ESPN College Football

Now that you've seen what to watch in the SEC Western Division, let's check out the East:

FLORIDA

Spring practice start date: March 14
Spring game: April 7

What to watch:

Finding offensive playmakers: Year 2 of the Will Muschamp era begins with the team trying to find someone who can make a few plays for this fall. New offensive coordinator Brent Pease has a host of unproven offensive talent to work with. Wide receiver Andre Debose was Florida's best deep threat last year, and the coaches raved about receiver Quinton Dunbar's potential, but neither was consistent enough in 2011. Maybe Florida can finally turn to bigger backs Mike Gillislee and Mack Brown in the playmaking department.

Toughening up the offensive line: The Gators' line struggled throughout the 2011 season. It wasn't always at 100 percent, but Florida's line also just wasn't tough enough -- mentally or physically. The Gators couldn't get the tough yards on the ground and didn't exactly protect quarterback John Brantley enough. The line should get a boost with early enrollees D.J. Humphries, who was the top offensive line prospect in the 2012 class, and Jessamen Dunker, but Florida will have to get improvement from players who return to a line that lost just one starter from last season.

Quarterback battle: Brantley is gone, leaving rising sophomores Jacoby Brissett, Jeff Driskel and Tyler Murphy. Brissett replaced Driskel as Florida's No. 2 quarterback last year, while Murphy has yet to take a college snap. Brissett and Driskel had plenty of down moments last fall but should get a chance to reinvent themselves this spring with new leadership and more practice reps. This spring will be extremely important for all three quarterbacks as they try to improve a position that struggled mightily the past two years.

GEORGIA

Spring practice start date: March 20
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

Isaiah Crowell's toughness: Crowell has the talent to be a star in this league. He has the size and athletic ability to cause a lot of headaches for opposing defenses. However, his inability to stay healthy -- and in games -- became more of a headache for Georgia's coaches and fans in 2011. Crowell needs to get tougher and be more reliable. He said as much after last season, but it's time to make good on his word. Crowell could get a push from early enrollee Keith Marshall this spring, and we know coach Mark Richt isn't afraid to play multiple backs.

Position changes: Richt made headlines recently when he said he'd be open to considering moving star freshman receiver Malcolm Mitchell to cornerback now that the Bulldogs are thin there. Maybe he'll play both ways. Also, rising sophomore Ray Drew could switch from outside linebacker to defensive end. He played both in high school. Georgia's offensive linemen also could play multiple positions up front.

The target on the Bulldogs' backs: There will be a lot more attention paid to the Bulldogs this spring, as they will probably enter the 2012 season as the favorites in the SEC East. Georgia returns just about everyone from a team that reeled off 10 straight wins on its way to the SEC championship game. The Bulldogs aren't just considered the East front-runners -- they also are being viewed as national championship contenders. But the Bulldogs can't let the hype get to them. We've seen this team underachieve when the expectations were high before.

KENTUCKY

Spring practice start date: March 21
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

Offensive line auditions: The Wildcats must replace three offensive linemen this year. That process will begin this spring, and the good news is that veterans Larry Warford and Matt Smith return. Left guard Kevin Mitchell, who will be a junior this fall, started one game last year, while soon-to-be sophomore right tackle Darrian Miller started two games last fall, so there is some experience coming into the open spots. Trevino Woods, who didn't start a game last year, should be the favorite to play left tackle this spring, but he also can play guard. There's also a lot of depth to work with.

Defensive makeover: Danny Trevathan is gone, so Kentucky must find someone else to run the defense this season. There's no question that Trevathan was the heart of this defense, so replacing him won't be easy, but the Wildcats must find someone who can step up and be a player others can look up to. The Wildcats also lost six starters from their linebacking corps and secondary, meaning Kentucky will have to fill holes with youngsters. Mikie Benton and Ridge Wilson are the only returning starters not on the defensive line.

Maxwell Smith: With fellow quarterback Morgan Newton sidelined this spring as he recovers from shoulder surgery, all eyes will be on Smith. He struggled at times last year, but Kentucky's offense was better when he was under center. Now, he'll have to make even bigger strides this spring if he wants to create a sizable lead in the race before Newton returns. Smith needs to work on his consistency, clean up his mistakes and develop better chemistry with his receivers.

MISSOURI

Spring practice start date: March 6
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

Offensive adjustments: Missouri might return some key pieces at skill positions, but the Tigers must replace three offensive linemen and will have to tweak some things to make their spread offense efficient enough to face SEC defenses. It helps that quarterback James Franklin is a runner and Missouri has speed and depth at receiver and running back, but the team must make subtle changes to combat the improved speed Missouri will see on defense, especially off the edge.

Rebuilding up front: The Tigers will be without three starters on the offensive and defensive lines. That isn't exactly what any SEC team would like, considering games are won in the trenches in this league. Fortunately for Missouri, both sides saw multiple guys get playing time last season. Keep an eye on defensive end Brad Madison. He was viewed as a defensive player of the year candidate in the Big 12 last year but was limited by a shoulder injury.

Wide receivers: Franklin had a heck of a 2011 season, but as he gets ready for 2012, he's still looking for a big-play threat in his receiving corps. T.J. Moe returns as the Tigers' leading receiver, while Marcus Lucas was fourth in receiving last year. Both have the potential to be elite in this league, but can one leave spring with the title of playmaker? Lucas showed flashes last year, but flashes only go so far. Missouri needs to find a definitive receiving threat.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Spring practice start date: March 12
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

Marcus Lattimore's health: His knee injury took place at the halfway point of the season, so he won't be 100 percent for a while. Still, the word is that he's ahead of schedule when it comes to rehabbing his knee. ACL injuries can be tough to manage, but with Lattimore's determination, he'll do everything possible to come back sooner than expected. He likely won't take contact this spring, but it'll be interesting to see whether the Gamecocks get much use out of him before summer.

Finding receiving options: Now that Alshon Jeffery is gone, there's more pressure on South Carolina's receiving corps. Outside of Jeffery, the Gamecocks didn't have consistently reliable options in 2011. That has to change this year, and it starts with a productive spring. Ace Sanders should get more reps, and the coaches are excited about the big-play ability that speedster Damiere Byrd possesses. Also, keep an eye out for Shamier Jeffery, Alshon's little brother.

