2014 SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW

By Mike Nowoswiat
August 2nd, 2014

For the first time in eight years, the SEC was dethroned last year with Florida State's victory over Auburn in the National Championship.  Auburn looked unstoppable to end the season, beating Georgia, Alabama, and then Missouri in the SEC Championship game.  Gus Malzahn's team looks to be very strong once again with most of their offensive line back and Heisman-hopeful Nick Marshall at QB.  However, as you can see, we have Auburn ranked third in the division, which speaks to how powerful the West will be once again.  It has proven to be the best division in football and will prove it one more time in 2014.

Last year, the SEC had some great Quarterbacks, which, if anything, has been a knock on the SEC.  But in 2014, AJ McCarron, Johnny Manziel, Aaron Murray, Connor Shaw, James Franklin, and Zach Mettenberger all had big seasons and now all of them are gone.  Nick Marshall, Bo Wallace, and Dak Prescott return in what looks to be a much weaker Quarterback class.  With some seemingly very strong defenses, the conference-wide offensive production could take a hit in 2014.

This year, the SEC winner will be vying for a College Football Playoff spot.  The new format should be a benefit to the SEC since it expands the number of teams from 2 to 4 that will be competing for the National Championship.  It is quite possible that the SEC gets two teams in this year.  However, I would expect Florida State and Ohio State to finish undefeated or with one loss, which should probably get either one in over a second SEC team.  The PAC 12 is also being talked about as the best conference in football--I do not believe it is better than the SEC--but it is good and if the opportunity presented itself where a conference could get two teams in then the PAC 12 could very well do it over the SEC depending on who the candidates are.  Still, the College Football Playoff is a win for the SEC since its on-field performance speaks for itself and there will certainly be some years where two SEC teams get in.  However, the SEC Championship Game was beginning to be called the National Semifinal.  For the SEC Championship Winner, the College Football Playoff simply makes the SEC Championship Game the National Quarterfinal.

Derek Mason is the only new Head Coach this year taking over the Vanderbilt program for James Franklin who bolted for Penn State.  Mason comes in from Stanford and appears to be an impressive guy, but time will only tell.  Another notable new addition to the SEC coaching fraternity is Lane Kiffin, who of course is hated in Knoxville.  Kiffin joins Alabama's staff as Offensive Coordinator, which could seriously improve the Crimson Tide offense given its talent.

Overall, this looks to be another exciting year in the Southeastern Conference.  The SEC Network is an exciting addition for the conference as well that will begin airing in a couple weeks.  The talent level is still elite in the conference and the conference should still reign supreme.

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Eastern Division

1. Georgia

2013 Record: 8-5
Defense Returning Starters: 8
Offense Returning Starters: 6
Head Coach: Mark Richt

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2. South Carolina

2013 Record: 11-2
Defense Returning Starters: 6
Offense Returning Starters: 8
Head Coach: Steve Spurrier

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3. Florida

2013 Record:4-8
Defense Returning Starters: 7
Offense Returning Starters: 7
Head Coach: Will Muschamp

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4. Missouri

2013 Record:12-2
Defense Returning Starters:4 
Offense Returning Starters: 4
Head Coach: Gary Pinkel

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5. Tennessee

2013 Record: 5-7
Defense Returning Starters: 5
Offense Returning Starters: 5
Head Coach: Butch Jones

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6. Kentucky

2013 Record: 2-10
Defense Returning Starters: 7
Offense Returning Starters: 8
Head Coach: Mark Stoops

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7. Vanderbilt

2013 Record: 9-4
Defense Returning Starters: 4
Offense Returning Starters: 6
Head Coach: Derek Mason*

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Western Division

1. Alabama

2013 Record: 11-2
Defense Returning Starters: 5
Offense Returning Starters: 7
Head Coach: Nick Saban

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2. Ole Miss

2013 Record: 8-5
Defense Returning Starters: 9
Offense Returning Starters: 6
Head Coach: Hugh Freeze

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3. Auburn

2013 Record: 12-2
Defense Returning Starters: 6
Offense Returning Starters: 8
Head Coach: Gus Malzahn

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4. LSU

2013 Record: 10-3
Defense Returning Starters: 7
Offense Returning Starters: 5
Head Coach: Les Miles

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5. Mississippi State

2013 Record: 7-6
Defense Returning Starters: 8
Offense Returning Starters: 8
Head Coach: Dan Mullen

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6. Texas A&M

2013 Record: 9-4
Defense Returning Starters: 9
Offense Returning Starters: 5
Head Coach: Kevin Sumlin

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7. Arkansas

2013 Record: 3-9
Defense Returning Starters: 7
Offense Returning Starters: 7
Head Coach: Bret Bielema

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2014 PREVIEW
QUICK LINKS

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

American Conf.
Conference USA
MAC
Mountain West
Sun Belt

Playoff Prediction
Top 25
New Bowl Games
CFB Playoff Explained
Goodbye, BCS
Conference Realignment

Heisman Contenders
Heisman Moments [Video]
Award Winner Predictions
Award History & Database
Deion Sanders Award

Best Non-Conf. Games
Thursday Night Schedule
Coaching Changes

2014 Hall of Fame Votes
Rivalry Trophy Database
Div. 1-AA (FCS) History


OFFSEASON FEATURES
Spring Game Attendance
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

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