In the summer of upheaval in college football, the SEC was able to lay rather low, having made its big move two years ago to annex Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12, and both due for delivery next season. Shrewd commish Greg Sankey, however, isn't oblivious to what is going on and is monitoring developments closely, including the growth of the Big Ten and Big 12 to a staggering 18 schools each. Bigger isn't always better, however, and Sankey seems comfortable the 16 teams the SEC will include next season with the addition of the Longhorns and Sooners. 

Interestingly, the league has also answered rumors about Florida State rattling its saber in the ACC with a big yawn, though rumors that the Seminoles and Clemson might want to joint he SEC party will not abate. In the meantime, Sankey and others will simply sit back and watch if FSU and Clemson really want to challenge the ACC's media grant of rights, which as currently contracted runs through 2036. At the moment, there doesn't seem much desire from the SEC to add either school.

While the top of the league remains unparalleled and could produce a possible fifth straight national title winner this season, the conference is hardly as dominant downstream, as the five bowl game losses last season suggest. Still, there are some positives outside of Tuscaloosa and Athens. 

Under Josh Heupel, Tennessee has at least risen from a decade-plus of slumber to emerge as a challenger for omnipotent Georgia, which has usurped Alabama as the team to beat in the league after winning the past two national titles for Kirby Smart.  And for the record, Nick Saban's Crimson Tide didn't even win the SEC West last season, as Brian Kelly's first LSU teamed edged the Tide on a head-to-head tiebreaker thanks to winning an OT thriller at Baton Rouge last November. Still, the roads through the East and West titles run through the Bulldogs and Tide, who are clear favorites to clash for the conference crown in Atlanta for the second time in three seasons, and perhaps have another rematch in the national title game after meeting there two seasons ago.

It's also a quiet period on the coaching hot seat. Auburn, often in the center of such things, in a rare quiet period as it likely grants new head coach Hugh Freeze a bit of a honeymoon period. No coach seems to be in immediate trouble. Even Jimbo Fisher, chronically underachieving at Texas A&M, seems safe unless the Aggie suits want to swallow what would be a huge buyout on his contract (not likely). With the likes of Vanderbilt's Clark Lea and Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz both getting contract extensions, the coaching carousel does not seem ready to spin again anytime soon in the SEC. The only new coaches this fall are the aforementioned Freeze and Mississippi State's Zach Arnett, who assumed the Bulldog job last December before the Reliaquest Bowl win over Illinois after the untimely passing of Mike Leach.    

A quick look at the conference title odds suggests a wide gulf between the top contenders and the rest, with only LSU given a realistic shot at catching Alabama in the West, and Georgia's presence creating long odds for every other team in the East. Longshot lovers have their pick  of the rest, but we'd suggest investing in some other league if you're looking for big winnings. In the SEC, the top teams are a pretty exclusive club.

2023 SEC title odds

Per Caesars Sportsbook

• Georgia -115
• Alabama +240
• LSU +450
• Texas A&M +1200
• Tennessee +1600
• Ole Miss +4000
• Auburn +5000
• Florida +6000
• Kentucky +6000
• South Carolina +10000
• Arkansas +10000
• Mississippi State +12500
• Missouri +25000
• Vanderbilt +75000

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