Connor Shaw's development: Things couldn't have ended any better for South Carolina's quarterback last season. After an up-and-down start, he rebounded in the final three games with 896 combined yards passing and rushing and 11 touchdowns. Now, it's time for him to sharpen his passing skills and develop more confidence in his passing ability. Accomplishing that will help his receivers as well.

TENNESSEE

Spring practice start date: March 26
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

New coaching feel: The Vols enter spring practice with some new faces on the coaching staff. Six new assistant coaches will make their spring debuts this year. The most important might be defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri and running backs coach Jay Graham. Sunseri is working to make Tennessee more multiple in its approach, adding more 3-4 looks, while Graham will have to fix a struggling running game. Tennessee players will need to adjust to new coaching styles and buy in quickly this spring.

Running backs: No group at Tennessee struggled quite like Tennessee's running backs last fall. The Vols were ranked 116th nationally in rushing offense and recorded just 11 rushing touchdowns (nine from running backs). Tauren Poole is gone, which means Graham will first turn to Marlin Lane and Rajion Neal, who combined for just 414 yards and four touchdowns last year. Devrin Young and Tom Smith will have to step up, while Tennessee will get some use out of early enrollee Alden Hill.

Justin Hunter's health: Losing Hunter was the first of a few blows Tennessee's offense took last year. He's arguably Tennessee's best receiver and one of the best deep threats in this league. He suffered his ACL injury at the beginning of the season, and he's reportedly ahead of schedule but won't take any contact this spring. The goal is to have him running and cutting well at the end of the spring.

VANDERBILT

Spring practice start date: March 16
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

Jordan Rodgers' confidence: He enters spring as the quarterback for the Commodores, but he has to improve the mental part of his game. He let it get the best of him at times last year, especially in last season's bowl game. He can lose his rhythm quickly at times. He needs to work on improving his confidence and take more command of Vandy's huddle this spring. He has the skill to be a top quarterback in this league, but his head has to follow.

Warren Norman's health: A knee injury forced the running back to redshirt last year, but the good news is that he spent the fall strengthening his leg by participating in each practice. The hope is that he'll be ready to go this spring, but you'd imagine that since this is his second knee injury, the coaches won't push him too much. Getting him to sprint and cut with ease will be important to his rehab this spring.

Keeping the edge: James Franklin's first year as a head coach was a success, but it's important that the attitude and personality that made Vanderbilt so confident last year roll over to the spring. The loss in the bowl game might have stunted that personality growth a bit, but it's important that the Commodores get it back. It will go a long way toward keeping the progress going.

Everybody loves position rankings. Well, most everybody.

We presented our preseason rankings back in June on the SEC blog, and like most preseason predictions, we wished we had a lot of those picks back by the second or third week of the season.

Now that we’ve actually played the 2011 season, we’ll do it all over again, and we’ll kick if off with the quarterbacks.

At most positions, depth will be the most important factor, and if there’s a superstar in the group, that’s going to carry a lot of weight, too.

But with the quarterbacks, we’re mostly concerned with how the main guy fared this season.

For all positions, performance in conference games is where we’ll start, and how a unit closed the season, including the bowl games, will also be a determining factor.

You can go here to see our preseason quarterback rankings.

Our focus now is how they did this season. Here goes:

1. Arkansas: In his first full season as a starter, Tyler Wilson was outstanding. He led the SEC in passing with 3,638 yards to go along with 24 touchdown passes and only six interceptions. He thought about declaring for the NFL draft, but elected to return and was rated recently by ESPN’s Mel Kiper as the No. 3 rising senior quarterback in the country. We didn't give Wilson nearly enough love in the preseason. Shame on us. He's the real deal.

2. Georgia: Aaron Murray had a record-setting season for the Bulldogs and tossed 35 touchdown passes. He was instrumental in their turnaround and had a big hand in their 10-game winning streak. He also threw 16 interceptions and had two costly picks in the bowl game that helped trigger Michigan State’s comeback. Five of Murray’s picks came in his last three games. All in all, it was still a splendid season for a second-year starter in this league.

3. Alabama: AJ McCarron gets bonus points for the way he played in the Allstate BCS National Championship Game. He earned Offensive MVP honors in leading Alabama to a 21-0 victory over LSU. It wasn't just that one game that has the Crimson Tide in the No. 3 spot. McCarron was solid all season long and didn't turn the ball over. In 234 passing attempts against SEC competition, he only threw three interceptions and averaged 207.2 passing yards.

4. South Carolina: The first half of the season belonged to Stephen Garcia, and it wasn't pretty. In retrospect, Garcia's dismissal might have been the best thing to happen to the Gamecocks. Connor Shaw took over and just got better and better as the season progressed. In his last three games, including wins over Clemson and Nebraska, Shaw completed 75 percent of his passes for 657 yards, eight touchdowns and just one interception. He also rushed for 239 yards in those three games.

5. LSU: It says something about the quarterback play in the SEC that the Tigers are ranked this high, especially with the egg Jordan Jefferson laid in the BCS National Championship Game and how poorly he played in the first half of the SEC championship game. But Jarrett Lee deserves props for stepping in there and playing the way he did in the first eight games, and Jefferson's ability to run the option made a big difference in the first Alabama game. Still, it's hard to get over that stinker in New Orleans.

6. Tennessee: The Vols were dealt a tough blow when Tyler Bray broke his thumb in the Georgia game. He had 14 touchdown passes and only two interceptions going into that game, but wound up missing the next five games. The Vols tried senior Matt Simms and then went with true freshman Justin Worley, but had trouble mustering any offense. Bray came back and played the final two games, although he was a shadow of what he was before the injury. He ended the season with a woeful performance against Kentucky.

7. Florida: When John Brantley went down with a high ankle sprain in the Alabama game, he was throwing the ball as well as he had since coming to Florida. But from that point on, the Gators were a train wreck on offense. True freshmen Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel took a beating while filling in for Brantley, and even when Brantley did come back against Georgia, he wasn't close to 100 percent. Brantley still averaged 175.8 passing yards in league play, which was fourth in the SEC.

8. Vanderbilt: We had the Commodores ranked last in the preseason, and that's because Larry Smith had come off two rocky seasons in a row. He also opened this season as the Commodores' starter, and the passing game once again never took flight. Jordan Rodgers stepped in at the midway point and immediately pumped new life into the Commodores' offense. He was able to generate a lot more big plays down the field and also made things happen with his legs. He didn't end the season on a high note and played poorly in the bowl game.

