Bold Predictions for SEC Football in 2016
It's January, and there's still a tiny little thing called the College Football Playoff National Championship left to play.
But it's never too early to talk about 2016, right?
Next season should be wildly intriguing, with three SEC head coaches—LSU's Les Miles, Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin and Auburn's Gus Malzahn—all likely coaching for their jobs, the SEC East boasting three new head coaches and a massive quarterback problem that has plagued the conference for several years.
Let's go on the record with bold predictions for the 2016 season based on team trajectory and talent.
Les Miles Will Be Fired Midseason
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The definition of insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
LSU head coach Les Miles appears to be doing just that.
He was on the verge of being let go following the 2015 season after his team stumbled down the stretch. Despite having the best player in college football in running back Leonard Fournette, the Tigers were unable to get anything going in the passing game for the second straight season, quarterback Brandon Harris finished with a completion percentage of just 53.6, and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron—the highest-paid offensive coordinator in college football—produced a unit that can only be described as "average at best."
As a reward, Cameron—whose contract is up—appears to be on the verge of a new deal from Miles, according to Ross Dellenger of the Advocate.
This won't end well.
With games versus Wisconsin, Mississippi State and Auburn in the month of September, Miles' reluctance to address LSU's major problem and frustration already permeating the program, he will be out sometime in the middle of the season after the Tigers underachieve...again.
Tennessee QB Joshua Dobbs Will Be a Heisman Trophy Finalist
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Even though Alabama running back Derrick Henry took it home last year, let's be honest about what the Heisman Trophy really is. It's still an award that favors quarterbacks, especially quarterbacks who put up video game numbers on teams that are in the mix for playoff berths.
That bodes well for Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs.
He accounted for 26 touchdowns in last year's 9-4 campaign (15 pass, 11 rush), only tossed five picks, earned more confidence from head coach Butch Jones in the passing game as the season went on and is playing in a division that's littered with question marks.
Dobbs will score 35 touchdowns in 2016, lead his program to its first SEC Championship Game since 2007 and get an invitation to New York City the following week as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
Bo Scarbrough Will Be One of the SEC's Best RBs
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LSU running back Leonard Fournette will be back, and barring injury, he will be one of the best running backs in the SEC. The same goes for Georgia's Nick Chubb, who should be back to 100 percent after the knee injury that ended his season in October 2015.
Those two need to make room for Bo Scarbrough, though, because the rising sophomore for Alabama might be the next big thing at running back in the SEC, assuming current star Derrick Henry moves on to the NFL.
At 6'2", 240 pounds, Scarbrough is as close to a replica of the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner as there is in Tuscaloosa. He only has 18 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown this year after tearing his ACL during the offseason, but he should receive every opportunity to take the top spot on the depth chart in 2016.
He will have to deal with other contenders, including rising sophomore Damien Harris. But Scarbrough will win the job, become a true No. 1 just like Henry and land on the All-SEC second team.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Jacob Eason Will Be Georgia's Starting QB from Day 1
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New Georgia head coach Kirby Smart will have current starting quarterback Greyson Lambert and quarterback/punter Brice Ramsey back in 2016, but all eyes will be on 5-star early enrollee Jacob Eason when toe meets leather at the Georgia Dome versus North Carolina.
He'll be on the field, not the sideline.
The 6'5", 208-pounder is the future of the program, and he will get the "Josh Rosen" treatment from Smart and win the starting job in fall camp.
Does that mean he will be a star? Not necessarily. As a true freshman, he'll have to become comfortable with the speed of the game, adjust to his new teammates and learn on the fly. That will lead to some struggles early, but it will pay off in the long run when he gets acquainted with the new staff.
Trevor Knight Will Not Only Be Texas A&M's Starting QB, He'll Be Good
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If you watched Oklahoma's game versus TCU this year, you probably weren't impressed with quarterback Trevor Knight. He completed just five of 16 passes that night in place of an injured Baker Mayfield, tossed a pick and was a big reason the Horned Frogs got back into the game after digging a massive early hole.
That was a tough spot for him to be in, though. A full offseason at his new program, Texas A&M, will help him get back to the quarterback he was when he tossed four touchdowns versus Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl following the 2013 season.
Is he going to light it up consistently?
No. But a coordinator change at Texas A&M coupled with Knight's familiarity with the biggest stages in the game will transform the quarterback position in College Station from a question mark to a place of stability for the first time since the Johnny Manziel era.
Ole Miss vs. Alabama Will Decide the SEC West
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Ole Miss boasts a two-game winning streak over two-time SEC champion Alabama, and the third time could be the charm.
The Rebels have never won the SEC West but have improved every year under head coach Hugh Freeze, blew Oklahoma State out in the program's first Sugar Bowl since 1970 and still have a fantastic core returning despite the early departures of stars such as defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Laquon Treadwell.
Quarterback Chad Kelly had the SEC's third-best season in terms of total offense all-time with 4,542 total yards. Wide receivers Quincy Adeboyejo and Damore'ea Stringfellow will be joined by talented youngsters like Van Jefferson and Damarkus Lodge, and the defense looked just fine against the potent Cowboys offense.
If we've learned anything over the last few years, it's that Alabama is immune to rebuilding years. The Crimson Tide will be just fine in 2016 with guys like Calvin Ridley, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Marlon Humphrey, Cam Robinson and ArDarius Stewart all coming back.
The showdown between the two on Sept. 17 in Oxford will decide the SEC West, and it could be a College Football Playoff elimination game.
Florida's Starting QB Will Be Luke Del Rio
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It became clear down the stretch in 2015 that sophomore quarterback Treon Harris isn't cut out for the full-time job in Florida head coach Jim McElwain's offense.
Could former Purdue quarterback Austin Appleby, who announced his transfer to the program this week, per the Associated Press via ESPN.com, be the future?
Nope. It's going to be another transfer—former Alabama and Oregon State quarterback Luke Del Rio.
The 6'1", 216-pounder former participant in the Elite 11 camp sat out last year after transferring and has already made quite an impression on McElwain, according to Landon Watnick of InsideTheGators.com:
"Jim McElwain's full quote from today on #Gators QB Luke Del Rio, who should be in the mix next season pic.twitter.com/hticVgAXj0
— Landon Watnick (@LandonWatnick) December 21, 2015"
He will win the job out of fall camp and provide much-needed stability to a position that has been unstable in Gainesville ever since Tim Tebow left following the 2009 season.
Butch Jones Will Be SEC Coach of the Year
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Butch Jones went from 5-7 in his first season at Tennessee in 2013 to 7-6 in 2014 and 9-4 in 2015.
The logical next step for the Vols is to win the SEC East, which they will do in 2016 and earn Jones SEC Coach of the Year honors in the process.
The Vols return one of the most feared backfields in the game, with Alvin Kamara and Jalen Hurd lining up behind dual-threat quarterback Joshua Dobbs. The offensive line returns four starters, the defense that finished tops in the conference in third downs is loaded with stars, and the Vols get Alabama and Florida at home.
Everything is setting up for Tennessee to return to glory, and the lessons Jones learned this year will help it reach that point. He won't coach scared like he did for the first half of the season; the veterans will learn how to close, and the Vols will prevail in a division that's loaded with questions.
The return to the Georgia Dome will earn Jones highest recognition possible from the SEC.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Statistics are courtesy of cfbstats.com, and recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and national college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM 83. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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