SEC post-spring power rankings: Georgia fends Texas off for No. 1 spot, Alabama lands outside top three

1 To be sincere, Georgia and Texas had been in a heated race for the No. 1 spot. The Bulldogs get the sting given Kirby Smart’s SEC observe document, the truth that Carson Beck seems just like the convention’s greatest beginning quarterback and extra consistency on protection. Speaking of protection, count on that unit to look just like the one which completely thrashed opponents in 2021. Georgia is laden with veterans on either side of the ball, and something in need of an SEC Championship Game look for this squad could be downright stunning.  2 If Georgia’s explainer wasn’t sufficient of a touch, we anticipate that Texas will acclimate nicely to its new digs. Steve Sarkisian has steadily constructed this roster right into a powerhouse, and after a breakthrough run to the College Football Playoff final yr, the bar is greater for this program than it has been since Colt McCoy was working the offense. Quinn Ewers has gotten higher in annually as a beginning quarterback. He’s bought a load of expertise to work with on the offense, although a lot of it’s comprised of transfers or former blue-chip prospects with little collegiate expertise. The protection has some key areas to switch, notably each inside line of defense spots and each beginning boundary cornerbacks, however there’s purpose to imagine serviceable choices will emerge.  3 Is this the yr Ole Miss lastly breaks by means of? The Rebels have actually flirted with SEC glory all through Lane Kiffin’s tenure, although Alabama has constantly served as a significant barrier. Ole Miss can lastly step out from behind Alabama’s shadow now that divisions are a factor of the previous and the Crimson Tide are nowhere to be seen on the 2024 schedule. In truth, Ole Miss’ 2024 slate is so favorable that Kiffin completely loaded up on veteran switch expertise along with his eyes on a deep run to the expanded College Football Playoff. Those newcomers, who may nearly comprise a wholly recent crew on their very own, must jell in an precise sport setting, however there’s loads there to work with right here.  4 If you haven’t heard, issues are fairly completely different round Tuscaloosa. Nick Saban determined to hold it up after an illustrious 17 years at Alabama, making means for former Washington boss Kalen DeBoer. He inherits an amazing roster that regardless of a handful of key switch losses nonetheless has the makings of an SEC competitor. DeBoer additionally has a knack for getting the perfect out of his gamers, significantly quarterbacks, so Jalen Milroe is in line for an enormous yr given his super bodily traits.  5 This is Missouri’s yr to make some severe noise. The Tigers will solely profit from the Brady Cook-Luther Burden connection for so lengthy. The former may work his means into the primary spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft, whereas the latter will nearly actually be a top-15 choose. Mizzou does instantly have to switch 5 defenders that had been chosen within the 2024 draft. Fresh additions like five-star freshman defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri should come alongside rapidly to plug the gaps on that facet of the ball.  6 It’s Nico time in Tennessee. After sitting behind Joe Milton for a majority of his freshman season and profitable Citrus Bowl Bowl MVP honors in his first profession begin, Nico Iamaleava is gliding into the 2024 season as Tennessee’s unquestioned starter at quarterback. An skilled offensive line that returns three starters, a backfield paced by Dylan Sampson and a large receiver corps that includes six gamers with at the least three years of collegiate expertise will assist him overcome any early rising pains. Keep a watch on Tennessee’s protection; it’s quietly gotten higher yearly underneath Josh Heupel. With a deep rotation alongside the road and an edge rusher like James Pearce Jr. wreaking havoc in opposing backfields, this group would possibly take its largest leap but.   7 Replacing a Heisman Trophy winner is difficult. Replacing a Heisman Trophy winner with a man that has only one begin in three years at LSU would usually trigger some consternation. But, man, it’s actually onerous to not be enthusiastic about Garrett Nussmeier. Through the few tantalizing glimpses we’ve gotten of him since he signed with the Tigers in 2021, Nussmeier appears to have all the instruments to succeed at this stage. He has a fantastic body, poise, immense arm energy and accuracy at each stage. Nussmeier love apart, LSU’s ceiling is considerably lowered by a protection that continuously let it down final season and faces some main questions forward of the 2024 season.  8 There are two main causes for concern as Oklahoma transitions into the SEC: It might be breaking in a model new beginning quarterback in sophomore Jackson Arnold, and it has to switch 5 offensive linemen with beginning expertise. While the Sooners have carried out nicely addressing their OL wants by way of the portal, fielding a wholly new unit whereas transferring to a league just like the SEC actually isn’t preferrred. Having Arnold take his first constant snaps — outside of a bowl sport — behind that line actually complicates issues. On the opposite facet of the ball, Oklahoma might need one of many SEC’s deepest defensive items, so Arnold shouldn’t be tasked with digging the Sooners out of too many holes.  