9. Mississippi State: After finishing his junior season with a bang against Michigan in the Gator Bowl, Chris Relf just didn't take the kind of step during his senior season that a lot of people in and around the program thought he would. The Bulldogs also played Tyler Russell a bunch at quarterback, and he's got a big arm. It's just that much of his damage came against weaker competition in nonconference games. The Bulldogs were one of seven SEC teams that finished with more interceptions than touchdown passes in league play.

10. Auburn: The Tigers finished dead last against SEC foes in passing offense. Their vertical passing game was non-existent, and it was a struggle to complete anything down the field. They averaged just 126.5 passing yards per game against league foes. Three different players split the quarterback duties. Barrett Trotter opened the season as the starter, and Clint Moseley finished it. The Tigers also used true freshman Kiehl Frazier in specialty situations. Despite who was in there at quarterback, nothing came easy for the Tigers this season in the passing game.

11. Kentucky: The Wildcats had high hopes for Morgan Newton entering the season, and Kentucky coach Joker Phillips was pleased with the the way Newton had taken command of the offense in the spring and preseason. It just never translated during the season, though. Newton didn't throw the ball with any confidence and was also saddled with injuries. True freshman Maxwell Smith showed some promise toward the end of the season, but was also banged up. The Wildcats found a way to beat Tennessee in the finale with receiver Matt Roark playing quarterback.

12. Ole Miss: The truth is that there were several candidates for the cellar. It's not like anybody is going to remember 2011 as the Year of the Quarterback in the SEC. In the case of the Rebels, they struggled to find a quarterback all season. Three different players started games, and Ole Miss finished with six touchdown passes and 12 interceptions against SEC foes. Randall Mackey looked like he might be starting to get it once November rolled around, but was then suspended for the last two games.

Urban Meyer's old team beat his new team in the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl, as Florida used huge special-teams play, stout defense and just enough offense to beat Ohio State. The Gators end Will Muschamp's first season on a good note, while the Buckeyes can't wait to start the Meyer era.

How the game was won: For the second consecutive year, Florida used superior special teams and opportunistic play to beat a Big Ten opponent in a bowl. Two of the Gators' three touchdowns came in the kicking game, as Andre Debose had a 99-yard kickoff return and Graham Stewart scored following Chris Rainey's blocked punt. Neither offense was overly impressive, but the Gators limited Ohio State's rushing attack and forced a pair of turnovers, including a DeVier Posey fumble in Florida territory. The Gators responded to every Buckeyes surge and nearly kept Ohio State off of the scoreboard in the second half.

Player of the game: Florida running back Chris Rainey. He has made a habit out of blocking punts and got another one, smothering Ben Buchanan early in the third quarter. The Gators recovered and scored to extend their lead to 21-10. Rainey also had 71 rush yards, 31 receiving yards and 31 return yards in the game.

Stat of the game: The Gators came in ranked 112th nationally in third-down conversions at only 30.6 percent. But they converted 6 of 13 attempts against the Buckeyes to keep drives alive.

Record-setting: Ohio State finishes 6-7 to suffer its first seven-loss season since 1897, when it went 1-7-1. The Buckeyes had the longest stretch without a seven-loss season in the FBS by 78 years. The next-longest stretch had been Florida State (1975). Ohio State also has its first four-game losing streak since 1943.

What it means for Florida: The Gators ended a mediocre year on a positive note and claimed their fourth consecutive postseason victory and second straight against the Big Ten. Quarterback John Brantley made some mistakes but still completed 12 of 16 passes for 132 yards. The Gators are strong enough on defense and special teams to make noise in the SEC East next season, but the offense will be the top priority for Muschamp and his staff during the offseason.

What it means for Ohio State: The Buckeyes struggled in their final bowl appearance until the 2013 season, and some of the problems that surfaced all season showed up in the bowl. A mostly conservative offensive game plan produced only 17 points and 299 yards, although Ohio State held edges on Florida in both yards and first downs (20-14). Buckeyes fans won't be sorry to see offensive coordinator Jim Bollman go. Strong special teams had been a staple of the Jim Tressel era, and Ohio State had been better this year than it was in 2010 -- until the bowl breakdowns. It's all about Meyer now and moving things forward. Meyer inherits a mostly young and talented roster, but he and his staff have a lot to do in the offseason.

Let's take a look at three keys for Ohio State as it takes on Florida in the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl.

1. Free Braxton: Ohio State saw what Braxton Miller could be in the Michigan game, as the freshman quarterback accounted for 335 yards (225 pass, 100 rush) and three touchdowns against one of the Big Ten's best defenses. Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman must continue to take the reins off of Miller against the Gators. What does Bollman have to lose? He's not coming back next season, and the offense showed a lot of life against Michigan with a more relevant passing game. Ohio State will attack a stout Florida defense on the ground, but Miller should take some shots downfield against the Gators, particularly with top wide receiver DeVier Posey on the field.

2. Turn the defensive line loose: Florida struggled to protect quarterback John Brantley at times this season, surrendering 23 sacks. It's important for Buckeyes star John Simon to get in the backfield along with fellow linemen like Johnathan Hankins and Michael Bennett. Simon, who leads Ohio State with 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks, goes against Florida tackle Matt Patchan, who colleague Michael DiRocco reports has had some difficulties with speed rushers this season (Simon is more of a power guy, but he can scoot). Ohio State's pass rush disappeared down the stretch as the team recorded only two sacks in the final three games. The Buckeyes need a stronger effort to prevent the Gators offense from gaining confidence.

3. Make Florida pay for mistakes: Florida's defense doesn't generate many takeaways (12 all season, tied for 115th nationally) and has committed 23 turnovers, putting the team 113th nationally in turnover margin. Ohio State has been more disciplined with the football, and the Buckeyes need to capitalize on any Gator giveaways. They failed to do so in losses to Michigan State and Miami but were more opportunistic in a win against Illinois. Florida also is one of the nation's most penalized teams, ranking 113th in penalties per game (7.75). Translation: the Gators will hurt themselves, but the Buckeyes must cash in.

Here are three keys for Florida heading into the Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl against Ohio State Monday:

Let loose on offense: Florida's offense struggled yet again this season, so it's time to open things up. Charlie Weis has left for Kansas, so running backs coach Brian White should use his audition for the offensive coordinator job to throw the conservative play calling out. Florida's offense really has nothing to lose. The offense needs some confidence and Florida needs to start by stretching the field.

