2015 SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW

By Mike Nowoswiat
August 1st, 2015

What a year for the SEC.  If it weren't for the unbelievable track record of success, people wouldn't judge the conference so hard.  Sure, sometimes SEC fans put it on themselves with the "SEC" chants, but this conference is a juggernaut.  And with teams like Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, Ole Miss, Kentucky, and Texas A&M all on the upswing, it's only going to get better.

Alabama once again is a preseason top five team and looks to win its fourth national championship in the Nick Saban era.  Auburn should be much better after hiring Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator and bringing back key pieces in the front seven.  LSU, Ole Miss, and Arkansas should be among the most physical teams in the nation.  And Texas A&M and Mississippi State have two of the best quarterbacks in the nation with a lot of talent on the outside.  The SEC West has it all.  It has always been a strong division, but this year could be the best yet because there is not one pushover.

And although the East is in another transition year, there is power at the top as Georgia brings back one of the nation's best rushing attacks and a bevy of talented defensive players.  Most conferences get judged on two things: depth and power at the top.  While the East is no West, Georgia gives it a national title contender and Tennessee, Florida, and Missouri are a very solid trio in the middle.  South Carolina and Kentucky don't look like powers on paper, but I'll admit I am nervous to put them so low because of their high ceilings.  The Gamecocks have recruited well and could rebound on defense.  And Kentucky has two very talented young quarterbacks who could have breakthrough years. The laughingstock of the league, Vanderbilt, will be much better this season with 18 returning starters.  Like recovering addicts, you can't get better until you've hit rock bottom.  Last year was rock bottom.

I am the most excited I have ever been for this year of SEC football!  Are you?


CLICK THE DIVISION LINKS FOR FULL TEAM PREVIEWS:

---

Eastern Division

1. Georgia

2014 Record: 10-3
Defense Returning Starters: 6
Offense Returning Starters: 7
Head Coach: Mark Richt

---

2. Tennessee

2014 Record: 7-6
Defense Returning Starters: 8
Offense Returning Starters: 10
Head Coach: Butch Jones

---

3. Florida

2014 Record: 7-5
Defense Returning Starters: 7
Offense Returning Starters: 4
Head Coach: Jim McElwain*

---

4. Missouri

2014 Record:11-3
Defense Returning Starters: 6 
Offense Returning Starters: 6
Head Coach: Gary Pinkel

---

5. South Carolina

2014 Record: 7-6
Defense Returning Starters: 8
Offense Returning Starters: 4
Head Coach: Steve Spurrier

---

6. Kentucky

2014 Record: 5-7
Defense Returning Starters: 7
Offense Returning Starters: 7
Head Coach: Mark Stoops

---

7. Vanderbilt

2014 Record: 3-9
Defense Returning Starters: 9
Offense Returning Starters: 9
Head Coach: Derek Mason

---

Western Division

1. Alabama

2014 Record: 12-2
Defense Returning Starters: 7
Offense Returning Starters: 3
Head Coach: Nick Saban

---

2. Auburn

2014 Record: 8-5
Defense Returning Starters: 8
Offense Returning Starters: 4
Head Coach: Gus Malzahn

---

3. LSU

2014 Record: 8-5
Defense Returning Starters: 6
Offense Returning Starters: 9
Head Coach: Les Miles

---

4. Ole Miss

2014 Record: 9-4
Defense Returning Starters: 7
Offense Returning Starters: 9
Head Coach: Hugh Freeze

---

5. Texas A&M

2014 Record: 8-5
Defense Returning Starters: 8
Offense Returning Starters: 8
Head Coach: Kevin Sumlin

---

6. Arkansas

2014 Record: 7-6
Defense Returning Starters: 6
Offense Returning Starters: 9
Head Coach: Bret Bielema

---

7. Mississippi State

2014 Record: 10-3
Defense Returning Starters: 3
Offense Returning Starters: 4
Head Coach: Dan Mullen

---

 

---

2015 PREVIEW
QUICK LINKS

---

ACC
    Atlantic  Division
    Coastal Division
Big Ten
    East Division
    West Division
BIG 12
SEC
    Eastern Division
    Western Division
PAC-12
    North Division
    South Division
Notre Dame
BYU
Armed Forces

AAC
C-USA
MAC
MWC
Sun Belt

Playoff Prediction
Top 25
Top 40 BIG BOARD
Playoff Explained
Goodbye, BCS

ALL-AMERICA
Heisman
Heisman Moments [Video]
Deion Sanders Award

Best Non-Conf. Games
Coaching Changes

Rivalry Trophy Database
Div. 1-AA (FCS) History


OFFSEASON FEATURES
Playoff Simulations
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013

Q&A's with SBNation:
    Maryland to BigTen
    Rutgers to BigTen

Throwback Thursday
    1990s Florida State
    3rd & 57
    Red River Roy ('01)
    Seneca Wallace ('02)
    One-Point Safety
    Dual-Sport Legends
    OhioSt-Mich ('73)
    Georgia Tech 222-0
    Texas HS Craziness
    Earthquake Game

Champions Gauntlet
    '13 FSU vs. '98 Tenn
    '13 FSU vs. '99 FSU
    '13 FSU vs. '00 OU
    '13 FSU vs. '02 OSU
    '13 FSU vs. '05 Texas
    '13 FSU vs. '08 UF
    '13 FSU vs. '11 Bama
    '13 FSU vs. '01 Miami