College Football Predictions 2011: Who'll Rule SEC Power Rankings Next Season?
Just in case anyone forgot, allow me to reiterate that the SEC still rules the roost in college football.
Thanks to Auburn's thrilling 22-19 triumph over Oregon to end the season, the champion of the Southeastern Conference has also claimed the BCS national championship in each of the last five years.
Granted, the conference posted an overall bowl record of just 5-4, but the mere fact that it sent nine representatives to the postseason out of a total of 12 speaks volumes in and of itself.
But now that the 2010-2011 season is over, and with National Signing Day just around the corner, it's time to turn our attention to the fall, when fans across the South will once again file into stadiums by tens—if not hundreds—of thousands every Saturday to root on their favorite teams, with the hope that the one they root for will be the next "SEC Idol."
As topsy-turvy as the conference was in 2010, the standings could shift even more dramatically in 2011, with significant senior classes signing off and jubilant juniors jumping to the NFL.
So who will rise to the top of the SEC in the fall, and who will settle toward the bottom?
Read on to find out!
12. Vanderbilt Commodores
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Occupying the cellar of the SEC has become something of an annual ritual for the Vanderbilt football team.
Following a forgettable 2-10 season, including a 1-7 record in the SEC, the Vandy administration decided to fire first-year head coach Robbie Caldwell and replace him with James Franklin, who had previously been the offensive coordinator and head-coach-in-waiting at Maryland.
Luckily for Franklin, the 'Dores would seem to have a relatively experienced group returning, including quarterback Larry Smith and running back Warren Norman, and only 10 seniors departing.
Unfortunately, most of those returning were a part of the aforementioned 2-10 debacle in 2010, which means, then, that Franklin has some serious work to do down in Nashville to get the program pointed in the right direction.
He'll need more than just "Dynamite!" to do the job.
11. Kentucky Wildcats
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While Vandy tends to be associated more with academics, Kentucky is known far and wide as a basketball powerhouse.
Note that neither school is heralded much for football.
The Wildcats were somewhat successful in Joker Phillips' first season at the helm, finishing the regular season with a 6-6 record before getting rolled by Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl, 27-10.
Even without dates against the likes of Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn and South Carolina, the 2011 SEC schedule may be a tougher nut to crack for UK, as the 'Cats will have to replace Mike Hartline at quarterback and Derrick Locke behind him in the backfield, not to mention star wideout Randall Cobb.
Factor in losses along the offensive and defensive fronts, along with a less than sterling 2-6 mark in conference last season, and football in Lexington may be more "Mild" than "Wild" this fall.
10. Ole Miss Rebels
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After back-to-back 9-4 seasons and the departure of quarterback Jevan Snead, the Ole Miss football team was due for a tumble, to say the least.
Head coach Houston Nutt attempted to stave off mediocrity in Oxford by bringing in former Oregon Ducks signal caller Jeremiah Masoli to take snaps under center, but the stopgap didn't prove to be much of a solution, as the Rebels took an absolute beating in the SEC.
Now, with the reins of the team handed off to junior-to-be Nathan Stanley, Mississippi will once again have to brave its way through the conference's West division against the likes of Auburn, Alabama, LSU and in-state rival Mississippi State.
While an improvement (if only a slight one) on the team's 1-7 record in conference is not at all out of the question, a jump in the standings might be a bit harder to come by.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
9. Georgia Bulldogs
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Despite a career record of 96-34 and a claim as the longest-tenured coach in the SEC, Mark Richt finds himself firmly planted on the hot seat headed into the 2011 season.
His Georgia Bulldogs had a highly underwhelming season in 2010, going 6-6 before losing to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl, 10-6.
By the looks of things, the situation may not improve much this fall. Richt and his staff will have to basically revamp the team's defensive front seven, especially with the early departure of star linebacker Justin Houston to the NFL.
Quarterback Aaron Murray should improve in his second year under center, especially with Washaun Ealey and Caleb King handling much of the load in the backfield, though the loss of All-Everything wide receiver A.J. Green certainly doesn't help.
Playing in the SEC is never a cakewalk, but the Dawgs' draw is relatively favorable, which should allow them just enough wiggle room to sneak back into the postseason.
Whether that alone is enough to save Richt's job is an entirely different story.
8. Tennessee Volunteers
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Should the folks upstairs in Athens decide to show Mark Richt the door, they may very well turn their attention to Knoxville to court Derek Dooley.
Dooley, of course, is the son of Georgia football legend Vince Dooley and, as such, is both quite familiar with the program and has a name that has plenty of reverence attached to it, at least within the state of Georgia.
In the meantime, Dooley will do his best to continue Tennessee's ascent from the depths of Lane Kiffin-induced despair in 2011.
The Volunteers should be somewhat improved from the 6-7 team they fielded in 2010, assuming quarterback Tyler Bray builds on the fabulous finish to his freshman season and running back Tauren Poole continues to carry the load as he did last year.
That being said, this upcoming season could be a Rocky Top, indeed, with a schedule that includes dates against the class of the SEC West—LSU, Alabama and Arkansas.
As such, whatever improvement Dooley gets from his players might not exactly translate into more wins just yet.
