One issue each SEC team must fix as 2023 conference schedule begins: Georgia, Alabama run games in focus

Chants of “SEC!” emanated from Texas fans inside Bryant-Denny Stadium last weekend as the Longhorns closed out a monumental road victory over Alabama to highlight Week 2 of the college football season. The Longhorns will be members of the conference this time next year, so their faithful took advantage of the chance to let big, bad ‘Bama know they aren’t scared of what’s ahead.

What do the Longhorns have to be afraid of, anyway? Sure, the SEC has produced 13 of the last 17 national champions, but the league is noticeably lacking in bite early this season. Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M — the SEC West favorites — have each suffered early losses, while two-time reigning national champion Georgia has some obvious offensive kinks to iron out if it’s going to three-peat. Still, the Dawgs are looking like the league’s only hope for a fifth straight national title after the conference’s lackluster start.

Notable Week 1 results included LSU losing to Florida State, Florida losing at Utah and South Carolina losing to North Carolina. Then, Week 2 brought Miami’s 48-33 win over Texas A&M and Alabama’s 34-24 loss to Texas as a home favorite. One easy explanation for the SEC’s struggles is lackluster quarterback play, but the truth behind the league’s poor start is more nuanced.

Every team, even those off to 2-0 starts, has shown flaws early in the 2023 season. As Week 3 dawns across the college football landscape, here is a quick hit on what each of the 14 SEC teams need to fix or improve entering league play.

SEC East

Analysis via David Cobb

Florida — More perimeter playmaking: Say what you will about Graham Mertz, who was an uninspiring quarterback pickup for the Gators from Wisconsin, but he’s been fine through two games. The bigger concern is the…

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Author : David Cobb

Publish date : 2023-09-15 16:20:13

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