Restof SEC can’tkeepupwithtop two
Alabama, Georgia appearway above beleaguered rivals.
Things look pretty good for the Southeastern Conference, which has a solid chance to win a national title with Alabama and Georgia leading theway. But the rest of the league is struggling to keep pace with the Crimson Tide and the Bulldogs.
Florida’s frustration at chasing the SEC elite was evident lastweekend, when the school partedwayswith coach Jim McElwain.
The Gators were the first to make amove. Othersmay follow.
It’s been another topheavy year in the SEC, with undefeated Alabama and Georgia rolling over opponents and heading for a seemingly inevitable showdown in the league’s championship game. They also occupied the top spots in the first College Football Playoff standings released Tuesday.
But the league’s drama won’t be confined to the national title chase.
McElwain’s departure wasn’t all about wins and losses — recent off-the-field events had created a rift with his administration — but a 42-7 loss to Georgia on Saturday certainly didn’t help. His swift fall was particularly stunning considering he’d won the SEC East title his first two years before a steep dropoff this fall.
“This is a placewhere you can compete for championships at the highest level,” Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin said.
Most SEC programs feel the sameway and are spending millions on coaches and facilities to make that happen. The problem is not all of them can succeed at the same time.
Now that Alabama and Georgia are dominating, other schools will try and keep up. LSU coach Ed Orgeron said the pressure and expectations are just part of the job description.
“These are very prestigious jobs,” Orgeron said. “When you’re at a place like LSU— I’m onlygoing tospeak formyself— you’re expected towin. You’re expectedtodo well andwhen youdon’t, the pressure’s going to be on.”
One of the trouble spots is Tennessee. The Volunteers are mired in a four-game losing streak and coach Butch Jones is facing constant questions about job security.
“I understand everybody being upset, and if Iwas a fan I’d be upset too,” Jones said.
Ole Miss is another school that’s likely tomake a coaching change. Hugh Freeze resigned before the season after a school investigation intohisphonerecords found personal misconduct. Interim coach Matt Luke hasn’t had much success, with a 3-5 record, including 1-4 in the SEC.
Other schools feeling various levels of frustration include Arkansas, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Missouri. Some of the situations are particularly volatile, with one win or loss changing the trajectory of a program.
There’s even been discontent at Auburn — and the Tigers are No. 14 in the CFP rankings. But some Auburn fans have not been able to get over the Tigers blowing a 20-0 lead in a loss to LSU.
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema was under considerable pressure before a 38-37 win over Ole Miss on Saturday. The Razorbacks rallied from a 31-7 deficit in the second quarter to snap a three-game losing streak. Of course, that just raised the heat at Ole Miss.
The game’s aftermathwas araremomentwhenBielema could jokeabout the constant pressure and expectations.
“When you’re in these situations everyone has a lot of answers for you,” Bielema said with awry grin. “I appreciate all the advice that I’ve gotten from everyone from A to Z.”
There are a few SEC programs outside of Alabama and Georgia somewhat pleased with their current staffing. Mississippi State is among them; the Bulldogs havewon three straight games and are coming off an impressive 35-14 road win overTexasA&M. DanMullen has been at Mississippi State for nine years, which makes him the league’s second-longest tenured coach behind Alabama’s Nick Saban.
Four future CFP championship sites picked: The College Football Playoff national championship game will be held in Miami Gardens, Florida; Indianapolis; Inglewood, California; and Houston from 2021 through 2024.
“We’re delighted that we’re able to complete our goal of 10 in 10,” College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock said Wednesday. “Thefirst 10College Football Playoffchampionship games will be played in 10 different cities.”
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens will host the 2021 title game, after the 2020 season. Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis will be the first cold-weather site for the championship in 2022.
Thenewstadiumin Southern California that will be the home of the NFL’s Rams and Chargers will be the site of the 2023 national title game, followed the next year by NRG Stadium in Houston.
This season’s championship game will be held in Atlanta at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which landed the championship gameeven before it was built — as the stadium in Inglewood has done.
Next year’s nationalchampionship game will be at Levi’s StadiuminSantaClara, California. The 2020 game will be played at the Superdome in New Orleans. The previous sites were AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona; andRaymondJamesStadium in Tampa, Florida.