Contain Braxton Miller: Miller has run for at least 100 yards in three of his past five games, and is averaging 13.3 yards per rush on draw plays. The Buckeyes' offense hasn't been very explosive all season, but Miller can extend plays and can be that much more deadly because of his ability to run. Florida's rush defense had some bend to it this year and a scrambler like Miller could keep the Buckeyes on the field longer.

Protect Brantley: The Gator's thin offensive line must keep John Brantley upright and out of trouble if Florida intends to move the ball against the Buckeyes. Florida only gave up 23 sacks on the season, but Brantley isn't much of a runner, so when he has to try and escape pressure, plays usually breakdown. With his lack of mobility, Brantley needs much more time in the pocket.

Things should be pretty interesting between Florida (6-6) and Ohio State (6-6) in the Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl, aka, the Urban Meyer Bowl:

WHO TO WATCH: For Florida to win this game, quarterback John Brantley has to step up. Florida's offense has been very hard to watch since Week 4 and that's mainly because of the struggles under center. First, Brantley went down with a serious ankle injury that left him hobbled for weeks. Then, his freshmen backups did little to lead the offense. It's time for Brantley to shake his regular season struggles. He has to make good decisions and he can't fold under pressure. If Brantley can get the passing game going against a pretty talented Ohio State defense, the Gators should be able to open up a running game that was inconsistent during the second half of the season.

WHAT TO WATCH: Florida's whole offensive operation struggled, but it all generated from poor line play. The offensive line has self destructed from time to time, limiting Florida's chances to make plays for most of the year. Getting consistency up front will be key against an Ohio State defense that ranks 24th nationally. Making things more difficult for Florida's thin line is the loss of starting right tackle Matt Patchan, who will miss the Gator Bowl with an upper back injury.

WHY TO WATCH: Sure, both squads went 6-6 during the regular season and had offenses that ranked in the 100s nationally, but it wasn't long ago that both were at the top of the college football heap. Both met in the 2006 national championship game and have been to six combined BCS bowls since. This is Will Muschamp's first bowl game as a head coach, and Luke Fickell's last as Ohio State's interim head coach. Neither team has anything to lose so we can only hope to see more opening up from both offenses. Plus, Meyer will be casting a pretty big shadow over Everbank Field, so that will add some extra drama.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 20, Florida, 13. Both teams really struggled on offense this season, but the Gators' defense ranks ninth nationally, while Ohio State's is 24th. Florida should be motivated to play the Buckeyes, but even with a new man calling the offensive shots, it's hard to tell if things will be much different Monday.

Now that you've seen our SEC West surprises from the 2011 season, it's time to take a look at the surprises in the SEC East:

FLORIDA

The offense didn't take a step forward: Even though quarterback John Brantley appeared better suited for Charlie Weis' pro-style offense, the Gators didn't look much better after last year's ugly offensive output. Things looked better during the first four weeks, but the more SEC defenses the Gators saw, the worse they got. A complete turnaround wasn't expected, but improvement was and Florida just didn't have it.

Weis leaving for Kansas: Staying with the offensive theme, Florida received quite the surprise when Weis left Florida to take over as Kansas' head coach. People around the program were pretty surprised when they received the news, but it seemed especially odd considering how outspoken he was about staying at Florida for the long haul.

GEORGIA

Jarvis Jones: Anyone unfamiliar with Jones' situation would have never guessed that Jones didn't play a down of football last year. After sitting out 2010 because of transfer rules, the USC transfer linebacker was an absolute beast in his first season of SEC football. Jones was named an All-American after leading the SEC in tackles for loss (19.5) and sacks (13.5).

Georgia's resolve: The Bulldogs had recently been marred by seasons of under performing, but after a 0-2 start Georgia pulled off 10 straight wins and made it back to the SEC title game for the first time since 2005. Not a lot of people outside of that locker room thought Georgia would dig itself out of its early hole, but the Bulldogs did and found a way to have a very successful season.

KENTUCKY

Morgan Newton: Remember when it appeared as though Newton was primed for a solid career after a successful freshman season? It seems so long ago, now, especially after such a poor 2011 season. Newton never looked very sharp all year, and after a late-season ankle injury he lost his starting job to freshman Maxwell Smith. Newton finished the season with 793 passing yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Kentucky beat Tennessee: For all of the Wildcats' offensive struggles, they found a way to finally beat Tennessee after 26 straight years of losing to the Vols. The win not only stopped a lot of suffering for the Wildcats, but it eliminated Tennessee from bowl contention.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Surviving without Marcus Lattimore: The moment the news hit that Lattimore, South Carolina's most consistent offensive weapon, was lost for the season with a knee injury, most felt the Gamecocks' season was doomed. But the Gamecocks stayed on course. South Carolina lost just one game after and finished the regular season with 10 wins for only the second time in school history.

Brandon Wilds: When Lattimore went down against Mississippi State, Wilds was thrust into the starting spot. For someone who started the season as the fifth-string running back and a redshirt candidate, Wilds did a heck of a job. He averaged 82.2 yards in South Carolina's final five games and eclipsed 100 yards three times during that span.

TENNESSEE

A.J. Johnson and Curt Maggitt: It's not every day that a team has a standout true freshman at linebacker. Well, Tennessee had two of them. Both were named to the SEC All-Freshman team after combing for 136 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. The season was pretty rough, but these two were major bright spots.

Tennessee's collapse in the finale: All the Vols had to do was beat Kentucky and a season full of injuries and agony would have been saved by a bowl berth. But Tennessee fell flat against a Kentucky team that was eliminated from a bowl berth the week before. Tennessee turned the ball over three times and couldn't muster more than seven points, snapping a 26-year win streak over the Wildcats.

VANDERBILT

Vandy's attitude: James Franklin promised things would be different and they were for the Commodores. The defense was aggressive, the offense was exciting and the Commodores didn't back down from anyone. There were postgame outbursts from Franklin and teams learned early on that this wasn't the same Nashville pushover.

Zac Stacy/Vandy's defense: Stacy started as a relative unknown, but finished the season third in the SEC in rushing with 1,136 yards and was second with 13 touchdowns. He had five 100-plus-yard games, averaging 162.8 yards in each. As for the defense, it had to replace three starting linebackers, but finished the year sixth in the SEC in total defense.

Florida is yet again sitting back and watching another coach leave Gainesville, after offensive coordinator Charlie Weis left to take the head-coaching job at Kansas.

