In the SEC, there’s Alabama and then there’s everyone else. While the conference has established itself as college football’s most dominant one over the last decade, it’s really become Alabama in the top tier and everyone else at least a run below. There was a time when several programs would be on the big stage and compete for national championships – and that was supposed to be the case this year – but all of those other sexy teams that was supposed to be on the rise have flopped. There were such high hopes for the SEC this season but other than Alabama, they’ve disappointed us many a time.
Georgia’s Struggles
Everything seemed to be in place for Kirby Smart to make a successful debut as the head coach at Georgia. He had a ton of talent at his disposal and a relatively mediocre schedule that appeared to leave the door wide open for the Bulldogs to contend for an SEC East title this season. That’s right: Georgia was supposed to compete for an SEC East title. Instead, they’ll finish the year in third place with four losses.
Georgia opened with wins over North Carolina, Nicholls and Missouri, but the team hit a wall after that as they dropped four of their next five games overall. A home loss to Vanderbilt represented the lowest point in the Bulldogs’ season but they also suffered disappointing home losses to Tennessee and Florida that kept them in the second tier in the SEC East. Georgia has a chance to close out the season with four straight wins but even at 8-4, this year has to feel like a disappointment for Smart and his staff.
Tennessee’s Losing Streak
Remember how the Vols were supposed to finally arrive this year? Apparently they’re still a year away.
The Vols’ 34-31 win at Georgia pushed their undefeated streak to five to open the season and it seemed as though this team was primed to challenge for an SEC East title. However, Tennessee lost to Texas A&M in double overtime the following week, which was the start of their three-game slide that spoiled any shot they had at playing in the SEC Championship game.
The fact that the Vols beat both the Bulldogs and Gators and still won’t win the division is absolutely brutal. While their losses to A&M and Alabama are understandable, the 24-21 loss to South Carolina at the tail end oft heir slide really stands out. And don’t assume anything yet in their season finale at Vanderbilt, who is 3-2 at home this season.
Tennessee will likely finish second in the SEC East at 9-3 but it has to feel like a disappointment considering their immense potential.
Arkansas Underwhelms
Heading into the season, some people thought that Arkansas had a shot to compete for the SEC West title if everything went their way. It was an optimistic point of view but that was the mood going into the season. But what nobody foresaw was that this Razorbacks team would be this bad.
The Razorbacks opened the year with three straight wins – including a double-overtime victory over TCU and they registered notable wins over Ole Miss and Florida that could have put them in position to be a top-15 team. Even after losses to Texas A&M and Alabama, they were still relevant but things took a turn for the worst when they were blown out at Auburn in late October and then dominated at home by LSU. Arkansas clearly had the potential to be a 10-2 team this season but a lack of consistency ultimately kept them from reaching their potential in an underwhelming season. And ending the regular season with a kick-in-the-gut loss at Missouri is bad. Bret Bielema will need a win in a bowl game if he’s to stay off the hot seat.
Texas A&M Crashes
The Aggies were on the radar the longest of the teams that appears to be primed to contend with Alabama but a 33-14 loss to the Crimson Tide marked the beginning of the end for a team. They ran out of gas and crashed down the final stretch. Texas A&M followed that loss to Alabama with a win over New Mexico State but they failed to rally on the road against Mississippi State in a 35-28 loss the following week. After that, they then dropped a 29-28 loss to Ole Miss the following week and then got smoked 54-39 in their regular season finale at home to LSU in what was easily their worst performance of the year.
The Aggies had the potential to be a one-loss team in the loaded SEC West but instead failed to capitalize on their potential with a late season slide that ultimately made them a major disappointment.
