the top-five Heisman Trophy contenders—Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott and Georgia’s Todd Gurley.
In other words, the SEC is stealing the show once again.
But just how good has each team in the conference been?
In giving each team a grade, we looked at a number of factors. These ranged from strength of schedule, teams beat, teams lost to, performance in games completed and similar issues.
Join B/R as we take a closer look at all 14 SEC teams.
Vanderbilt
1 of 14
2014 Record: 2-5 (0-4)
The Skinny
Things almost went from bad to worse for the Commodores.
After losing five of their first six games, things were supposed to turn around last weekend against FCS foe Charleston Southern. Instead, Vanderbilt just barely escaped, holding on for a 21-20 victory.
As it stands, through seven games the Commodores haven’t been good at much of anything. The team ranks No. 125 in total offense (269.7 YPG) and No. 79 in total defense (415.9 YPG).
Expectations were lowered once James Franklin left for Penn State. But nobody expected things to be this bad.
Grade: F
South Carolina
2 of 14
2014 Record: 3-3 (2-3)
The Skinny
It’s hard to believe that these Gamecocks began the season ranked in the Top 10.
After an opening-week beatdown at the hands of Texas A&M, South Carolina appeared to turn things around by promptly knocking off then-No. 6 Georgia. However, that was followed up by struggles against lowly Vanderbilt and back-to-back defeats against Missouri and Kentucky.
The issues have been on both sides of the ball, as the Gamecocks rank No. 46 in passing offense and No. 62 in rushing offense while scoring just 34.2 points per game. Defensively, it’s been a disaster, as the team ranks No. 103 in scoring (35.0 PPG) and No. 94 in total defense (441.2 YPG).
Even in a weak East division, you can all but consider South Carolina out of the running.
Grade: D+
Missouri
3 of 14
2014 Record: 4-2 (1-1)
The Skinny
After having their best season in the SEC a year ago, the Tigers have sunk back down.
Other than a solid road victory over South Carolina, there’s been little to cheer about for Missouri. The team suffered a disappointing loss to Indiana and was shut out by Georgia last weekend—both were at home.
The offense isn’t clicking—No. 107 in total offense (357.8 YPG)—and the defense has struggled at times.
With just one Top 25 opponent left on the schedule, getting bowl eligible should be no problem for the Tigers. But that’s as optimistic as it gets for this team.
Grade: C-
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LSU
4 of 14
2014 Record: 5-2 (1-2)
The Skinny
After hearing that the SEC has six teams ranked in the Top 25, a common question from many fans would be: So, where does LSU rank?
Surprisingly, the Tigers are not one of those six teams.
Instead, LSU has had a bit of a rough start to the season. The team was embarrassed at home by Mississippi State and was absolutely pummeled by Auburn on the road. Just last weekend, the Tigers barely hung on against a Florida team that hasn’t lived up to expectations.
The defense isn’t the issue. It’s the offense.
Through seven games, LSU ranks just No. 65 in total offense (414.1 YPG). More surprisingly, the team hasn’t been able to run the ball as successfully as it would have liked.
There’s still a lot of season left, but with two SEC losses already, the Tigers are facing an uphill road.
Grade: C
Tennessee
5 of 14
2014 Record: 3-3 (0-2)
The Skinny
Year two of the Butch Jones era in Tennessee hasn’t gone as smoothly as the Vols had hoped. But there has been vast improvement.
Although the team lost all three of its only games against quality opponents, Tennessee showed a lot of fight. The team kept it close with Oklahoma until the second half and lost to SEC foes Georgia and Florida by a combined four points.
Furthermore, quarterback Justin Worley has played a lot better than expected. Through six games, he’s thrown for 1,388 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions on 63.3 percent passing.
With games against Ole Miss and Alabama up next, the Vols have an opportunity to secure another signature win for Jones.
Grade: C+
Florida
6 of 14
2014 Record: 3-2 (2-2)
The Skinny
The offense is as bad as those around Gainesville expected. Maybe worse.