It can be hard to say goodbye to a coach, especially a coordinator, but for Florida, this could be a chance for a fresh start for an offense that has gone nowhere in the last two years.

Like 2010, Florida's offense was a disaster. Even with a great offensive mind like Weis, the Gators finished the year with the eighth-ranked offense in the SEC and scored just 25 points a game. Under a coach who helped repair Brady Quinn's college career, the Gators tossed just 12 touchdown passes. And after having the top rushing offense through the first four weeks of the season, the heart of the SEC crushed Florida's ground game, as it finished the season ranked eighth in the league.

In Florida's six losses, the Gators averaged just 11 points a game and failed to consistently move the ball for four quarters in each.

Plain and simple, you would have never guessed that Weis was in charge of Florida's offense by watching the Gators live. Lots of fingers will be pointed at Weis, but there is plenty of blame to go around.

Now, it's time for the Gators to put 2011's offensive implosion in the past. In fact, they should lock it in a box, attached some cinder blocks to it and throw it into the heart of the Mariana Trench.

The offense can start over new ... with its third offensive coordinator in three seasons. The difference now is that there is a ton of youth on offense, so this really will be a fresh start. This is a chance for the disgruntled offensive players to gain new life with a new coach. They can try and reinvent themselves after a crummy season.

There was immense pressure put on Florida's offensive players with someone like Weis at the helm. Without a figure like Weis running things, this offense won't be put under the giant microscope this time.

Taking the pressure off of a group of players that underachieved with all eyes on it is a good thing.

This is a chance for those two freshmen quarterbacks -- Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel -- to start fresh as well. Brissett showed some flashes here and there this fall, so having that experience will help him with his new coach. Weis personally recruited him when he was hired last year. Losing that relationship could hurt, but Brissett now has all of spring to learn from someone new.

Driskel was basically the forgotten man this season. He started the year as John Brantley's backup, but was demoted after injuring his ankle in the Alabama game -- the same game as Brantley's injury. He played during the second half of the Auburn game, but wasn't seen again. Now, he can really start over. This is his chance to step up and compete on the same level as Brissett. This new coach won't have any added investment in either quarterback, so they'll be starting over from square one together.

Finally, this is a chance for coach Will Muschamp to redo things. There were always questions about how Weis and Muschamp would get along. Neither ever hinted at any rift, but it's hard to believe that having two head coaches on one staff resulted in smooth sailing for a season. There were bound to be times where egos collided.

This is a huge hire for Muschamp because he has to get the offense up to par with his defense. Another year of offensive ineptitude won't help him or his team progress.

“We are going to remain a pro-style offense," Muschamp told reporters Thursday night. "Now, I'm going to hire the best offensive coordinator in the country.”

And he might have to right this ship.

Before the season, we all had an inkling that the SEC Western Division would be just a little bit stronger than its Eastern counterpart.

The West dominated the East in 2010, and with little overall improvement from that side of the conference, the consensus was that the road to SEC supremacy was headed through Alabama, Arkansas or Louisiana.

But getting out of that frighteningly tough division was another chore in itself.

Most of us put our cards in Alabama’s camp. With a defense that looked like it was copied and pasted from an NFL roster, a bulldozing running back in Trent Richardson and Nick Saban leading things, the Crimson Tide seemed like a safe bet.

But it was once again the Year of the Tiger.

LSU teased us with its talent before the season. No one questioned the assortment of riches coach Les Miles had at his disposal, but we were worried about the youth, Miles’ quirkiness and a troubling quarterback situation.

All of that came into play during LSU’s magical season, and the Tigers never blinked.

The year started with the suspension of starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson and the ineligibility of starting wide receiver Russell Shepard. That didn’t seem to matter as equally embattled quarterback Jarrett Lee stepped up and led the Tigers to a 4-0 start with wins over three ranked teams, including No. 3 Oregon, all on the road.

We saw an efficient, powerful offense and an athletic, selfish defense. The Mad Hatter appeared to have something special, but we wouldn’t be certain until more controversy hit.

Outside of the obvious awkward quarterback situation once Jefferson came back, Miles watched as national darling Tyrann Mathieu, who became known as the “Honey Badger,” and starting running back Spencer Ware were suspended two weeks before the Alabama game.

Again, LSU didn’t flinch.

In a showdown that received more hype than some national championship games, we saw two SEC sledgehammers bludgeon each other before LSU escaped with a 9-6 overtime win at Alabama. LSU controlled not only the SEC but the nation.

LSU met two more REAL challenges before clinching a spot in the Allstate BCS National Championship Game. Thanks to some fancy punt returns from the Honey Badger, LSU erased 14- and 10-point deficits to Arkansas and Georgia with 40-plus runs.

LSU is 13-0 for the first time, and a win in New Orleans could make this the greatest season for an SEC team.

The Tigers will have to play Alabama, again. The Tide never left the national scene after their lone loss, only dropping as far as third in the BCS standings. Even after watching the final weekend, it had enough support to be thrust into the title game for what should be an epic rematch.

The West will send three other teams bowling, including an Arkansas team that flirted with the BCS until the final weekend. Bobby Petrino reeled off another 10-win season and did so without one of the SEC’s most complete running backs in Knile Davis.

A year removed from winning the national championship, Auburn had to deal with harsh realities of rebuilding. The Tigers started 4-1, but their young players hit the wall shortly after. Still, there looks to be some solid talent on the Plains.

Mississippi State didn’t live up to lofty expectations, but will be bowling in back-to-back seasons for the first time in more than a decade, while Ole Miss’ 2-10 season got its head coach fired.

As for the East, South Carolina and Georgia battled until the very end, while Florida and Tennessee sank further into mediocrity. Vanderbilt was the feel-good story, as new coach James Franklin truly re-energized that program, leading the Commodores back to the postseason.

Georgia’s rebound from a 0-2 start was exactly what coach Mark Richt needed. With his seat getting hotter and hotter in Athens, Richt helped orchestrate a 10-game winning streak that took the Dawgs back to the SEC title game.

The Gamecocks might have been the preseason favorites in the East, but came up short after losing starting quarterback Stephen Garcia and running back Marcus Lattimore. Still, 10 wins is nothing to scoff at.

We knew the West was bigger, stronger and better than the East, but with LSU and Alabama set to collide once more, it now seems like it’s bigger, stronger and better than anyone.

