SEC football spring practices are underway and there is no shortage of compelling storylines, intriguing questions and we break it all down for you here.
The SEC is well known to be one of, if not the, toughest conferences in modern college football. With successful programs ranging from the Easternmost programs in the conference, all the way to almost the Western part of the United States, the South is arguably the most dominant area in the country when it comes to the gridiron.
Thus, it’s no surprise that, besides surefire program Alabama, the conference has many questions to answer headed into the upcoming season. Spring football, for all its worth to fans, is arguably the best time to get a look at how the conference will shape up after the first coin is tossed on August 24th in the game between in-state rivals Florida and Miami.
Even the annual best team in the conference, the Alabama Crimson Tide, have some questions to answer ahead of the new season, as they face multiple changes even for a program famed for its ability to win games, and play through transitions. Infinite constant Nick Saban will have to deal with a massive seven new assistant coaches heading into the 2019 season, just a year after dropping a National Championship loss to the triumphant Dabo Swinney and his Clemson Tigers team.
There are many storylines to pair with this Tuscaloosa transition, however, as almost every team in the SEC has a question or worry to account for headed into the new season. As is typical with college football, systematic changes are inevitable for almost every program headed into a new year, with new players, coaches and schemes to work in.
With multiple staff changes, and a giant departure of talent from the conference as a whole, it will be interesting (as always) to see how some of college football’s most famed programs can adjust headed into the newest season. Can one of these teams take down the blooming dynasty of the Clemson Tigers in a cross-conference matchup the likes of last year’s championship game? Will Alabama get a second shot in their (assumedly) last season with Tua Tagovailoa under center?
This spring, we’ll get an early indication of when, and how, these questions will be answered.