Through five games, the Gators rank No. 89 in total offense (385.0 YPG) and only manage 31.8 points per game. Quarterback Jeff Driskel has been worse than we remembered, throwing for 878 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions on 54.9 percent passing.
However, what wasn’t expected was Florida’s poor play on defense.
This was a unit that had a great shot at becoming the No. 1 defense in the country. Instead, the Gators rank No. 40 in total defense (357.0 YPG) and have conceded 22.2 points per game.
Although the team is certainly better than last year, it has fallen short of its potential thus far.
Grade: C
Arkansas
7 of 14
2014 Record: 3-3 (0-3)
The Skinny
Don’t be fooled by the record—the Razorbacks would be a tough opponent for any team in the country.
All three of the team’s losses have come against Top 10-ranked opponents. More impressively, Arkansas has hung around in all of those games, tying Auburn at halftime, losing to Texas A&M in overtime and dropping to Alabama by a single point.
A lot of that thanks belongs to a rushing attack that ranks No. 11 in the nation (278.7 YPG), led by Alex Collins (92 CAR, 634 YDS, 6 TDS) and Jonathan Williams (86 CAR, 569 YDS, 9 TD). The Razorbacks have also been better than expected on defense, allowing just 23.8 points per game.
No, the schedule doesn’t get any easier—three more Top 10 opponents await—but Arkansas appears poised to make a trip back to a bowl game this season.
Grade: B-
Alabama
8 of 14
2014 Record: 5-1 (2-1)
The Skinny
It took a fourth-quarter touchdown to help the Crimson Tide avoid losing back-to-back regular season games for the first time in quite awhile.
That’s been the kind of season Alabama has had. The team looked great during a 42-21 romp of Florida but has seemed to struggle when playing away from home.
After losing in Oxford to Ole Miss 23-17, the Tide barely topped Arkansas, 14-13. The team’s offense has struggled to find its footing on the road, as quarterback Blake Sims has tossed just two touchdown passes and two of his three interceptions away from Tuscaloosa.
Given Alabama’s losses over the offseason, this was supposed to be a rebuilding season. But fans aren't buying it, which didn't sit well with head coach Nick Saban.
According to B/R's Barrett Sallee, that could be a good thing for the Tide.
Fortunately, the team’s three remaining matchups against ranked opponents all come at home.
Grade: B-
Texas A&M
9 of 14
2014 Record: 5-2 (2-2)
The Skinny
The season began with such high hopes, as the Aggies raced out to a 5-0 start.
However, the state of Mississippi had something to say about that. Texas A&M dropped its next two games against Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
Still, it's hard to knock Texas A&M for its accomplishments this season. That’s especially true on offense, where the team ranks No. 3 in passing (396.0 YPG) and No. 6 in scoring (43.9 PPG).
Quarterback Kenny Hill has calmed the worries of Johnny Manziel’s departure to the NFL, throwing for 2,511 yards, 23 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 66.8 percent passing. That includes throwing three or more touchdowns in all but two games this season.
The Aggies have some kinks to work out on the defensive side of the ball. Still, this is a team that has an outside shot of making the SEC West race a little more interesting.
Grade: B
Auburn
10 of 14
2014 Record: 5-1 (2-1)
The Skinny
After a sluggish start over the first three weeks, the Tigers appeared to be back on the right track. That was emphasized by a 41-7 shellacking of LSU on Oct. 4.
However, a trip to Starkville, Miss., delivered a major blow to Auburn’s bid to repeat as SEC champion.
Mississippi State raced out to a 21-0 lead before finally tossing the BCS title runners-up aside with ease (38-23) last weekend. It was a game that exposed some of the Tigers' major flaws—turnovers and a surprisingly generous defense at times.
Quarterback Nick Marshall threw two of his three interceptions against the Bulldogs. Although he has 10 touchdowns to his name, the senior is only converting 55.4 percent of his passes—lower than last season’s mark of 59.4 percent.