Offensive MVP: Alabama running back Trent Richardson

Richardson has a chance to be Alabama’s second Heisman Trophy winner after a tremendous junior year. It usually takes a handful of defenders strapped to his back to finally bring Richardson down. As Alabama’s main back, Richardson led the SEC with 1,583 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. Against SEC competition, Richardson averaged 137 yards a game and 6 yards per carry. In 12 games, he accumulated more than 100 rushing yards nine times. In five of those games, he registered more than 160 yards. Richardson not only carried opposing defenders throughout the season but he carried Alabama’s offense and dictated the way the Tide moved the ball.

Defensive MVP: LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu

The Honey Badger was one of the most exciting players to watch in college football this season. It didn’t matter where he was on the field, he knew how to find the ball, forcing offenses to change their game plans in order to direct plays away from him. Mathieu led LSU in tackles (70), intercepted two passes, defended nine passes, forced six fumbles, recovered five fumbles and scored four non-offensive touchdowns. Mathieu was the commander of the Tigers’ back-to-back 40-point runs against Arkansas and Georgia with punt returns that went for scores of 92 and 62 yards. He forced and recovered two fumbles in those games and like Richardson, is headed to New York for the Heisman ceremony.

Newcomer of the Year: Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones

Jones officially came back home this season. Because of transfer rules he had to sit last year after leaving USC, but was more than ready for his return to college football. Jones was asked to come in and replace former Bulldog star Justin Houston and, boy, did he make Houston’s departure easier to stomach. Jones wasn’t just one of the best linebackers in the SEC; he was one of the best at his position in the country. Jones found ways all season to disrupt opposing backfields and led the SEC with 19.5 tackles for loss, including 13.5 sacks. He had the speed to make plays all over the field for the Bulldogs and helped make Georgia’s defense rank third nationally.

Coach of the year: LSU’s Les Miles

Somehow, the Mad Hatter has done it again. Despite his sometimes-odd decisions, Miles has his Tigers undefeated and a win away from capturing their second national title during his tenure. Miles hasn’t only had his team prepared every week; he’s been able to direct his players through the off-field sludge that could have derailed LSU’s special season. With every distraction LSU faced, the Tigers just got stronger. Players credit LSU’s mental strength to Miles, who found ways to keep his team focused and relaxed on the way to a season that saw eight wins over ranked teams, with five coming away from Baton Rouge.

Biggest Surprise: Vanderbilt

It wasn’t just the fact that Vanderbilt made it back to a bowl game for the first time since 2008 that made this season special; it was the way Vandy did it. First-year coach James Franklin wanted to instill a new attitude at Vandy. Mission accomplished. The Commodores didn’t back down to anyone and were fun to watch on both offense and defense. Once Jordan Rodgers took over at quarterback midway through the year, the Commodores were equipped with one of the more explosive SEC offenses, while the defense was extremely aggressive, forcing 27 turnovers. The Commodores were a few mistakes away from possibly winning eight or nine games. Franklin’s bravado and postgame antics showed the Commodores weren’t going to be taken lightly.

Biggest Disappointment: Florida

The Gators are in this category for the second straight year because of the offensive nightmare Florida endured. Florida went through a coaching transition in 2011, but with it came offensive guru Charlie Weis and a pro-style offense. Senior quarterback John Brantley was supposed to fit much better into Weis’ system, and after the first four weeks it looked like he did. However, after suffering a severe ankle injury in the Alabama game, Brantley and Florida’s season went south. Even after Brantley returned, Florida’s offense never fully recovered, and all the highly rated recruits Florida was stocked with struggled to stay consistent. Will Muschamp’s first regular season as head coach ended with a 6-6 record and the Gators had a losing record in SEC play for the first time since 1986.

Best Game: South Carolina 45, Georgia 42, Sept. 10

LSU and Alabama’s game of the century was the perfect display of SEC power, but South Carolina’s comeback win over Georgia in Week 2 had everything. There were 831 combined yards of total offense, 87 points, a special-teams touchdown by a defensive lineman, seven lead changes and a late touchdown that almost set up an eighth and final lead change. The biggest lead was 10 points, and that came with a little more than three minutes left after South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram, who went 68 yards for a touchdown on a fake punt, took an Aaron Murray fumble into the end zone to make it 45-35. Murray cut the lead to three less than a minute later with a 33-yard touchdown pass, but a failed on-side kick and two clutch runs by Lattimore sealed the game for the Gamecocks.

Two years ago, I remember sitting inside the press box of the Georgia Dome near the end of Alabama’s 2009 SEC championship rout over Florida.

While Tide players celebrated and Tim Tebow was being consoled on his sideline; a young John Brantley was throwing around high-fives of encouragement.

Brantley later told me that he was telling each of the offensive players who would be returning for the 2010 season this was now his team and that he was going to make sure the Gators didn’t feeling what they felt that Saturday night.

However, the same confident Brantley who wanted to make things better, was long gone by the time he was knocked out of Saturday’s disaster of a senior day against Florida State. After receiving a loud ovation before his final game in the Swamp, Brantley quickly threw three interceptions before getting sandwiched between two Seminoles.

Woozy and confused, Brantley was helped off of Florida Field for the last time.

It was a sad end to a career that was supposed to be so promising. Instead of wondering what pose would be used for his stadium statue, Brantley has been the overwhelming scapegoat for Florida’s struggles the last two years.

The much ballyhooed high school prospect was supposed to live in Gator lore. He was supposed to be carried out of the Swamp like a hero after his final game in Gainesville. He was supposed to help Florida get over life without Tebow.

None of that has or will happen.

Brantley grew up in a true Gator family, where his father and uncle both played at Florida, but he was supposed to be the best of all three.

Brantley, who lived just a few miles down the road from UF in Ocala, Fla., and broke Tebow’s Florida high school passing records, decommitted from Texas before signing with Florida.

Brantley then patiently waited behind Tebow, flashing glimpses of greatness with his arm strength and accuracy in garbage time. Before his junior year, it was a foregone conclusion that Brantley would have a tough time deciding if he’d return for his senior year because he’d have a real shot at the NFL draft.

(Somewhere deep within Florida’s football complex, a Brantley statue was surely under construction.)

But as soon as Brantley was given his shot, the Brantley everyone imagined they’d see never emerged. Instead, we saw a frustrated, wide-eyed quarterback running an offense he wasn’t equipped for. Brantley met more patches of grass and boos from Gators fans than touchdown passes.

