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SEC football 2018 preview: Breakout stars, biggest games, predictions

By Jeremy Morris

Nick Saban, Alabama Crimson Tide, Kirby Smart, Georgia Bulldogs. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
Nick Saban, Alabama Crimson Tide, Kirby Smart, Georgia Bulldogs. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
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University of Florida head football coach Dan Mullen (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
University of Florida head football coach Dan Mullen (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

SEC Coach of the Year

Nick Saban is a favorite, and would probably have a strong case, to win SEC Coach of the Year every year. Just as Gregg Popovich, and Brad Stevens recently, are the best coaches in the NBA year in and year but rarely take home Coach of the Year, Saban is unlikely to win Coach of the Year unless he accomplishes something extraordinary. Even if he does, if there is another worthy coach, especially one who has elevated his team’s play dramatically year to year, Saban is likely not going to bring home at least that piece of hardware at season’s end.

Dan Mullen enters his first season as Florida’s head coach after spending the last nine at Mississippi State. Leaving as the most successful coach in program history, he returns to the place where he served four seasons as offensive coordinator and helped to win a pair of national titles. He returns to a very different Florida team and program than the one he left, as the Gators come off of a 4-7 season that imploded and sent Jim McElwain packing after six games.

Mullen will have to solve the quarterback position first and foremost in 2018. It’s been a recurring theme and limited Florida every year dating back to Mullen’s last stop in Gainesville when he coached Tim Tebow. True freshman Emory Jones and last year’s starter Feleipe Franks are competing for the starting job in camp. In a more simplified system, under a coach who has proven he can coach and develop quarterbacks, the Gators should see at least some kind of improvement regardless of the starter in 2018.

Outside of quarterback, Florida has talented skill players and is loaded on defense, especially at defensive back and defensive line. The Gator’s schedule is also a very favorable one this year with a handful of other teams in the SEC East also rebuilding. If Mullen can quickly turn things around and win eight or nine games, which is easily possible, if not probable, he has a very good chance of taking home Coach of the Year honors in his first season back at Florida.

Others to watch: Nick Saban (Alabama), Gus Malzahn (Auburn), Kirby Smart (Georgia), Jimbo Fisher (Texas A&M)