Can Alabama pull off a four-peat in the SEC for the first time since 1993-96?
That's the goal for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide heading into the 2017 college football season. Alabama has a chance to become the first team to win four straight conference championships for the first time since Florida from 1993-96.
Who could stand in Alabama's way on the road to a fourth-straight College Football Playoff appearance? Auburn is building momentum around transfer quarterback Jarrett Stidham. LSU will build around Heisman Trophy contender Derrius Guice. Florida is looking for a third straight SEC East championship.
MORE: SN's Top 40 college football players for 2017
With that in mind, let's break down the SEC with predictions for both divisions, the hype team, sleeper team, X-factor, Heisman hopefuls, hot seat, stat that matters and biggest games that will determine who wins that championship.
SEC East predictions
1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. Tennessee
4. South Carolina
5. Kentucky
6. Vanderbilt
7. Missouri
Champion: Georgia
We're buying the hype with a team that returns Nick Chubb and Sony Michel to go with sophomore quarterback Jacob Eason. The defense also returns 10 starters. This is the best possible setup for second-year coach Kirby Smart. We know we said the same thing about Tennessee last year.
X-Factor: Florida QBs
The Gators have won the SEC East the last two years by the way, and Jim McElwain has depth at quarterback with incoming transfer Malik Zaire and returners Feleipe Franks, Luke Del Rio and Kyle Trask.
Sleeper: Kentucky
The front half of Kentucky’s schedule is friendly, and Denzil Ware, Jordan Jones and Mike Edwards are all-conference caliber players on defense. Can you imagine a scenario where the Wildcats meet Georgia on Nov. 18 with the SEC East on the line?
SEC West predictions
1. Alabama
2. Auburn
3. LSU
4. Texas A&M
5. Mississippi State
6. Arkansas
7. Ole Miss
Champion: Alabama
Jalen Hurts will take the next step as a sophomore, the skill position talent is as deep as ever and the defense must fill a few gaps from last year’s front seven. Still, no team in the FBS has more talent than the Crimson Tide.
X-factor: Jarrett Stidham
Is the real life? Is this just fantasy? Stidham is caught in the landslide of offseason hype, and the reality is if he is as good as advertised — especially in the vertical passing game — then Auburn might just have a shot to win the SEC West when Alabama rolls in for the Iron Bowl. Open your eyes, look out on The Plains, and see.
Sleeper: Mississippi State
The Bulldogs could finish anywhere from second to last in the SEC West, and much of that hinges on stat-stuffer Nick Fitzgerald, who is a dark-horse Heisman Trophy candidate. Mississippi State has yet to beat Alabama since Saban arrived. Could that change in a November trap game?
Three biggest games
Alabama at Auburn (Nov. 25): Remember Ohio State-Michigan last year? This Iron Bowl could be even better; the biggest since the "Kick Six" game.
Florida vs. Georgia (Oct. 28). It’s supposed to determine the SEC East, and this year it will. The Gators have won the last three meetings.
LSU at Alabama (Nov. 4): This was the biggest game in college football for almost a decade. Will it stay that way?
Heisman hopefuls
Jalen Hurts, QB, Alabama. Hurts is set up for success, and the addition of offensive coordinator Brian Daboll will only increase those chances.
Derrius Guice, RB, LSU. The Tigers would have to dethrone in the SEC West, but Guice at least has Doak Walker Award winner potential.
Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn. We are serious. Don’t call us Shirley. Stidham, of course, must win the starting job first.
Hot seat: Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M
Hugh Freeze is already out. This will rotate again among SEC coaches not named Nick Saban, but Sumlin is up first. When you’re AD is calling you out at the spring meetings, that’s a clear sign that 8-5 won’t do for the Aggies.
Stat that matters
Including the SEC championship game, Alabama has lost nine conference games in the last nine seasons.
SEC champion: Alabama
That's a four peat, both in the SEC and the College Football Playoff. We’re still living by the same old saying: The season doesn’t start until Alabama loses.
All-SEC team
From the Street & Smith’s Yearbook, available here:
Offense
QB: Jalen Hurts, Alabama
RB: Derrius Guice, LSU
RB: Kamryn Pettway, Auburn
WR: Calvin Ridley, Alabama
WR: Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
TE: Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
OL: Will Clapp, LSU
OL: Frank Ragnow, Arkansas
OL: Bradley Bozeman, Alabama
OL: Braden Smith, Auburn
OL: Martez Ivey, Florida
Defense
DL: Arden Key, LSU
DL: Denzil Ware, Kentucky
DL: Marcell Frazier, Missouri
DL: Da'Ron Payne, Alabama
LB: Skai Moore, South Carolina
LB: Roquan Smith, Georgia
LB: Jordan Jones, Kentucky
DB: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
DB: Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
DB: Mike Edwards, Kentucky
DB: Marcell Harris, Florida
Special teams
K: Daniel Carlson, Auburn
P: JK Scott, Alabama
