2024 SEC PRIMER (MEDIA DAYS EDITION): The eyes of everyone turns on Texas
By GRAHAM DUNN
The arm of the country’s richest college football conference continues to reach farther west.
Thanks to the addition of Texas and Oklahoma, the annual SEC Kickoff is slated for Dallas this week. For the majority of media that covers this league, that’s a “fer piece” to travel.
Nevertheless here we are, paying homage to the newcomers while battling local interest from the press in another event. ,Thanks to Major League Baseball’s All-Star week being held a few miles down the road, the SEC Media Days ain’t the only show in town.
Maybe college football has a leg up on the old game. TV ratings certainly say so. And this year’s “Summer Classic” doesn’t have much of an all-star feel due to fans picking players based on OPS and how far they can hit a baseball (and how fast). Metrics have all but ruined the game for the average fan, but that’s for another story.
We enter the holy gates of the Omni Hotel knowing one certainty - Nick Saban has left the building… sort of.
He will be manning the table with all of the experts that historically hasn’t picked an SEC winner on a consistent basis. He’s to blame for that since, for the last 18 years, anyone who wanted to win a title had to get past him and the Crimson Tide.
Since 2010, Alabama was picked to win the league every year but thrice - 2012 (LSU); 2015 (Auburn); Georgia (2023). Of course Bama won the title in each of those years plus five more times.
Now that he’s sitting at the children’s table, does that crown get passed to Kirby Smart?
The media certainly thinks so. The Dogs have been picked to win it all by nearly everybody. With good reason, too. Georgia was dominant for the last three years with the only losses coming to Saban. He’s gone now so obviously the path is clear for dominance like never before.
But Texas is making noise… a lot of noise about being the one to beat. Didn’t the Longhorns make the playoffs last year, beat Alabama and win a conference title - none of which Georgia did last season? One has to admit, they have a point.
But the two sides will bloviate for the duration of the preseason and until the they meet in Austin on Oct. 19.
Oklahoma has enjoyed the banter, too, even if its shared with the rival Texas. Internet junkies have stated that the SEC has a new leader in the greatest rivalry in the league. That would be the Red River Rivalry (or Shootout or, etc.) played in Dallas. This is not the time or place for that debate and we’ll wait and see if the Longhorns get a reminder at the end of the season about rivalries when they visit College Station.
With two new teams, we get rid of divisions and the celebration begins in Oxford, Starkville and College Station since none of the three schools have Bama on their schedule. Ditto for South Carolina and Missouri, which have schedules sans Georgia.
Ironically, Carolina and Mizzou get the replacement in Bama. And Ole Miss and Miss St face Georgia. Somehow A&M missed out on the switch.
As the discussion builds this week about the 16-team league, there are already ovations about more expansion. That might mean a 20-team league in the future? A lot of assumptions are being made that Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina and Virginia might be ready to jump on board. Funny, the entrance of two new teams might be upstaged by teams that aren’t here yet.
If the league office makes some sort of announcement that next year’s media days will be in Charlotte, it’s a dead giveaway.
So, enjoy the coverage of this year’s SEC Media Days, it might be the only time you get to celebrate 16 teams.
SEC MEDIA DAYS BREAKDOWN
Teams are listed on the day they are to attend
MONDAY
Morning session
LSU (10-3, 6-2, Tied for 2nd in SEC West last year)
Coach: Brian Kelly (3rd year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Garrett Nussmeier, QB; Mason Taylor, TE; Harold Perkins, LB
Questions for the Tigers: Will Harold Perkins return to his freshman ways and with it bring the LSU defense back to where it belongs? How much was last year’s success attributed to Jayden Daniels at QB? Will LSU ask for Texas A&M back on the end of the schedule if thing go wrong in the season finale against the Sooners?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: A “disappointing” 9-3 finish and just out of reach of the playoffs.
SOUTH CAROLINA (5-7, 3-5, Tied for 4th place in EAST)
Coach: Shane Beamer (4th year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Alex Huntley, DT; Luke Doty, ATH; Debo Williams, LB
Questions for the Gamecocks: How will Beamer take it when he learns he is on the hot season by mid-season? Will a “rushing” offense be a better fit for the Gamecocks? Is a 4-0 start in the offing for SC (Old Dominion/ Kentucky/LSU/Akron)?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Finish in the lower half but have a .500 record to earn a bowl bid.
Afternoon session
VANDERBILT (2-10, 0-8, Last in SEC East)
Coach: Clark Lea (4th year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Gunnar Hansen, OL; Langston Patterson, LB; CJ Taylor, S
Questions for the ‘Dores: Will the Vanderbilt quarterback please stand? Is there any reason to believe the Dores will win a conference game this season? Does Lea have much of a leash if they don’t?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Another last-place finish.
OLE MISS (11-2, 6-2, 2nd in SEC West)
Coach: Lane Kiffin (6th year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Jaxson Dart, QB; Tre Harris, WR; Jared Ivey, DE
Questions for the Rebels: Can the Rebels finally make the SEC Championship game for the first time in school history? With Bama and Auburn off the schedule, is there more confidence in Oxford than ever before? Is this Lane’s coming out party where he wins the league and bolts for Florida?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: A 4th place finish and in the discussion for a playoff berth.
TUESDAY
Morning session
TENNESSEE (9-4, 4-4, 3rd place in EAST)
Coach: Josh Heupel (4th year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Cooper Mays, C; Keenan Pili, LB; Omari Thomas, DL
Questions for the Vols: What are the chances that Nico Iamaleava is as good at QB as Vol fans say he is? Can Heupel repeat his 2022 success and earn a surprise bid to the playoffs? Or does a sub-par seven-win season put their coach on the hot seat?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Middle of the pack with eight wins.
