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Which direction SEC teams are trending heading into bowl season or offseason
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The 2017 season is coming to an end, with only nine bowl games (or perhaps 10) to close another wild SEC chapter.
It’s the time of year to reflect and look forward to the future for each SEC program. Some are heading in the right direction while others have no light in sight.
Alabama performed to expectations, with a national title shot still in its grasp. Georgia plunged far ahead of schedule and reached the College Football Playoff in coach Kirby Smart’s second year. Arkansas took a major step back and could be gasping for air the next few seasons.
Saying up or down isn’t creative. I decided to spice up the adjectives a little bit on how teams are moving for creative purposes.
Here is each direction SEC teams are trending heading into bowl season or offseason.
Alabama
Trending: Kinda standstill
Why: Alabama is back in the College Football Playoff, but this is Nick Saban’s weakest team since 2014. Jalen Hurts hasn’t performed in big games and Brian Daboll’s offense hasn’t been consistent against stiffer competition. Jeremy Pruitt is off to Tennessee after the Crimson Tide lost Smart to Georgia two years ago. Injuries at linebacker are not the only dents in the armor of this team, but Alabama is still the favorite to win the national championship. Kinda funny how that works.
Arkansas
Trending: Abyss scouting
Why: New coach Chad Morris will have to adapt to what he has been given at Arkansas, since Bret Bielema’s recruits will be there a few more seasons. This rebuilding process will take a while. Bielema looked like a home run hire at Arkansas, but came up well short. Fans should be cautious about putting too much stock in Morris.
Auburn
Trending: Upish
Why: Gus Malzahn has been reported to have signed a fat new deal at Auburn, which can be good or bad depending which Tigers fans one talks to. Auburn struggled on offense for a long period this season, gave away the LSU game, and were dominated in the SEC Championship Game with a College Football Playoff appearance on the line. Still, any time the Tigers beat Alabama, Auburn fans feel like they are moving up in the world.
Florida
Trending: Back in black baby
Why: Dan Mullen’s Twitter picture is a perfect illustration of where Gators fans want to be — back in national championship contention. Mullen helped Mississippi State reach eight bowl games in his time as coach there. Since 1902, the Bulldogs have been to only 20. His coaching prowess is evident and will help the Gators get back to having one of the most dynamite offenses in the country again.
Georgia
Trending: Way up, Dawgs feel blessed
Why: Mark Richt was a good coach, but the program was beginning to plateau under his leadership. Kirby Smart has Georgia feared once again. In just his second season, the Bulldogs are two wins from a national title. Fans in Athens haven’t stopped drinking since the “World’s Largest Cocktail Party.”
Kentucky
Trending: Stationary
Why: Just when it seemed Kentucky was going to take the next step under Mark Stoops, the Wildcats collapsed at the end of the season and lost their final two games by 56 points combined. Unlike his brother Bob, Stoops is not known for succeeding in big games. That stigma will stay with him until he proves otherwise. Still, Kentucky has a good shot to win eight games for the first time since 2007 with a bowl victory over Northwestern.
LSU
Trending: Wait and see
Why: Matt Canada’s offense had some growing pains, but the Tigers started to look fluid in the second half of the season. If the Tigers can finish the season with a win against Notre Dame, they’ll have won seven of their past eight games. Finishing 10-3 would be a great start for Ed Orgeron. Even at that win total, Tigers fans will expect more moving forward.
Mississippi State
Trending: Downward Dog
Why: Losing Dan Mullen to Florida was gut-wrenching for Bulldogs fans. Joe Moorhead has an uphill battle during his time in Starkville. Having to face Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson without Nick Fitzgerald in the TaxSlayer Bowl is a major disadvantage. Expect a blowout loss and many concerned fans in the offseason on the future of the program.
Missouri
Trending: Slightly up
Why: Barry Odom turned the 2017 season around, but relied heavily on Drew Lock. The 2018 season could depend on if Lock forgoes his senior season to pursue the NFL. The Tigers will probably turn to Micah Wilson, who has less than 50 passing yards in his collegiate career. It could come down to how Lock plays against the Texas Longhorns in the Texas Bowl.
Ole Miss
Trending: Drastically down
Why: Mississippi State isn’t the only Mississippi school facing uncertainty. The Rebels just lost Shea Patterson to Michigan, and received a a two-year bowl ban and scholarship reductions from the NCAA. Matt Luke’s future at Ole Miss doesn’t look too bright, compared to where the program was in recent years. Don’t expect the Rebels to shock Alabama anytime soon.
South Carolina
Trending: Up a lil
Why: South Carolina had its best season since 2013 and that was without Deebo Samuel for the majority of the season. Though the Gamecocks lose a lot on defense, Jake Bentley and Samuel will be back for 2018. South Carolina can reach nine wins if it defeats an offense-less Michigan team in the postseason. The last time South Carolina faced off against Michigan in the Outback Bowl, this happened.
Tennessee
Trending: Down but not out
Why: After going through what seemed like a million coaches in their coaching search, the Volunteers elected to go with Jeremy Pruitt. Pruitt has never been a head coach in college football, but that hasn’t stopped Smart from succeeding at Georgia. Pruitt has been an defensive guru at his stops the past few seasons, but the future of his offense remains a big question mark. The Volunteers missed a bowl game for the first time since 2013 and will have many wondering about their offseason improvement.
Texas A&M
Trending: Middle ish
Why: Jimbo Fisher’s hiring was a major shakeup in the college football world. Most Texas A&M fans are thrilled about their new football coach, but a 10-year, $75 million dollar contract is something the Aggies should be worried about. Though Fisher has a national championship on his resume, the Seminoles finished 10-10 in their last 20 ACC games under him. Because of that and other statistics, fans should be wary of the success Fisher is expected to have.
Vanderbilt
Trending: Stuck again
Why: Though Vanderbilt beat rival Tennessee, the 2017 season was a major disappointment for the Commodores. Everyone put up points on Vanderbilt, which helped prohibit the Commodores from making a bowl game. Once again, the Commodores are at the low end of the totem pole.
Tye is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He works on-air for ESPN Arkansas in Fort Smith. You can follow him on twitter @TyeSportsRadio.
