By Skeeter Smith
As we breeze through the halfway point in the season, let’s stop and take a look at how the coaches in the SEC have fared.
Sam Pittman, Arkansas: B
Sam Pittman and the Razorbacks couldn’t have entered their bye week on a higher note after a major upset over Tennessee in Week six. Sitting at 4-2 at the halfway point, Arkansas is in a much better situation than many expected. However, there’s a strong argument they should be 6-0, having let late leads slip away against Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. Overall, for a team most people wrote off in the preseason, the Razorbacks have proven to be dangerous.
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama: C+
What seemed like a seamless transition from Saban to DeBoer, after a big win over Georgia, recent weeks have exposed some cracks in this team. A loss to Vanderbilt and a narrow escape against South Carolina have left Alabama in uncharted SEC territory, fighting to stay alive in the playoff hunt. With plenty still to play for, DeBoer needs to get his team back on track quickly.
Hugh Freeze, Auburn: F
This could be shaping up to be a year where Auburn fails to win an SEC game. Despite playing five of their first seven games at home, they enter the bye week at 2-5. To make matters worse, there’s been little to feel good about: poor quarterback play, a subpar defense, and a coach making headlines for throwing his players under the bus. The only positive surrounding Freeze is his success on the recruiting trail.
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Billy Napier, Florida: D
It feels like it’s only a matter of when Napier gets fired, not if. What could have been his saving grace, a big road win over Tennessee turned into an ugly loss, only adding to the frustration that has been sitting with Florida fans since Napier’s arrival. Sitting at 3-3, the Gators will face a much tougher schedule in the second half of their season with a true freshman starting a quarterback.
Kirby Smart, Georgia: B+
When a team ranked in the top 5 is considered somewhat of a disappointment, it shows just how high expectations are at Georgia. While the Bulldogs haven’t necessarily played poorly, they haven’t looked like the team we have become accustomed to. Inconsistent play on both sides of the ball has kept them from standing out as an elite team. With tough games ahead, Smart will need to address these issues quickly.
Mark Stoops, Kentucky: C
It’s been an up-and-down season for Kentucky so far this year. On one hand, The Wildcats played Georgia close and pulled off an upset at Ole Miss, on the other they lost to Vanderbilt and were embarrassed by South Carolina at home. This season pretty much sums up the Stoops experience at Kentucky with really high highs and really low lows
Brian Kelly, LSU: C+
LSU still remains one of the more puzzling teams in the country. At times, the defense has shown improvement from last season but then can quickly revert to their old ways. The offense, while still good, has regressed from last year. A key win over Ole Miss was huge for their postseason hopes, but inconsistent performances early in the season are concerning.
Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State: D
It’s hard not to feel for Lebby, who is doing the best he can with an overmatched roster. Despite being competitive in most games, the lack of playmakers and depth has been their undoing. Outside of a bad loss to Toledo, they’ve fought hard but face a tough road ahead, with only one game on the schedule that they will be favored in.
Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri: C
Missouri’s 5-1 record sounds great on paper, but a closer look reveals struggles. Narrow wins over Vanderbilt and Boston College, followed by a blowout loss at Texas A&M, show that the Tigers haven’t lived up to expectations. If they hope to remain in the playoff conversation, they’ll need to turn things around quickly.
Brent Venables, Oklahoma: D
Injuries have devastated Oklahoma’s season. Missing key players at wide receiver and along the offensive line, the Sooners have looked abysmal on offense. With four ranked opponents left on the schedule and a weirdly handled quarterback situation, it’s shaping up to be a forgettable year for Venables and the Sooners.
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss: F
With one of the most favorable schedules in the SEC, two losses before the bye week is a huge blow to Ole Miss’s playoff hopes. Even if the Rebels win out, their weak schedule may hurt their chances when compared to other two-loss teams. This team was built for a playoff run this season, and anything less will be a failure for Kiffin.
Shane Beamer, South Carolina: B-
Despite their record, South Carolina has been one of the most surprising teams in the SEC. They dominated Kentucky on the road and pushed both LSU and Alabama to the brink. With some winnable games coming up, the Gamecocks have a chance to turn the season around. Say what you will about Shane Beamer, but his team plays hard every week.
Josh Heupel, Tennessee: C+
Tennessee came crashing down back to reality after an upset loss to Arkansas. Known for their explosive offense, the Vols have struggled to score recently, failing to put up a single point in the first half of their last two games. On the plus side, the defense has improved significantly. If Heupel can reignite the offense, Tennessee still has a shot at the playoffs.
Steve Sarkisian, Texas: A+
Sarkisian’s Longhorns have clearly separated themselves from the rest of the SEC, looking like the most dominant team in the country. Scarily enough, they may still have another gear left. As the lone undefeated team in the conference, Texas controls its own destiny and should be favored to make the playoffs.
Mike Elko, Texas A&M: A-
Elko has the Aggies right in the playoff mix. After an early loss to Notre Dame, many wrote them off, but A&M has impressed in conference play. Elko has exceeded expectations in his first year thus but he could make a real statement within the conference if he is able to finish the year strong.
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt: A
Vanderbilt has become the feel-good story of college football. After pulling off the upset of the year against Alabama, they followed it up with a gutsy road win at Kentucky. 4-2 at the halfway point is something no one saw coming, and Lea deserves immense credit for getting this team to compete every week.