With road games at Ole Miss, Georgia and Alabama still on tap, Auburn will have to turn it around fast.
Grade: B
Georgia
11 of 14
2014 Record: 5-1 (3-1)
The Skinny
A Week 3 loss to South Carolina is the only blemish on the Bulldogs' season thus far.
Through six weeks, the team has been impressive on both sides of the ball. Although the passing attack could use work—No. 112 in the nation—the No. 12-ranked rushing attack has helped Georgia rank No. 8 in scoring (43.2 PPG).
But the biggest improvement comes defensively, where the Bulldogs rank No. 11 in total defense (303.7 YPG). Furthermore, the unit has only conceded 18.0 points per game.
The only thing stopping this team from rising to national-title contender is the debacle surrounding Todd Gurley. According to ESPN, the junior standout running back is expected to miss the game against Arkansas as well, with no word on his return.
B/R's Andrew Hall also notes that the loss to South Carolina could be costly:
"As great as the 5-1 start is, the loss to South Carolina is a black eye that darkens with every South Carolina loss. To be sure, the Bulldogs’ rivalry with the Gamecocks is now one that transcends typical analysis. Either team could win this game any year, regardless of record. But the national perception is that Georgia lost to a mediocre foe given South Carolina’s 3-3 overall record and 2-3 mark in conference play.
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With just one currently ranked opponent (vs. Auburn on Nov. 15) standing in its way, don’t be surprised if Georgia finds itself with an easy road to the SEC title game.
Grade: A-
Kentucky
12 of 14
2014 Record: 5-1 (2-1)
The Skinny
The Wildcats are easily one of the biggest surprises in the SEC.
In just his second year at the helm, head coach Mark Stoops has undergone major changes. Kentucky has a solid offense, led by quarterback Patrick Towles (62.5 CMP%, 1,541 YDS, 10 TDS, 4 INT), averaging 36.5 points per game.
Defensively is where the Wildcats have greatly improved. The unit ranks No. 32 in total defense (342.7 YPG) while conceding just 18.7 points per game.
Given that Kentucky’s only quality win was against a struggling South Carolina squad, the jury is still out on just how good this team is. A four-game stretch that includes Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State and Missouri should tell us all we need to know over the next month.
Still, it’s hard not to be impressed by the Wildcats’ start.
Grade: A-
Ole Miss
13 of 14
2014 Record: 6-0 (3-0)
The Skinny
The Rebels are out to prove that defense really does win championships.
Through six games, the unit has been one of the nation’s best. Ole Miss ranks No. 13 in total defense (307.2 YPG), No. 21 in pass defense (113.3 YPG), No. 22 in rush defense (193.8 YPG) and No. 2 in scoring (11.8 PPG).
But if that wasn’t enough, quarterback Bo Wallace has come to play this season as well.
The senior has thrown for 1,700 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions on 68.5 percent passing. He’s also rushed for an additional 89 yards and two scores.
Back-to-back victories over Alabama and Texas A&M have secured the Rebels’ title of contender. However, their work is not done, with Auburn, LSU and Mississippi State still on the schedule.
Thus far, though, this season couldn’t have begun any better.
Grade: A+
Mississippi State
14 of 14
2014 Record: 6-0 (3-0)
The Skinny
Over a month ago, the Bulldogs weren’t ranked. Now, the team enters the week as the newly christened top-ranked squad in the country.
That goes to show you the weight of playing in the SEC.
Following last weekend’s pummeling of Auburn, Mississippi State has now beaten three consecutive Top 10 opponents. Even more impressive is that the team topped two of those opponents by 15 points or more.
Through six games, quarterback Dak Prescott has made a serious case for the Heisman Trophy. The junior has thrown for 1,478 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions while adding another 576 yards and eight scores on the ground.
Throw in a defense that is holding opponents to just 20 points per game, and it’s tough to beat the Bulldogs on any given day.
What initially started out as a feel-good story is quickly turning into something much more.
Grade: A+
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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