With six head coaches at SEC schools, the conference will be markedly different than last season. Alabama will compete against three SEC teams with new head coaches. Moving up from the Oregon Offensive Coordinator to Kentucky's head coach, Will Stein will change almost everything for Kentucky. At LSU and Auburn, Lane Kiffin and Alex Golesh, the Alabama football staff knows what to expect.
More interesting and perhaps more problematic for the Alabama Crimson Tide is how much Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Tennessee will change with new coordinators. For hot-seat SEC head coaches Jeff Lebby and Shane Beamer, their new coordinators are possible lifelines. In Knoxville, Josh Heupel's seat is warm rather than hot, but if the Vols miss the Playoff for a second straight season, that will change. Doubt has been building in Knoxville since Ohio State pummeled the Vols 42-17 in the program's single playoff game.
Biggest Challenge to the Alabama Crimson Tide
Jim Knowles has a coaching reputation greater than Kendal Briles and far greater than Zach Arnett. Before Knowles' one-season hiatus at Penn State, he was the Defensive Coordinator at Oklahoma State and Ohio State. Knowles made big improvements in the Cowboys' defense before leaving for the Buckeyes. In his third season in Columbus, some experts stated that Knowles was more responsible for Ohio State's National Championship than was Ryan Day.
Josh Heupel is lucky to have Knowles on his staff. And Heupel is probably smart enough to give Knowles free rein. With Knowles, the Vols will be hard for Alabama to beat in Knoxville. Alabama's advantage against Knowles will be in-depth knowledge. He will not suddenly change what has previously worked.
There will not be much unknown either with Zach Arnett returning to Starkville. Arnett was DC for Mike Leach for three seasons. He was promoted to interim head coach for one game in 2022. The interim title was removed for the 2023 season, but with a 4-6 record, Arnett was fired before the season ended. The Bulldogs should be glad about Arnett's return. He produced some top-five SEC defenses as MSU's DC. Only Arkansas' defense was worse than State's last season. Arnett will make them better quickly.
The biggest new coordinator challenge for Alabama will be Kendal Briles. He has earned a reputation for quickly turning around offenses. South Carolina players have reacted positively, calling Briles' system simpler and allowing leeway to react quickly. Gamecocks' QB LaNorris Sellers should be freed up to use his considerable ability. The Gamecocks and the Tide could have a hard-fought game in Tuscaloosa.
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