GEORGIA (13-1, 8-1, SEC Runner-up in 2023)
Coach: Kirby Smart (9th year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Carson Beck, QB; Mykel Williams, DL; Malaki Starks, S
Questions for the Dawgs: Last year, the question was, “are the Dogs hungry enough to three-peat?” This year, it’s “Can they start a new streak?” Will a tougher schedule be a detriment to the success, or prove UGA is still on top? Was Nick Saban really a thorn in Smart’s side? (We’ll find out Sept. 28.)
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Overall regular season champs and top seed in the first ever 12-team playoff…. Eventually national champs again.
Afternoon session
OKLAHOMA (1st year in SEC: 10-3 overall in 2023)
Coach:Brent Venables (3rd year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Jackson Arnold, QB,; Danny Stutsman, LB; Billy Bowman Jr., DB
Questions for the Sooners: Who is Jackson Arnold and can he follow the footsteps of the previous all-conference signal callers? Can the Sooners find any solace in a difficult schedule to end the season (Mizzou; Bama; LSU)? Are Sooner fans realistic and realize finishing fifth in this league is not all bad?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Middle of the pack with a small chance for a top 4 league finish.
MISSOURI (11-2, 6-2, 2nd in SEC East)
Coach: Eli Drinkwitz (5th year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Luther Burden III, WR; Brady Cook, QB, Senior; Kristian Williams, DL
Questions for the Tigers: Will the Tigers prove the 11-win season a year ago was no fluke? How much of a break did the Tigers catch with Georgia off the schedule? Can Eli Drinkwitz make it through the season without uttering something embarrassing?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: A chance at a top 5 finish with a win against Bama for competing for a playoff spot.
WEDNESDAY
Morning session
ALABAMA (12-2, 9-0, ‘23 SEC Champs)
Coach: Kalen DeBoer (1st year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Jalen Milroe, QB; Tyler Booker, OL; Malachi Moore, DB
Questions for the Tide: How long will it take Tide fans (and everybody else) to get used to not seeing Nick Saban on the sidelines? Will the arrival of DeBoer bring out a better Jalen Milroe? Who will be right - naysayers stating the “dominance is over” or those seeing plenty of the same with the new coaching staff?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: A second-, third- or fourth-place finish and a trip to the playoffs.
MISSISSIPPI STATE (5-7, 1-7, Tied for 6th in SEC West)
Coach: Jeff Lebby (1st year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Blake Shapen, QB; Albert Reese IV, OL; John Lewis, LB
Questions for the Bulldogs: Can Lebby bring back the gallant passing attack left by the late, great Mike Leach? Does MSU have the toughest road schedule in the country (Arizona St; Texas; Georgia; Tennessee; Ole Miss)?Can the new coach give Lane Kiffin, his old boss, a run for the Egg Bowl?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Low expectations and tough schedule - near the bottom.
Afternoon session
FLORIDA (5-7, 3-5 Tied for 4th in East)
Coach: Billy Napier (3rd year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Graham Mertz, QB; Shemar James, ILB; Montrell Johnson Jr., RB
Questions for the Gators: Is this the hottest seat among coaches in the SEC? Can Florida find enough to stay in the race for the title game? Can Mertz stay healthy enough to pull the Gators back into the upper tier of the SEC?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: A 7th- or -8th place finish and a possible coaching change.
TEXAS (1st year in SEC: 12-2 overall in 2023)
Coach: Steve Sarkisian (4th year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Quinn Ewers, QB; Kelvin Banks Jr., OL; Jahdae Barron, DB
Questions for the Horns: Will the Longhorns take the SEC by storm and win in its maiden voyage? Will Arch Manning eventually take over as starting quarterback? Is “Horns Down” really that deflating?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Earn a trip to the SEC Championship and meet UGA a second time.
THURSDAY
Morning session
TEXAS A&M (7-6, 4-4, 4th in SEC)
Coach: Mike Elko (1st year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Shemar Turner, DL; Taurean York, LB; Trey Zuhn III, OL,
Questions for the Aggies: Can Mike Elko help Aggie fans forget the horrors of the years of Jimbo Fisher? Which of the three quarterbacks will turn out to be the one to lead the offense (Conner Weigman; Marcel Reed; Jaylen Henderson)? Just how crazy will College Station be on Nov. 30 when the Longhorns visit?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Competitive but not enough to earn a significant shot at the SEC title.
ARKANSAS (4-8, 1-7, Tied for 6th place in SEC West)
Coach: Sam Pittman (5th year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Andrew Armstrong, WR; Taylen Green, QB; Landon Jackson, DE
Questions for the Hogs: How many wins will it take for Pittman to survive? Is there enough depth on the offensive line to keep Taylen Green upright? How much good can retread Bobby Petrino do for this disappointing squad?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Finish near the bottom… thank God for Vandy.
Afternoon session
AUBURN (6-7, 3-5, 5th in SEC West)
Coach: Hugh Freeze (2nd year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Payton Thorne, QB; Eugene Asante, LB; Keldric Faulk, DE
Questions for the Tigers: Will the quarterback situation become more stable with Payton Thorne? Will an opening home slate of five-straight games catapult the Tigers to a big season? Is there a stopper on the defensive line to help shore up the defense?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: A double-digit finish in the league but might be one of the surprises.
KENTUCKY (7-6, 3-5, Tied for 4th place in EAST)
Coach:Mark Stoops (12th year)
Players visiting Dallas this week: Marques Cox, OL; D’Eryk Jackson, LB; Deone Walker, DL
Questions for the Wildcats: Despite back-to-back 7-6 finishes, is Mark Stoops still safe with a typical 7-6 season again in ’24? Where will the Wildcat offense get points? Can the return of 10 players on defense save the season?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Another .500 season and trip to a minor bowl.