Brantley’s first season as Florida’s starter was an utter disaster, as he threw for just 2,061 yards, 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Not to mention Florida’s 8-5 season. There were times when you weren't sure if Brantley was even the quarterback after he was delegated to third-down work late in the year.

Then Urban Meyer left and in stepped Will Muschamp. With Muschamp came offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and a pro-style offense. But Brantley was so beat up mentally from his first year as the starter that he actually had to sit and think about staying another year at Florida or transferring.

Of course, Brantley stayed and with Weis, improvement was expected.

Things were much better, until they weren’t.

Brantley looked good in Florida’s first four games before an ankle injury during the Alabama game robbed him of the middle part of the season.

Brantley hasn’t been the same since, passing for 1,912 yards and 10 scores this year, and Florida is stumbling into bowl season with a 6-6 record.

Brantley never got comfortable when Florida was his team. He never lived up to his overwhelming hype. He had to be the one who followed Tebow. He had to be the one who helped usher in the Will Muschamp era.

Now, he has to try and stomach his Florida legacy.

What Brantley can hang his hat on is that he never quit. He stood up after weak pass protection. He stood strong after the plethora of drops. He kept his head up when boos engulfed him.

He never blamed anyone but himself throughout all of this, but at the end of the day, his career won’t be based on character. It will be based on wins and he struggled with that.

Things haven't been good in the Swamp for most of the year, and it looked about as bad as it could Saturday night.

For all the talk about how a win over Florida State would help re-energize this struggling Florida team, the Gators went backward against their archrivals, losing 21-7 in a game in which it seemed that neither offense got off of the bus.

In the winning effort, Florida State accumulated just 95 total yards of offense, while Florida finished with 184 yards and four turnovers.

It was an awful senior night for quarterback John Brantley, who has had a rough Florida career. He threw three interceptions and 104 yards before being knocked out of the game in the second quarter.

Brantley's last night in the Swamp couldn't have gone even worse as each one of his interceptions was the result of a bad throw.

But the rest of the offense didn't do much to help out Brantley. Chris Rainey and Hunter Joyer gained 72 total rushing yards, but the Gators netted just 54 yards on 33 carries behind an offensive line that was overpowered for most of the night by the Seminoles.

What must be extremely disheartening for this team is that the defense played arguably its best game of the season and had nothing to show for it. If not for a fumble forced late and a recovery by Jaye Howard deep in Florida State territory, Florida might have been shut out for the first time since the 1980s.

Florida felt the injury bug throughout the night, but Florida's performance in the home finale against the Seminoles was abysmal. Coach Will Muschamp said as much as he referred to his team as "soft" during his postgame news conference and vowed that Florida would get back to being mentally and physically tough in the future.

It all starts with bowl preparation. This is the first step to the second year under Muschamp. This is the time in which he will find out who is really invested and who isn't. This is a major time in the first-year coach's life at Florida, as he looks for the right players to turn the corner with.

The best thing about this one for Florida is that it's over.

Judging by the way the Gators played most of the day, the last place they wanted to be was the Swamp.

Despite giving up 446 yards in total offense, Florida had enough offense of its own to win 54-32 over Furman. The Swamp was nowhere close to being full when the game started and emptied even more by the fourth quarter.

The Gators (6-5) did qualify for a bowl, but it's difficult to imagine that they got a whole lot else out of this game. They trailed 15-0 and then 22-7 early. Even heading into the fourth quarter, Florida was clinging to a 37-32 lead. At that point, the Gators' defense made a few amends to put the game away.

De'Ante Saunders and Jelani Jenkins each returned interceptions for touchdowns.

Florida quarterback John Brantley threw for 329 yards and four touchdowns for the Gators, who face Florida State at home next week.

Things are no doubt restless in the Gator Nation.

Not long ago, this was a proud fan base celebrating its second national championship in three years.

Now, it’s sitting and wondering how things got so bad after back-to-back mediocre seasons in the Swamp.

Yes, Florida’s football program is under construction with new coach Will Muschamp, but 6-6 seemed like a worst-case scenario before the season. Now, 6-6 looks like the best case.

It’s been a tumultuous first year for Muschamp and while he’s shouldered most of the blame for Florida’s shortcomings, he shouldn’t be alone in that department. In fact, maybe he shouldn’t assume most of the blame at all.

“It comes back to me,” Muschamp told reporters following Saturday’s 17-12 loss to South Carolina. “We've got to do a better job coaching, a better job in those critical situations in three of our last four games. In our last four games, three have come down to the final drive.”

In a year in which the idea was that the offense couldn’t get any worse after 2010, the truth is that it isn’t much better at all with Charlie Weis’ pro-style look. Quarterback John Brantley has repeated that he’s much more comfortable and confident running an offense that actually fits him, but it’s not like his numbers are that much better this time around.

He barely scratched 2,000 yards last year and had nine touchdowns. He has 1,479 yards and six touchdowns through 10 games.

While Muschamp will continue to hear the criticism about possibly being in over his head as a head coach, Weis deserves just as much thrown his way during his first year as Florida’s offensive coordinator.

Weis has flashed his Super Bowl rings, talked about transforming Brady Quinn and can’t go anywhere without hearing about how he made Tom Brady, but for someone anointed as an offensive genius, his work thus far has looked like anything but that in meaningful games.

Florida’s leading receiver is a running back, no real wide receiver has cracked the 20-catch mark, the running game has been mostly swallowed up against SEC opponents and the offensive line collapses more than a bridge made of popsicle sticks.

There is talent on offense. Things can be done, but these players haven’t been put into the best situations to make plays. It might not be great everywhere, but it shouldn’t look like this.

We’ve seen spurts here and there, especially during the first four games, but against the big boys, the offense has crumbled, and that reflects on the coaching.

Since the second half of the Alabama game, this offense has been a shell of its first four-game self. Florida has averaged just 260.8 yards in the last five games. In its four losses, the Gators mustered just 223.5.

Game plans have ranged from ineffective wildcat formations featuring Trey Burton and Chris Rainey, to trying to get scat backs to run between the tackles up the middle of the field. There is no downfield passing game or easy routes for receivers, and Florida has become as predictable as ever.

Alabama and LSU might as well be thrown out because of Brantley’s injury and the uncertainty at quarterback heading into Baton Rouge, La. But beyond that, preparation has to be questioned.

