Defending nationwide champion Georgia and School Soccer Playoff title recreation opponent Alabama enter the 2022 season because the consensus prime groups within the SEC. No shock there. The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide are powerhouses each on and off the sector, however that is the place the similarities cease with one other school soccer marketing campaign approaching.
Whereas Georgia misplaced quite a few championship-winning starters to the NFL within the offseason, Alabama noticed 2021 as a rebuild. The Tide convey again not solely Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Younger however star edge Will Anderson Jr., CBS Sports activities’ Preseason Participant of the 12 months, as a formidable 1-2 punch on offense and protection that has Bama as soon as once more favored to win arguably the hardest convention within the sport.
Past these behemoths, although, there’s loads of disagreement relating to how the SEC will shake out in 2022.
Texas A&M is driving excessive off a record-setting recruiting class, although it could want these gamers to mature earlier than it is able to vault into competition for the league crown. Florida and LSU are each in rebuilding mode after jettisoning coaches with nationwide championship-winning expertise (Dan Mullen as a coordinator underneath City Meyer, Ed Orgeron because the lead man), however the Gators and Tigers hope to show doubters flawed with speedy bounce-back campaigns.
In the meantime, Kentucky and Tennessee have extra hype within the SEC East than in latest reminiscence, whereas Arkansas hopes to proceed its shocking ascension from a yr in the past. In the meantime, Lane Kiffin goals to show his offense will work at Ole Miss regardless of his star quarterback’s departure to the NFL.
Our CBS Sports activities school soccer consultants have offered their picks and predictions for the SEC forward of the 2022 season.
Most overrated staff
Texas A&M: The Aggies start the yr as No. 6 within the Preseason AP High 25 and the consensus favourite to be Alabama’s prime contender within the SEC West after reeling within the prime recruiting class of all-time. That mentioned, an 8-4 file and fifth-place end within the SEC West final season does not precisely scream playoff contender. Granted, they misplaced opening-day starter Haynes King to a season-ending harm early in 2021, however Texas A&M is the one staff to complete with fewer than 10 wins within the preseason prime 12. The Aggies needs to be in prove-it mode, particularly after shedding their 4 All-SEC gamers to the NFL. — Shehan Jeyarajah (additionally Dennis Dodd, Barrett Sallee)
Tennessee: The AP voters have the Volunteers because the No. 26 staff within the nation, and the coaches aren’t that far behind. That is aggressive for a staff that also has an extended option to go defensively, and even the 8.5 win whole appears optimistic for a schedule that features Alabama, Georgia and a recreation in opposition to LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Is Tennessee in a spot the place it may be trusted to run the desk in any other case, successful in opposition to the likes of Kentucky, Florida and Pitt whereas avoiding slip-ups in each place the place the Vols are a large favourite? This staff simply went 7-6 a yr in the past, so whereas I undoubtedly acknowledge Tennessee is a harmful staff, it is obtained one other step in growth earlier than flirting with double-digit wins. — Chip Patterson (additionally Tom Fornelli)
Ole Miss: Lane Kiffin’s “portal king” nickname is correct, however not even the nation’s No. 2 switch class can exchange what the Rebels misplaced with quarterback Matt Corral, offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin. Corral was the soul of final season’s 10-3 staff, and the employees turnover will cap what this staff can accomplish within the sport’s deepest division. A straightforward nonconference slate, plus the annual recreation with Vanderbilt, make it comparatively easy to challenge bowl eligibility for Ole Miss, however this staff will take a step again. — David Cobb
LSU: Issues have gone south shortly for LSU because the Tigers received the nationwide championship in 2019. The Ed Orgeron period ended with back-to-back seasons of .500 or worse information. That is the primary time that is occurred at LSU since coach Gerry DiNardo’s final two seasons in 1998-99. Brian Kelly was lured away from Notre Dame to get issues again on observe, and whereas there may be pleasure across the program, it is going to most likely require some persistence earlier than we see LSU competing for division titles once more. — Jerry Palm
Most underrated staff