7. Auburn Tigers
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Enjoy the glow of the BCS national championship while it lasts, Auburn fans, because next season's edition of "War Eagle" isn't likely to be anywhere near as jubilant as the one put forth in 2010.
The early departures of Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton and defensive menace Nick Fairley aside, Gene Chizik and his brain trust will have to come up with a way to offset the loss of practically the entire offensive line amidst a group of 22 graduating seniors.
Not that the Tigers' stable will be completely empty. Chizik has done well on the recruiting trail in his two years at Auburn and has a top 10 class headed his way in the fall.
That being said, those kids would be hard pressed to fill enough holes to help the team overcome road dates against LSU, Arkansas and South Carolina.
All in all, don't hold your breath if you think Auburn is even going to sniff the BCS in 2011.
6. Florida Gators
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Year One A.T. (after Tebow) may have been a bit rough in the Swamp, but Florida doesn't figure to be stuck in the muck for much longer.
With Urban Meyer now well into the rearview, Will Muschamp's Gators will be able to move forward with a roster loaded with NFL-caliber talent, especially with the return of safety Janoris Jenkins.
Having Charlie Weis on board to direct the offense should prove to be helpful as well, as he'll have plenty of speed, in the persons of Chris Rainey and Deonte Thompson, to play around with while figuring out who, between John Brantley, Jordan Reed and Trey Burton, will be the full-time guy at quarterback.
As well, despite the team's well-documented struggles in 2010, Florida still managed to finish only a game behind South Carolina for the SEC East crown. In other words, a quick turnaround would seem to be in order in Gainesville.
5. Mississippi State Bulldogs
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Meanwhile, as the Gators look to rebound in 2011, former Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen will look to keep the good times rolling in Starkville.
Mississippi State had something of a miraculous season in 2010, going 9-4 in Mullen's second season at the helm, and it would appear as though the Bulldogs have even more in store for this season.
The losses of Derek Sherrod and Pernell McPhee will undoubtedly hurt, but the team will still have hulking dual-threat quarterback Chris Relf and running back Vick Ballard to lean on.
Though the SEC West should be rather beastly once again this fall, the Bulldogs look well-equipped to weather the storm and inch their way up the conference standings, if ever so slightly.
4. Arkansas Razorbacks
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So what exactly are we to make of the Arkansas Razorbacks?
Bobby Petrino led his team to the Sugar Bowl in just his third season in Fayetteville, though the 'Backs fell to Ohio State, 31-26, and will be without strong-armed quarterback Ryan Mallett.
But never fear, Arkansas fans! If Tyler Wilson turns out to be half the stud at quarterback that he's purported to be, Petrino's offense should be just fine, especially with a loaded corps of skill players that includes the likes of Greg Childs and Knile Davis.
As is the case with MSU, the Razorbacks will have to brave their way through the SEC West, but they appear to be at least adequately equipped to hold their own amidst the melee.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
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No Mark Ingram, no Marcell Dareus, no Greg McElroy, no Julio Jones?
Okay, so maybe there are some problems in store for Nick Saban and his staff as they attempt to replace cornerstones of the Alabama football program this fall.
Okay, and the Crimson Tide will have to contend with the hairiness of the SEC West.
That being the case, the cupboard isn't exactly bare in Tuscaloosa, with 'Bama boasting an experienced offensive line and stars like Dont'a Hightower and Mark Barron to anchor the defense.
Additionally, it's not as though Saban stopped recruiting after winning the BCS national championship. The Tide have yet another top 10 class wrangled to join the program in the fall.
Hence, the Tide should continue to roll in 2011, early departures or no.
2. South Carolina Gamecocks
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Cock n' Fire, everybody, because this just might be South Carolina's year.
Steve Spurrier's squad had a good run in 2010, winning the SEC East, albeit in a down year, on the way to a 9-5 finish.
However, folks in Columbia have long been looking towards 2011 as the year the Gamecocks finally break through and win the SEC outright.
Granted, USC's season ended with two pretty bad losses—a 56-17 trouncing at the hands of Auburn in the SEC title game and a 26-17 defeat to Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
That being said, if the quarterback battle between Stephen Garcia and Connor Shaw shakes out well, the 'Cocks will have a capable signal caller to pair with sensational skill guys Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery on the way to perhaps a second consecutive division title, and possibly even more.
1. LSU Tigers
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Now that Les Miles is officially staying put in Baton Rouge, it looks as though LSU will be the favorite to come out on top in the SEC.
The Bayou Bengals return 18 starters—10 on offense, eight on defense—from an 11-2 team that ended its most recent season with a win in the Cotton Bowl.
Sure, losing the likes of Patrick Peterson and Drake Nevis doesn't necessarily bode well for LSU's defense, but the coaching staff should still have plenty of talent to work with.
In addition, if the offense improves at all, whether it be with Jordan Jefferson or JC transfer Zach Mettenberger under center, the Tigers could be scary good in 2011 after hanging around the national championship conversation for much of the 2010 season.
Which, essentially, means that Miles will be bringing yet another crystal football back to the Bayou come January 2012.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
