GAINESVILLE, Fla. — While the Southeastern Conference is perched at the top of college football, other power conferences seem more determined than ever to thwart a potential SEC four-peat of national titles.

Another title is inevitable should Florida follow through on its preseason No. 1 billing.
The lofty expectations of the SEC will indeed be a talking point at Wednesday’s SEC Media Days in Birmingham.
USC, Texas and Oklahoma might be the proper challengers to the SEC’s reign.
“People act as if the SEC is the end-all,” Michigan State Coach Mark Dantonio said. “I don’t see it as that. Call it what you want.”
The SEC has seen a steady pipeline of teams make the Bowl Championship Series title game with one, maybe even two losses.
Florida aims to change that as the potential fifth SEC team to culminate an undefeated season with a national championship. Previous unbeaten SEC winners to claim a national title include Alabama (1979 and 1992), Georgia (1980) and Tennessee (1998).
The SEC owns four of the last six national titles, winning the last three BCS championship games by an average of 17 points. The SEC went 6-2 in the postseason last year, and the conference has won more BCS bowls (12) than any other league.
Florida, Georgia, Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss all have the potential to win 10 or more games in 2009. And don’t forget about wild card Tennessee, with Lane Kiffin producing a top-10 recruiting class.
“The SEC is our No. 1 goal,” quarterback Tim Tebow said. “That’s what we take the most pride in — winning the SEC. If we win that, we think we deserve to be in a big game.”
The Gators will begin that quest with the first day of fall practice on Aug. 6.


CONFERENCE game of the year
Florida-LSU, Oct. 10: With the Gators the clear-cut favorite for a title, they must first get through Death Valley — where they haven’t won in the last two appearances. This is the biggest obstacle in Florida’s championship run. LSU will be better than last year’s 3-5 conference record suggests.
Best non-conference games
Alabama-Virginia Tech, Sept. 5: The defending Atlantic Coast champion Hokies return many key players for a preseason top-10 billing. Alabama needs to show early it can run the ball without Andre Smith.
Georgia-Oklahoma State, Sept. 5: If Georgia has any chance of making postseason noise, it must handle the hostile Stillwater environment. The Bulldogs can control this game with their physical lines.
Auburn-West Virginia, Sept. 19: The Tigers need a statement win after last year’s disaster, and these two teams still have enough national luster to breath excitement into the matchup.
Three worst creampuff games
Florida-Charleston Southern, Sept. 5: The country’s best team will put up 70 against another I-AA foe.
Ole Miss-Southeastern Louisiana, Sept. 19: One of two FCS opponents for Ole Miss.
Vanderbilt-Western Carolina, Sept. 5: Is anybody you know watching this game? Exactly.
Five best players
QB Tim Tebow, Sr.: Lock for SEC Offensive Player of the Year for Florida.
SS Eric Berry, Jr.: A lock for SEC Defensive Player of the Year for Tennessee.
DE Greg Hardy, Sr.: Can change the game for Ole Miss with his strength and quickness.
OL Ciron Black, Sr.: LSU’s running game would be lost without him.
WR A.J. Green, So.: Will be the biggest reason why Georgia wins 10 games this season.

SEC: A closer look at each team

Alabama
2008 record: 12-2 (8-0 SEC); 1st in Western Division
Head coach: Nick Saban (19-8 in third season)
Lettermen returning/lost: 55/11
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 4/9
Most important returnee: DT Terrence Cody. He could be the only player in the SEC to be triple teamed next year. The attention big Cody garners will allow ’Bama to blitz all day with speedy linebackers.
Others to know: WR Julio Jones, LB Rolando McClain, RB Mark Ingram.
Storylines: Alabama lost leaders: QB John Parker Wilson, C Antoine Caldwell, RB Glen Coffee, OL Andre Smith, S Rashad Johnson. That’s why it’s crucial for the Tide to establish the physical line-dominating identity early in the season.
Looking ahead: For once, Alabama could be looking up at Ole Miss in the West.

