ShareThisWhen you look ahead to the next college football season, the view should be pleasantly familiar to Southeastern Conference fans.
The conference's top two teams have both been in the running for the national title in each of the last three seasons. Expect more of the same in 2009 as the conference goes for a fourth consecutive national championship.
Here's an early, early look at the SEC in 2009, followed by a preseason Top 25.
EAST
1. Florida: With QB Tim Tebow returning for his senior season, the Gators will be a popular pick to win back-to-back national championships.
The defense will miss All-American middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, who is expected to go pro early, but 10 other starters will return. The returnees will include Joe Haden and Janoris Jenkins, whom coach Urban Meyer called the best pair of cornerbacks in college football after the 24-14 victory over Oklahoma for the national championship.
2. Georgia: The Bulldogs will lose two great juniors -- quarterback Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno -- to the NFL. But the Bulldogs should be stronger almost everywhere else, thanks, in part, to the return of injured starters Trinton Sturdivant (offensive tackle) and Jeff Owens (defensive tackle).
If Georgia gets adequate play at quarterback, it's capable of another top-10 finish.
3. Tennessee: Transitional seasons can be difficult, as evidenced by the Vols' offensive breakdown under first-year offensive coordinator Dave Clawson last year. Now, they're starting over on both sides of the ball under new head coach Lane Kiffin.
UT's talent level might be down, but Kiffin & Co. should get more out of it. Combine that with a light non-conference schedule, and the Vols should be back in the bowl season with a winning record as well.
4. South Carolina: Who would have thought that after four years of Steve Spurrier, the Gamecocks still would be concerned about their offense? The concerns won't be much different in 2009 than they were in 2008: quarterback, offensive line and running back.
Conversely, the Gamecocks could field another good defense, which -- in a best-case scenario -- would enable to them to match 2008's seven regular-season victories.
5. Kentucky: The Wildcats will suffer key losses on defense. And aside from freshman QB Randall Cobb, who's going to spark their lifeless offense?
Cobb alone should provide just enough offense to pull the Wildcats past Vanderbilt and maybe into another bowl game.
6. Vanderbilt: The Commodores have plenty of starters returning. Unfortunately for them, so does most of their conference competition.
As unpromising as Kentucky's offense might look, Vanderbilt has even less potential on that side of the ball. And the schedule sets up for another second-half nosedive.
WEST
1. Alabama: Coach Nick Saban's third Tide team shouldn't look much different from his second. Look for another salty defense, strong running game and highlight videos from wide receiver Julio Jones.
Replacing All-SEC linemen Antoine Caldwell and Andre Smith will be more difficult than replacing QB John Parker Wilson. Talented freshman Star Jackson could be the starting QB, and Mike Johnson will anchor an offensive line that returns two other starters.
2. LSU: Freshman quarterback Jordan Jefferson's outstanding bowl performance in a rout of Georgia Tech bodes well for next season after the Tigers struggled at that position in 2008. The Tigers still will have depth at running back but might have to replace as many as three starters in the offensive line.
Hiring former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis should help the defense, but the defensive line won't have the depth or talent of years past.
3. Ole Miss: Coach Houston Nutt's teams have a history of playing better in an underdog role, so you have to wonder how the Rebels will handle higher expectations. With plenty of starters returning and a favorable schedule, they should be a consensus top-20 pick in preseason.
Jevan Snead is the best quarterback in the division, and his supporting cast should be sufficient if the Rebels can overcome losses in the offensive line. Ole Miss won't play Florida or Georgia in the East, and it will have Alabama and LSU at home.
4. Arkansas: The Razorbacks made progress in coach Bobby Petrino's first season. Expect more improvement and a bowl bid in 2009.
Ryan Mallett, a talented transfer from Michigan, is expected to start at quarterback. The Razorbacks will return the league's second-leading rusher (Michael Smith), third-leading receiver (tight end D.J. Williams), and all 11 starters on defense.
5. Auburn: As popular as former coach Tommy Tuberville was with his players, Auburn fans should be concerned about how quickly the veterans will buy into new coach Gene Chizik's system. That's not Auburn's only problem.
The Tigers couldn't throw effectively last season. And with question marks at QB and receiver again, there's no reason to believe their passing game will improve.
6. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs have replaced coach Sylvester Croom with former Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen. That should help the offense.
But Mullen didn't have a reputation as a great recruiter at Florida. So how will he beat out Nutt for the top recruits in Mississippi?
Preseason Top 25
1. Florida
2. Alabama
3. Southern California
4. Oklahoma
5. Texas
6. Ohio State
7. Oklahoma State
8. Georgia
9. Florida State
10. Penn State
11. Iowa
12. North Carolina
13. LSU
14. Ole Miss,
15. Pittsburgh
16. Notre Dame,
17. Georgia Tech
18. Virginia Tech
19. California
20. N. C. State
21. Miami
22. Oregon
23. Utah
24. Minnesota
25. Texas Tech.
(Contact John Adams at adamsj@knoxnews.com.)
(John Adams is sports editor for The Knoxville News Sentinel in Tennessee at knoxnews.com.)
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