The 2015 season has just ended, but it's never too early to look ahead to next year. And it should come as no surprise that Alabama remains on top in our way-too-early SEC power rankings. Is Tennessee ready to take the next step? How will Kirby Smart fare at Georgia? Can Les Miles and Leonard Fournette finally beat Alabama? Let's take our first stab at answering these questions and more. Also, here's Mark Schlabach's national way-too-early Top 25.
1. Say goodbye to the starting quarterback, running back and center. Say goodbye to the middle linebacker and a large chunk of that dominant defensive line. The NFL will raid Alabama's cupboard as it does every offseason. But don't say goodbye to expectations. With Calvin Ridley back at receiver and a slew of four- and five-star talents poised to fill the gaps on the depth chart, Alabama isn't going anywhere. -- Alex Scarborough
2. LSU Tigers
Les Miles’ club will get a lot of love heading into next season, and why shouldn’t it? The Tigers could have as many as 17 starters back -- including star running back Leonard Fournette -- and will benefit from the additions of new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda and what should be an all-star signing class. There are depth-chart concerns in a couple of spots, but overall LSU returns a solid lineup. -- David Ching
3. Welcome to the pressure cooker, Vols. All eyes will be on the guys in orange this offseason, as Tennessee returns the most well-rounded team in the SEC Eastern Division. The offense appears loaded, with quarterback Joshua Dobbs and running back Jalen Hurd headlining a veteran unit, and the defense should be even better with Bob Shoop taking over a pretty experienced group. -- Edward Aschoff
4. The Rebels will lose some key components on both sides of the ball, especially on offense. Four offensive linemen must be replaced and the top receiver in school history -- Laquon Treadwell -- is gone. Getting top SEC quarterback Chad Kelly back is huge, and while the defense will be without some leaders, there’s a plethora of young talent that should help this team progress in 2016. -- E.A.
5. The Hogs’ impressive offense took a huge hit with underclassmen Alex Collins, Hunter Henry and Denver Kirkland all joining senior quarterback Brandon Allen and offensive guard Sebastian Tretola in the draft pool. That will leave second-year offensive coordinator Dan Enos with a lot of holes to fill after an impressive showing in his first year on the job. Most everyone from a young defensive unit in 2015 will return. -- D.C.
6. Kirby Smart will have several major decisions to make in his first go-round as a head coach. Solving Georgia’s quarterback quandary is tough enough, but the Bulldogs also have huge questions at receiver, on the offensive line and in the defensive front seven. Mark Richt’s final season in Athens was a bit of a mess, but the Bulldogs still won 10 games. Playing in the East and getting Nick Chubb back will help achieving that kind of win total remain a possibility. -- D.C.
7. Florida would be higher on this list, but we have no clue what to expect from the offense. The defense took a few hits from the NFL draft, but should still have plenty of bite. Quarterback is still a mystery and the Gators will have to lean on a handful of youngsters to help a struggling offense. The offensive line should be better, but will Jim McElwain get closer to showcasing his true offense? -- E.A.
8. Maybe it’s a good thing Auburn isn’t at or near the top of our 2016 power rankings. The Tigers tend to do better when nobody expects it. And if the bowl game was any indication, this might be a team to watch next year. But priority No. 1 needs to be finding a quarterback because without that, they’re just another middle-of-the-pack team in the SEC. -- Greg Ostendorf
9. What is going on in College Station? Between quarterback transfers and coaching changes, it’s been a wild offseason for Texas A&M. The Aggies will still look to take that next step with Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight at quarterback. But if it doesn’t happen, head coach Kevin Sumlin could be in trouble. His seat is already pretty warm after another mediocre year. -- G.O.
10. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Let the post-Dak Prescott era begin. The man who has meant so much to the offense, the team and the university is now gone. So prepare yourself for a quarterback competition among Nick Fitzgerald, Elijah Staley and Damian Williams. What's more, keep a close eye on the defense now that coordinator Manny Diaz is gone, and the recruiting front now that ace assistant Tony Hughes has left. -- A.S.
11. Fans have been patient long enough. As much as Mark Stoops has done for this program, it’s time he leads this team to a bowl game. Nobody is expecting Kentucky to win the division, but with Drew Barker at quarterback and plenty of talented skill players at his disposal, the Wildcats should have enough firepower to at least make the postseason. -- G.O.
12. Missouri Tigers
A lot will be new in Columbia in 2016. Long-time coach Gary Pinkel is gone, making way for former defensive coordinator Barry Odom. His first order of business is to find some sort of spark for the worst offense in the SEC. Drew Lock or enigmatic Maty Mauk must improve at quarterback with yet another reshuffled offensive line. The good news is that this defense should once again be one of the league’s best. -- E.A.
13. The post-Steve Spurrier era will be loaded with issues for new head coach Will Muschamp. He has assembled a staff that should be capable of quickly addressing the Gamecocks’ roster holes on the recruiting trail, but there will be some growing pains in the short term. South Carolina will be without Pharoh Cooper, Jerell Adams and Brandon Wilds on offense, so identifying offensive playmakers will be new coordinator Kurt Roper’s first order of business. -- D.C.
14. Don’t be shocked if Vandy rises out of this spot next season. The Commodores were not the SEC’s worst team in 2015 and they seem poised to improve further in Year 3 under Derek Mason. The defense should once again be strong, but offensive issues remain -- particularly at quarterback. If sophomore quarterback Kyle Shurmur makes strides in his second season on campus, that will help immensely. Ralph Webb can’t continue to be the only weapon. -- D.C.