Florida
2008 record: 13-1 (7-1 SEC); 1st in East and conference
Head coach: Urban Meyer (44-9 in fifth season)
Lettermen returning/lost: 48/17
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 7/11
Most important returnee: QB Tim Tebow. When Tebow declared he would forgo the NFL draft and return for a senior season, the prospect for Florida’s 2009 season vaulted from a borderline top 10 to widespread preseason No. 1.
Others to know: LB Brandon Spikes, TE Aaron Hernandez, CB Joe Haden.
Storylines: The defense is intact with 21 returning in the two-deep, a prowess shown all spring when the offense struggled to score. The Gators need a wide receiver to emerge and at least two first-time starters will man the offensive line, but this team is still balanced.
Looking ahead: Anything less than a second straight national title is a disappointment.

Arkansas
2008 record: 5-7 (2-6); T-4th in Western Division
Head coach: Bobby Petrino (5-7 in second season)
Lettermen returning/lost: 50/17
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 8/9
Most important returnee: RB Michael Smith. Arkansas returns almost every playmaker from last season, but no one will be more important than Smith, a do-it-all back.
Others to know: TE D.J. Williams, LB Jerry Franklin, DT Malcolm Sheppard.
Storylines: The nine returning defensive starters have worked to cultivate a winning environment after ranking near the bottom in major defensive categories. The expectations for Michigan transfer QB Ryan Mallett have only grown since he stepped on campus in 2008.
Looking ahead: Petrino is too good of an offensive coach to miss a bowl game for the second straight year.

Georgia
2008 record: 10-3 (6-2 SEC) 2nd in Eastern Division
Head coach: Mark Richt (82-22 in ninth season)
Lettermen returning/lost: 49/22
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 7/6
Most important returnee: WR A.J. Green. Arguably the conference’s most talented wideout in a battle with Alabama’s Julio Jones, Green will make the adjustment period easier for QB Joe Cox.
Others to know: DT Jeff Owens, QB Joe Cox, LB Rennie Curran.
Storylines: The Bulldogs have finally accepted last year’s failure after the lofty expectations (preseason No. 1) and realized they are a little better when understated. The Bulldogs need to become a cohesive unit without Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, who garnered the spotlight most of the time.
Looking ahead: Another nine- or 10-win season for Richt, but another second-place finish to the Gators in the East.

Auburn
2008 record: 5-7 (2-6 SEC) T-4th in Western Division
Head coach: Gene Chizik (0-0)
Lettermen returning/lost: 47/21
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 7/7
Most important returnee: RB Ben Tate. Auburn’s offense is all about power football, and the Tigers are grateful to have Tate back to help restore the power game.
Others to know: QB Kodi Burns, LT Lee Ziemba, FS Zac Etheridge
Storylines: The Tigers ranked 10th in passing and scoring offense last year, but Burns had a year to learn from his 2008 mistakes. The spread-offense experiment is over for Auburn, which should run the ball more efficiently.
Looking ahead: Don’t expect a 2004 or a 2008 Auburn, but probably somewhere in the middle.

Kentucky
2008 record: 7-6 (2-6); 6th in Eastern Division
Head coach: Rich Brooks (32-41 in seventh season)
Lettermen returning/lost: 49/24
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 7/5
Most important returnee: CB Trevard Lindley. The best cornerback in the SEC bypassed NFL money to return to Lexington. He’s Kentucky’s best player, the lock-down corner you can leave on an island with no worries.
Others to know: RB Alfonso Smith, LB Micah Johnson, QB Mike Hartline
Storylines: Kentucky is trying to recapture the offensive magic of the Andre Woodson-era rather than last season’s attempt to run away from it. SomehowKentucky keeps crawling its way into bowl games, but in years past you knew why— a good passing attack.
Looking ahead: There’s nowhere for Kentucky’s offense to go but up. Depth on the defensive and offensive lines is a concern.


LSU
2008 record: 8-5 (3-5 SEC) 3rd in Western Division
Head coach: Les Miles (42-11 in fifth season)
Lettermen returning/lost: 47/17
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 7/6
Most important returnee: LT Ciron Black. The surefire All-SEC left tackle eases the running game for TB Charles Scott.
Others to know: WR Brandon LaFell, QB Jordan Jefferson, LB Kelvin Sheppard
Storylines: New defensive coordinator John Chavis has instilled a new culture to a unit that has lost its swagger after years of dominance. Scott had a nice spring playing the fullback/running back role, and Miles said he likes QB Jefferson’s development.
Looking ahead: Playing better than last year’s 3-5 conference record suggests, LSU will pose numerous matchup problems for the SEC’s best.