Florida: Expectations for the Gators appear rooted in final season’s 6-7 file, however that efficiency was hardly indicative of the probabilities given the staff’s roster. Relative to everybody else within the SEC East besides Georgia, Florida nonetheless has probably the most full staff. Motivation appeared missing in 2021 as Dan Mullen’s tenure limped to completion, and the staff utterly imploded down the stretch. That shouldn’t be a problem this season with a brand new coach in Billy Napier and defensive coordinator in Patrick Toney, each of whom have confirmed observe information of success. — Cobb (additionally Jeyarajah)
Tennessee: Josh Heupel has a quarterback (Hendon Hooker). When you have that within the SEC, you might have an opportunity. Squint and you’ll see the Volunteers successful 9 video games, however they may simply as simply go in the wrong way. Nonetheless, Tennessee is clearly on the rise. — Dodd
Ole Miss: An excessive amount of has been product of the absence of Corral and never sufficient has been product of the upgraded working again corps, versatile receivers/tight ends and a quarterback scenario that — on the very least — is secure. With Kiffin on the helm, that stability reworking into excellence is extra probably than not. I do not care what the protection seems like on a constant foundation as a result of Ole Miss goes to click on in an enormous means in opposition to just about each staff it faces. — Sallee
LSU: It is practically not possible to fee this LSU staff coming into the season. What I can let you know is what the Tigers aren’t, and that is the fifth-best staff within the SEC West. That is the place they landed within the preseason media ballot. Each the high-end degree of expertise and depth of choices at receiver make nearly some other staff within the league envious of what Kelly is inheriting, and if the defensive position can keep wholesome, that group may very well be actually nasty at line of scrimmage. With a number of future execs at huge receiver and a probably dominant defensive entrance, LSU has two of the three or 4 most necessary constructing blocks for fulfillment within the trendy school recreation. If Kelly can get quarterback found out, the ceiling for this staff is way increased than many anticipate. — Patterson
Mississippi State: Has any SEC program flown additional underneath the radar this offseason than Mike Leach’s Mississippi State? We’re speaking a few Bulldogs staff that returns a veteran quarterback aware of all of the ins and outs of Leach’s playbook and practically all the manufacturing from a protection that was higher than most realized final season. The Bulldogs are going to drag off at the least one main upset and end increased within the SEC West than most anticipate. — Fornelli
Kentucky: On the danger of offending coach Mark Stoops, Kentucky is certainly a basketball college. That’s the major motive why his program flies underneath the radar. Nevertheless, Stoops has taken Kentucky to 6 consecutive bowl video games, together with two Citrus Bowls, and it has 4 straight bowl wins. The Wildcats will not be able to compete with Georgia within the SEC East, however they match up nicely with everybody else. Not dangerous for a “basketball college.” — Palm
Daring predictions
- Dennis Dodd: Mark Stoops will win 10 at Kentucky, determine he is hit his ceiling in Lexington and can take the not-so-suddenly open place at Auburn.
- Tom Fornelli: Each staff within the SEC West will go bowling, however solely Alabama and Texas A&M will win greater than eight video games through the common season.
- Chip Patterson: Vanderbilt will hit its over-under win whole by the top of September.
- Barrett Sallee: Ole Miss will run the desk through the first two months of the season. The Rebels will hit the bye week on Nov. 5 with a battle in opposition to undefeated Alabama looming on Nov. 12. If they will spring the upset, coach Lane Kiffin’s squad might make a legit push for the School Soccer Playoff.
- Shehan Jeyarajah: After overwhelming divisional favorites Alabama and Georgia, no different SEC squad finds their means into the postseason prime 10.
- David Cobb: 12 months 1 of the Brian Kelly experiment will go poorly because the ex-Notre Dame coach experiences the nation’s hardest division for the primary time. The Tigers will miss a bowl recreation however end with a top-10 signing class anyway.
- Jerry Palm: The SEC will put two groups within the School Soccer Playoff once more this season and have a 3rd staff within the prime six.
SEC predicted order of end
SEC champion
Alabama: There isn’t any motive to try to out-think the room right here. The Crimson Tide have the reigning Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Bryce Younger, the very best participant in school soccer in EDGE Will Anderson Jr. and the bitter style of final season’s nationwide title recreation loss of their mouths. Younger may have a good higher season behind a significantly-improved offensive line, the secondary will emerge because the nation’s greatest, and the schedule units up nicely for coach Nick Saban win win his second straight convention title. — Sallee (unanimous)