9 For a 3rd straight season, Kentucky enters the yr with a former switch at quarterback. Is Brock Vandagriff the one which lastly hits the subsequent stage? He doesn’t arrive to Lexington with as a lot expertise as his predecessors, however he does appear tailored for Kentucky’s pro-style offensive scheme. Well, at the least the scheme we’ve come to count on from Kentucky lately as new offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan is certain to introduce a few of his personal wrinkles. Vandagriff could have his selection of weapons with main receiver Dane Key again and wideout Barion Brown lining as much as unfold the sector alongside him.  10 Mike Elko was a wonderful selection for Texas A&M after a whirlwind search to switch Jimbo Fisher. In his very first yr as a head coach (2022), Elko led a Duke crew that hadn’t had a profitable season since 2018 to an 8-4 document and a win towards Gus Malzahn’s UCF within the Miliary Bowl. He adopted that up with a 7-5 displaying in 2023 that, when you think about the very fact Duke needed to take care of three completely different quarterback accidents, doesn’t look all that disappointing. Now he takes over at a college that clearly isn’t afraid to spend large on its soccer program. It’s not outlandish to assume that Elko’s Aggies can push for at the least eight wins this yr.  11 Most pundits appear to be fairly down on Florida. It’s comprehensible given the Gators are actually 11-14 by means of two years underneath Billy Napier. This actually appears like a make-or-break season for his tenure. But if there’s one crew outside the top 10 of those rankings that I’m assured can climb into that echelon by season’s finish, it’s Florida. Graham Mertz is an underappreciated quarterback (and is probably going motivated to raise his sport now that star freshman DJ Lagway’s within the room), large receiver Eugene Wilson is among the SEC’s greatest playmakers and the protection is definitely taking good form with transfers bolstering the returning starters.  12 Hugh Freeze has spent plenty of effort and time upgrading his crew across the quarterback. Now it’s as much as Payton Thorne to take that subsequent step. The former Michigan State switch didn’t impress in his first season on The Plains. Whether that was as a consequence of an absence of expertise to unfold the ball to — not a problem now that former 5 stars like WR Cam Coleman are on the crew — or Thorne’s personal limitations, he needs to be an entire lot higher if the Tigers need to keep away from embarrassments like dropping to New Mexico State.  13 Though Shane Beamer has but to announce something formally, it appears as if South Carolina might be turning to a homegrown possibility to switch quarterback Spencer Rattler. LaNorris Sellers, who has impressed the teaching workers because the second he entered this system, seemed like a snug selection this spring. Who he’ll throw the ball to stays to be seen. Xavier Legette, who accounted for over a 3rd of his former crew’s receiving yards final season, is gone. So are three of the 4 main receivers behind him. Not nice for a first-time beginning quarterback. 14 Just a number of years in the past, it seemed like Arkansas was turning a nook underneath Sam Pittman. Now, there’s some concern about his job standing after simply 4 complete SEC wins over the previous two seasons. Arkansas has undergone some fairly extreme adjustments over the previous few months, although we’ll see if that results in any type of revitalization. Offensive coordinator Dan Enos bought the boot after one yr, and a well-known title in Bobby Petrino was employed to switch him. He’ll have a wholly new quarterback to work with after KJ Jefferson transferred away. Former Boise State starter Taylen Green seemed spectacular in Arkansas’ spring sport. As did working again acquisition Ja’Quinden Jackson. Will that pair be sufficient to power Arkansas to a bowl sport? It’s going to be a troublesome highway with that schedule.  15 Jeff Lebby inherits an unenviable state of affairs. The first-time head coach is taking on a program that, in some ways, remains to be reeling from Mike Leach’s sudden and tragic demise. Put in a bind, Mississippi State promoted former defensive coordinator Zach Arnett to switch Leach. Arnett didn’t even final a full 12 video games. Lebby’s background underneath the likes of Josh Heupel and Lane Kiffin means that we will count on some fireworks from Mississippi State’s offense in Year 1, however turning the Bulldogs right into a bowl competitor this early looks like a troublesome ask for a coach as inexperienced as Lebby.   16 Simply put, anyone that coaches at Vanderbilt routinely has the toughest job amongst power convention packages. The Commodores play in certainly one of school soccer’s premier conferences however don’t have the commensurate sources to compete. They’re at a expertise drawback nearly each single week, a niche that’s rising given the inherent setbacks that academically elite universities (like Vanderbilt) face within the NIL and switch portal period. Clark Lea did his greatest to alter issues up this offseason, bringing Tim Beck in as offensive coordinator and taking on defensive play-calling duties. It’s simply onerous to see this being a squad that pushes for something greater than a good non-conference displaying.