Missouri to the SEC: Power Ranking the New SEC with Missouri, Texas A&M

Recent reports state that Missouri will join the SEC and there is no reason to doubt them. It looks like the conference has found its 14th member.

Assuming the Tigers join the conference for the 2012 season, how would the conference play out with these new additions?

This is an early power ranking of the SEC for the 2012 season.

14. Ole Miss

Nothing the Rebels are doing this year seems to be working and every year Houston Nutt has been coach, they’ve gotten worse.

It should be a rough year for Ole Miss.

13. Kentucky

Kentucky is just not good at football. They could be better than they are this year, but it’s still unlikely.

If Joker Phillips is still around after this season, he won’t be after next.

12. Mississippi State

This was supposed to be a special season for the Bulldogs, but they have failed miserably so far this season and had to replace their starting quarterback Chris Relf with Tyler Russell.

Dan Mullen will also probably be heading off to greener pastures sooner than later.

11. Vanderbilt

The Commodores nearly pulled off the upset against Georgia and they are showing visible signs of improvement under James Franklin.

But in the SEC, that is not good enough.

10. Missouri

Gary Pinkel won’t have an easy run in his first year in the SEC. He loses a boatload of talent on offense and most—if not all—of his defensive line.

The SEC is known for their dominating lines, so expect teams to run all over them. 

9. Texas A&M

This offense should be absolutely fantastic, so the questions are all on defense.

Their secondary has been getting shredded and they will lose their entire defensive line and some linebackers.

8. South Carolina

Alshon Jeffery will head off to the NFL but Marcus Lattimore will be returning. They will lose at least half of their defense to graduation, though.

With the rest of the SEC East improving, that won’t cut it.

7. Florida

The Gators have fallen flat this season, but another offseason should really help this team come together and learn the schemes.

The problem is that Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey will be graduating.

6. Arkansas

Nearly every single receiver will graduate at the end of this season, as will their best playmakers on defense, like Jake Bequette and Jerry Franklin.

If Knile Davis doesn’t make a full recovery or declares for the NFL Draft, their stock goes down. 

5. Tennessee

Progress is slowly coming at Tennessee, but injuries have sidelined a bunch of their players this season.

When they come back and the Vols get a better defense, this team could challenge for the title.

4. Alabama

Nick Saban is a fantastic coach, but there is no way he can just replace all of the amazing defensive talent that will be leaving at the end of this season.

It wouldn’t be surprising if they fall even further than this, but it also wouldn’t be surprising if they do the exact opposite. Alabama can reload with the best of them.

3. Georgia

There are only four seniors on the team this year and the Bulldogs are right back on the verge of being ranked again this season.

Imagine how could this team could be if everyone stays healthy.

2. Auburn

The Tigers are playing one of the lowest amounts of seniors in all of college football and have shown great resilience so far this season.

With Michael Dyer at running back, Auburn could have another special season.

1. LSU

LSU only have eight seniors in their starting lineup and they can reload with the best of them.

They get this ranking under the assumption that most of their secondary sticks around but they will at least have Tyrann Mathieu.