Weis had a week to work with true freshman Jacoby Brissett before the Auburn game. Brissett was the guy and there was time to implement a game plan that would keep him comfortable and make him effective against a defense that has crawled around the bottom of the SEC in most defensive categories all year.

However, the Gators kicked two field goals and didn’t even reach 200 yards of offense. Fellow frosh Jeff Driskel, who began the year as the No. 2 quarterback, replaced Brissett in the second half, but wasn’t any better.

Even when Florida finally grabbed a win against Vanderbilt, the offense sputtered along when Jeff Demps wasn’t touching the ball.

Last week said it all when Florida had chance after chance to upset South Carolina, but never had enough plays to get by the Gamecocks defense. Even with Rainey rushing for 132 yards, Florida accumulated just 261 yards and one touchdown in a game of struggling offenses.

Muschamp handed over the offensive keys to Weis and he hasn’t delivered.

Weis said earlier in the season that he had reflected on poor offensive performances and wondered what he could have done to help the players more.

He and everyone else watching are still wondering.

» Power Rankings: ACC | Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | Pac-12 | SEC

The SEC Power Rankings this week look a lot like the ones last week:

1. LSU (10-0, 6-0): This week the Tigers are the first unanimous No. 1 team in the Associated Press poll since 2008, so it stands to reason that they’d be a rock-solid No. 1 in the SEC Power Rankings. They were a little flat in the first half last week against Western Kentucky, but ended up winning easily. It also looks like Jordan Jefferson might be the quarterback of record … for now.

2. Alabama (9-1, 6-1): The entire weekend couldn’t have gone much better for the Crimson Tide. They pulled away in the second half to beat Mississippi State and held their 11th straight opponent to 14 points or fewer dating to last season. Meanwhile, Stanford and Boise State both lost, and Alabama remained No. 3 in the latest BCS standings. The Crimson Tide are right there in striking distance.

3. Arkansas (9-1, 5-1): It looks like the Hogs could be getting hot at just the right time. They dismantled Tennessee 49-7 last week and have scored 93 points over their past two games. The threesome of Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Dennis Johnson is taking turns striking from long distance, and the Hogs moved up to No. 6 this week in the BCS standings. They’re big chance comes in two weeks at LSU.

4. Georgia (8-2, 6-1): All that remains for the Bulldogs in their quest to get back to Atlanta and play in the SEC championship game is beating Kentucky at home this week. They’ve won eight straight games and put together their most complete performance of the season last week in a 45-7 drubbing of Auburn. South Carolina beat Georgia head-to-head this season, but the Bulldogs are a better team right now.

5. South Carolina (8-2, 6-2): Barring a serious choke job by Georgia this week against Kentucky, South Carolina won’t be making its second straight trip to the SEC championship game. The Gamecocks overcame the season-ending injury to star running back Marcus Lattimore to beat everybody in the East, including a 17-12 victory against Florida last week, but that 16-13 home loss to Auburn is going to come back to haunt them.

6. Auburn (6-4, 4-3): The fact that Auburn is No. 6 this week in these rankings tells you a lot about the rest of the league. The Tigers were coming off a bye week and went to Georgia and were absolutely embarrassed in a 45-7 beatdown. The Tigers had done a nice job of hanging in there until last week’s debacle, but were a no-show both physically and emotionally in Athens.

7. Florida (5-5, 3-5): The Gators wrapped up SEC play last week with another paltry showing offensively in a 17-12 loss to South Carolina. Their 3-5 league record marks the first time since 1986 that they’ve finished with a losing SEC record. It’s been a train wreck offensively all season for the Gators, and the injury to quarterback John Brantley was a huge blow, but they haven’t done anything consistently well offensively all season.

8. Vanderbilt (5-5, 2-5): The Commodores have two shots to qualify for a bowl -- this week at Tennessee and the next week at Wake Forest. In some parts, they’re actually favored over Tennessee coming off their 38-8 rout of Kentucky. First-year coach James Franklin has this team believing and has it playing at a very high level right now. It’s already been a successful debut for Franklin, but could get a lot better these next two weeks.

9. Mississippi State (5-5, 1-5): This isn’t what anybody expected in Starkville this season, although the Bulldogs showed some fire, especially defensively, last week in their 24-7 loss to Alabama. They need to win one of these next two games against Arkansas on the road this week or Ole Miss at home the following week just to qualify for a bowl.

10. Tennessee (4-6, 0-6): For the first time ever, the Vols are off to an 0-6 start in the SEC. Their schedule has been grueling. They’ve had to face Alabama, LSU and Arkansas, which pummeled Tennessee 49-7 last week, and key injuries have also played a huge role. Still, this is one of the weakest teams Tennessee has put on the field in more than 30 years. It will only get worse if the Vols don’t beat Vanderbilt at home this week.

11. Kentucky (4-6, 1-5): The Wildcats’ faint bowl hopes are on life support. They were drilled 38-8 last week at Vanderbilt and have to win at Georgia this week, or they will be staying at home in the postseason for the first time since 2005. Not much has gone right for Joker Phillips’ club this season, and it starts with an offense that simply hasn’t had a pulse more times than not.

12. Ole Miss (2-8, 0-6): When it goes bad in this league, it really goes bad. The Rebels are limping to the finish of Houston Nutt’s tenure in Oxford. After it was announced last week that he wouldn’t be back as coach, Ole Miss went out and was thumped 27-7 at home by Louisiana Tech. It doesn’t get any easier for the Rebels this week. No. 1 LSU comes to town.

It's been an offensive nightmare for Florida this season, and there's really no other way to say it.

The Gators dropped their fifth game of the season Saturday, losing 17-12 at South Carolina. In the past six games, Florida's offense has been held to 13 points or fewer five times. The lone exception was last week in the Gators' 26-21 win against Vanderbilt.

Senior quarterback John Brantley is battling, but simply isn't 100 percent. That's obvious in watching him try to move around.

The Gators did get a boost from Chris Rainey's return to the lineup after he missed last week's game. Rainey rushed for 132 yards on 17 carries, but the Gators converted just 2-of-9 on third down, lost a pair of fumbles and Brantley was sacked three times.

Florida (5-5, 3-5) shouldn't have any problem getting to six wins next week against Furman and qualifying for a bowl game, but Florida State also comes to town that final weekend of the regular season.

The Gators have now lost nine straight games to nationally ranked foes going back to last season. They're also in danger of losing six games in a season for the first time since 1987.