By Brad Bradford
Most armchair quarterbacks proclaimed a few years ago that the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) would change college football forever. It did. But along comes 2024 and that same quarterback says, “Hold my beer.”
- Nick Saban has hung up his straw hat.
- Texas and Oklahoma have joined the SEC.
- The playoffs have expanded from 4 teams to 12.
- The PAC 12 no longer exists. Conferences aren’t bound by geography anymore.
In January 2007, Mal Moore lured Nick Saban from the Miami Dolphins and Alabama football returned to its glory days as the standard. Six national championships during his 17-year tenure will never be replicated. Enter Kalen DeBoer from Washington. His resume is impeccable. DeBoer has won everywhere he has been with lesser resources. He has proven so far that he can recruit at an elite level, even though he has never been in cutthroat SEC land. DeBoer has checked all the right boxes so far. Now, can he just win up to Bama standards?
SEC expansion through the years has come in pairs: South Carolina and Arkansas in 1991, Texas A&M and Missouri in 2012 and now, Texas and Oklahoma this year. Compare the additions and this is the first time that both schools enter the league near the top in terms of tradition, facilities and fan followings. Both new teams begin 2024 in the top 15.
This is the first year that the SEC won’t have East-West divisions and the conference championship game will be between the teams with the best SEC conference record. It’s very likely that the game will be a repeat of a regular season game since Georgia, Texas and Alabama all play each other. Ole Miss or Missouri could slip in because of their easier schedule.
It appears the entire nation complained about the Final Four football playoff and secretly called it the “SEC invitational.” Like Granny used to say: “Be careful what you ask for.” The new 12-team format gives the four highest ranked conference champions a first-round bye. Teams seeded 5 through 8 will host the teams ranked 9 through 12 to see who advances to the semifinals. Most football junkies think that the SEC will have either 3 or 4 teams in the playoffs. The loser of the SEC championship game will almost be guaranteed to be ranked 5th through 8th and will host the first round. The champion will get a bye.
Auburn recap and prediction
It’s hard to believe that the Tigers haven’t had a winning season since 2020 and that was a 6-5 record. Hugh Freeze was hired to clean up the “Harsin Mess.” Last year, Auburn lost some close games, including the Iron Bowl on a fluke touchdown pass. Freeze brought in D.J. Durkin as the defensive coordinator from Texas A&M to shore up the defense. Coach Freeze earned his keep as an innovative play-caller and will take back over those duties.
The major question: Can he develop returning quarterback Payton Thorne from being the 11th rated QB in the SEC last year to playing winning football?
The Tigers should start out 4-0 at home before Oklahoma comes to town. Later wins against Vandy and Louisiana Monroe would make them bowl eligible. They will be big underdogs to Oklahoma, Georgia, and Alabama. Toss-up games will be against Missouri, Kentucky and Texas A&M. Prediction: 7-5.
Alabama recap and prediction
Last year, the Tide lost by 10 to Texas at home and Bama fans went into panic mode. The next week, Saban benched Jalen Milroe and barely beat South Florida on the road. Bama reinserted Milroe and went all the way to the playoff semifinals undefeated, including a win over Georgia in the SEC championship game, before losing to Michigan. The major question: Can DeBoer handle the rigors of the SEC and develop Milroe like he did Michael Penix at Washington?
Saban left DeBoer a bunch of five-star players and a winning culture. Alabama should be favored in every game except Georgia on September 28, but it’s at home after an open date. Three tough road games are Tennessee, LSU and Oklahoma, the week before the Iron Bowl. The Tide catches Missouri and Auburn at home. Prediction: 11-1.
Most likely SEC teams (in order) to make the playoffs: 1. Georgia 2. Texas 3. Alabama 4. Ole Miss 5. Missouri 6. LSU.
Conference champions most likely to get top four seeds: 1. Georgia (SEC) 2. Ohio State (Big 10) 3. Florida State (ACC) 4. Oklahoma State (Big 12).
Even though the playoffs will consist of 12 teams, the final four semifinals will look familiar: Georgia vs. Texas and Ohio State vs. Alabama. After missing last year’s playoff, Georgia will get revenge and beat the Buckeyes 34-17.
Never forget the SEC saying: “It just means more.”
Brad Bradford is a former football staff member at Alabama and Louisville. His wife, Susan Moseley Bradford, is a former Auburn cheerleader. His blogs can be found at hairinabiscuit.com. Brad is also an author and motivational speaker. Contact him at [email protected].
