The SEC’s 2014 season is officially on the record books, and it was yet another thrilling year that spawned incredible storylines and saw unexpectedly talented players emerge. It is also the second year in a row that no SEC venue will win the national championship, and college football is actively portraying its cyclical nature.
One SEC coach was fired (Will Muschamp), and several assistant coaches are still riding the coaching carousel. The SEC West flexed its regular season muscles, but sputtered during the bowl games, aside from Arkansas and Texas A&M. In stark contrast, the SEC East rebounded during the postseason to go 5-0 in the bowl games after looking, for the most part, embarrassingly weak during the regular season.
NO BOWL FOR YOU
14. Vanderbilt Commodores (3-9)
13. Kentucky Wildcats (5-7)
Vanderbilt and Kentucky bring up the rear of the final SEC power rankings. The pair were the only SEC teams to miss out on bowl games in the 2014 season. Derek Mason is cooking up a much different looking staff at Vanderbilt for 2015, and Kentucky strives to return to bowl action next year as well. The Wildcats are in a much better position to accomplish what the Commodores did under the leadership of James Franklin.
SEC EASTERN TRIO OF 7's
12. South Carolina Gamecocks (7-6)
11. Florida Gators (7-5)
10. Tennessee Volunteers (7-6)
South Carolina had a roller coaster of a regular season, but the Gamecocks finished on a high note with a win over the Hurricanes of Miami in the Duck Commander Independence Bowl. Carolina is reconstructing its club, but the biggest item on the Head Ball Coach's to-do-list is finding a quarterback. A Will Muschamp-less Florida won its bowl game over the Pirates of Eastern Carolina, and the Gators’ defense made stout plays to close it out. Now that the Jim McElwain era is underway in full swing, he’s putting together a seasoned staff.
Coach Mac will, however, have his hands full with restoring Florida's offense to its former glory in 2015, because Tennessee appears to be one of the country’s hottest teams. The Volunteers finished strong down the finishing stretch and clobbered Iowa, and they are laying a brick wall of a defensive line with top prospects pledging well in advance of National Signing Day. Is Tennessee the favorite to win the SEC East in 2015? Neyland Stadium may have good fortune coming its way.
MIDDLINGS
9. Texas A&M Aggies (8-5)
8. Arkansas Razorbacks (7-6)
7. LSU Tigers (8-5)
Texas A&M upturned a disappointing finish to the 2014 regular season by beating West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl. A bright future may well be ahead with Kyle Allen at the wheel, and with John Chavis taking the defensive coaching reins, the Aggies are no doubt already stoked for 2015. Arkansas won a seemingly mediocre number of seven games this season, but the Hogs were much better than they seem on paper. Bret Bielema is building up a big-time program, but and Arkansas fans will have to be encouraged as well as patient.
A couple of recruiting classes into the future and the Hogs will definitely be in the hunt for the SEC West division title. LSU has an interesting off-season ahead. John Chavis, who has been the backbone of the incredible defense, is gone, and the Tigers have big question marks at quarterback entering spring practice. Developing Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris will keep both Les Miles and Cam Cameron busy, but this roster is loaded with talent, which they will need all they can muster with a road game at Williams-Brice ahead.
SEC WEST PAIR:
6. Ole Miss Rebels (9-4)
5. Auburn Tigers (8-5)
Ole Miss’ loss to TCU will no doubt make them the butt of many jokes this off-season, but the Rebels unarguably had a nice season. Questions are flying regarding Hugh Freeze and whether he can win a championship at Ole Miss and who his quarterback will be. Still, Mississippi will undoubtedly have one of college football’s most talented rosters in 2015.
Auburn was one of college football’s most disappointing teams in 2014, and the offense seemed to never fire on all cylinders or find consistency, while the defense struggled throughout, none more so than in October, when they barely managed to defend their home turf from a mediocre South Carolina team with nothing to lose. The offense will need a total makeover next season with different players, and the harvest is great for Will Muschamp, for he has much work to do transforming his defensive unit. However, expect the Tigers to reload in 2015.
DOUBLE-DIGIT WIN THREESOME
4. Mississippi State Bulldogs (10-3)
3. Missouri Tigers (11-3)
2. Georgia Bulldogs (10-3)
Mississippi State had a disappointing season ending loss dealt by Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl, but don’t let that overshadow an impressive season. With so many veterans gone in 2015, it’s only common sense to think the Bulldogs will take a slight step back, not unlike South Carolina this past year. We'll have to wait and look to see what Dak Prescott decides to do first. Missouri has won 23 games in two seasons. That’s quite boast-worthy. Not only that, but the Tigers are also back-to-back SEC East Champions, but still searching for that elusive SEC Championship.
Key pieces have to be replaced in 2015, but don’t think the Tigers are going anywhere. Georgia has some guy named Nick Chubb who announced his presence in 2014 in a boisterous way. The Bulldogs lost the two games everyone thought they couldn’t — vs. Florida and South Carolina, and it ruined yet another division crown opportunity. Through all the smoke and coaching changes, Georgia will most likely be a power once again in 2015. UGA does have a big question mark at quarterback.
SEC’S TOP DOG (OR TIDE...)
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (12-2)
SEC Champion Alabama was the conference’s undisputed best team this past season, but the Crimson Tide ultimately rolled short of their goal in the College Football Playoff. Replacing Blake Sims and Amari Cooper will be no easy feat, but the Tide will be loaded with talent once more in 2015, and the model program will almost certainly take another shot at the champion's throne next season.