South Carolina
2008 record: 7-6 (4-4 SEC) 4th in Eastern Division
Head coach: Steve Spurrier (28-22 in fifth season)
Lettermen returning/lost: 40/28
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 5/6
Most important returnee: QB Stephen Garcia. The Gamecocks are being delicate with the redshirt sophomore, who just endured his first full spring practice after a tumultuous early career.
Others to know: LB Eric Norwood, RB Jarvis Giles, DT Ladi Ajiboye.
Storylines: The Gamecocks must improve the league’s worst rushing offense last season along with a lackluster 20.8 points per game, eighth in the league. Spurrier is just hoping to win some close games for once.
Looking ahead: Everyone’s waiting for USC to step out of mediocrity.

Mississippi
2008 record: 9-4 (5-3 SEC) 2nd in Western Division
Head coach: Houston Nutt (9-4 in second season)
Lettermen returning/lost: 51/15
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 6/8
Most important returnee: QB Jevan Snead. The tools, the poise and the big-play ability are in place, but Snead must improve his accuracy after completing 56 percent of his passes with 13 interceptions.
Others to know: DE Greg Hardy, RB/WR Dexter McCluster, OL John Jerry.
Storylines: The Rebels just want to perpetuate a good thing. Last year was a breakthrough under Nutt, who fused a talented lineup with a winning belief system. With Alabama replacing key offensive players and LSU still inconsistent after last year’s 3-5 SEC finish, the door is wide open for the Rebels to win the SEC West.
Looking ahead: Snead needs to be magical and accurate to knock off the SEC powers.

Mississippi State
2008 record: 4-8 (2-6); 6th in Western Division
Head coach: Dan Mullen (0-0)
Lettermen returning/lost: 4›7
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 8/5
Most important returnee: QB Tyson Lee. For Mullen’s spread offense to have a chance in his first season, Lee must adapt to the changes from MSU’s traditional grind-it-out style. Lee has shown growth in his scrambling ability and accuracy that should translate to the spread.
Others to know: OL Quentin Saulsberry, LB K.J. Wright, RB Anthony Dixon
Storylines: Mullen no longer has the same playmaking guns from his days as UF’s offensive coordinator. Helping Mullen’s cause is that top-25 recruiting class for 2009 and senior RB Anthony Dixon, a 235-pound bruiser.
Looking ahead: Rebuilding MSU will take some time, so don’t expect too much magic this season.

Tennessee
2008 record: 5-7 (3-5 SEC) 5th in Eastern Division
Head coach: Lane Kiffin (0-0)
Lettermen returning/lost: 42/24
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 7/6
Most important returnee: SS Eric Berry. Berry’s the best safety in the conference, maybe in the country, and a surefire first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft.
Others to know: RB Bryce Brown, OG Vladimir Richard, LB Rico McCoy
Storylines: No coach in the SEC has made more drastic efforts to change the culture of a program than first-year coach Kiffin, who has alienated opposing coaches, landed two of the best running-back recruits in the country and redefined attrition with 11 players transferring. Should be an interesting year.
Looking ahead: Despite returning many key parts from last year’s solid defense, Jonathan Crompton is still at quarterback.

Vanderbilt
2008 record: 7-6 (4-4); 3rd in Eastern Division
Head coach: Bobby Johnson (27-56 in seven seasons)
Lettermen returning/lost: 45/16
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 9/9
Most important returnee: TE Brandon Barden. He caught 28 passes for 209 yards as a freshman in a low-watt Vandy offense. That’s like catching 45 balls for Florida. At 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, expect Barden to be the favorite target for projected starter Larry Smith.
Others to know: LB Patrick Benoist, RB Jared Hawkins, CB Myron Lewis.
Storylines: Now the program moves forward in the unfamiliar role of demanding respect after winning its first bowl game in 53 years. They won at least six games in a regular season for the first time since 1982, the last time they appeared in a bowl game.
Looking ahead: Much improved? Yes. Bowl team? Probably. Major player? No.