AlaskaGuy
Banned on 2 other boards #ThugLife
- Messages
- 15,344
- Location
- Big Lake, Alaska
College Football Quarterly Review: The biggest surprises and disappointments in 2023
The first four weeks of the season have been chaotic and it seems the drama is just starting as clear-cut contenders have yet to emerge in most conferences.
247sports.com
DISAPPOINTING: SEC VS. THE WORLD
The SEC might still be the king, but the crown on the head is ajar.
The conference started the season 3-6 against Power Five opponents, the worst start since 2002, with Alabama's loss to Texas as the most notable. The SEC bounced back in Week 4 and is now 5-7, but who would have thought the SEC's only teams with wins against ranked opponents would be Mizzou and Ole Miss?
Six of the SEC's seven losses were by double digits. Even the wins against low-tier opponents have raised eyebrows. Auburn rallied in a late-night defensive battle against Cal, a four-win team a year ago. Kentucky struggled to hold off FCS Eastern Kentucky for a 28-17 win. Mississippi State needed a plus-4 turnover margin and overtime to beat Arizona, a team picked by the media to finish eighth in the Pac-12, at home.
Now, the SEC's programs turn their attention to each other in conference play. Other than Georgia, is there a powerhouse in the conference this fall?
DISAPPOINTING: ALABAMA'S SLOW BURNOUT
Nick Saban deserves the benefit of the doubt at every turn, but Alabama has fallen well short of preseason expectations and looks more like a mid-tier SEC team than a national threat.
Point all you want at the carousel of quarterbacks but the issues are deeper and more complex. The offensive line isn't playing at a championship level. The secondary isn't quite what it used to be (and that's why Saban grabbed two Group of Five defensive backs in the Transfer Portal). Staff turnover over the years may have finally caught up to the program, too, which may have led to slower player development. Plus, don't underestimate the portal and NIL poking holes in the Alabama roster.
Still, Alabama has the nation's most talented roster, according to the 247Sports Team Talent Composite. The Tide should be much better than what they pieced together in the double-digit loss to Texas and the great escape from Tampa against lowly USF.
Might the Tide be a three- or four-loss team? One could argue Alabama without quarterback Bryce Young was just that last season. We'll find out this fall with Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner fighting for the final seat in Alabama's game of musical chairs.
Last edited:
