It’s now four straight national titles for the Southeastern Conference in college football, and there appears no real end in sight for the league’s dominance. If anything, the arrival of Oklahoma and Texas next year should make an already tough league even more dominant.
However, that dominance takes time to achieve, and there are several questions regarding SEC teams as we near the last few weeks of the offseason. With the regular season approaching, these are the questions SEC teams will need to answer.
Who Steps Up at Quarterback for Georgia and Alabama?
No Stetson Bennett and no Bryce Young means major changes for the SEC’s past two champions. Georgia at least seems to have an early answer in Carson Beck, and the Bulldogs’ schedule sets up well for Beck to learn in a low-pressure environment. Beck’s first big test should come Sept. 16 against South Carolina, but he won’t face a hostile environment until Auburn two weeks later.
Alabama’s situation is harder. Tyler Buchner didn’t inspire confidence at Notre Dame and lost his job to Sam Hartman, but he’s currently the starter in Tuscaloosa with nobody sold on Jalen Milroe. For the first time in years, Alabama has questions at quarterback and no real solution in place. Unlike Georgia, the Tide don’t have time to let Buchner learn, not with Texas coming to town in Week 2.
Is Tennessee’s Rise for Real?
The Volunteers surprised a lot of people last season when they started 8-0 and rolled into Georgia as the No. 2 team in the nation. They weren’t up to the challenge of the national champions, and now they’ve got to try again without Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt. The schedule does the Vols no favors, as they’ll visit Florida and host South Carolina and Texas A&M before traveling to Alabama. Last year’s team lived off big numbers and turnovers, and a lack of experience might cause Tennessee to take a small step backwards this year.
How Does Mississippi State Respond to Its Offseason?
Losing Mike Leach was a devastating blow to the Bulldogs and their fan base. Zach Arnett takes over following Leach’s death, and the way his team listens to him will go a long ways toward determining what kind of season Mississippi State has. The schedule is brutal, though, and the Bulldogs are going to need everyone on the same page if they want any chance at a bowl game.