ESPN College Football

Chris Low talks about the Alabama passing game coming out of the spring.

Now that Gus Malzahn's first spring as Auburn's head coach is in the books, the Tigers' new coach released his post-spring depth chart.

Not too many surprises, but the quarterback situation is still very much in the air, as Kiehl Frazier and Jonathan Wallace left the spring basically tied for the starting job. Both shared snaps for the majority of spring and impressed during the spring game.

Both fit the offense well, so this should be an interesting competition in the fall.

Malzahn also announced that safety Demetruce McNeal is back with the team after resolving his off-field issues. He isn't on Auburn's current two-deep because he missed the Tigers' final five days of spring practice.

For a look at Auburn's complete two-deep depth chart heading into the summer, click here.

Spring stars can break your heart.

Sometimes, guys look like All-SEC material during spring practice and then don't do much of anything during the season.

Other times, we get a glimpse of what's to come during the spring, guys who tear it up during spring practice and then ride that momentum into big falls.

We've come up with five players who had excellent springs this year, and we're going to leave it up to you the fans to pick who was the biggest spring star by voting in our SportsNation poll.

It's a good mix of players.

Georgia's Tray Matthews is only a true freshman who enrolled early. He played well enough this spring (and handed out enough bone-crunching licks) that he enters preseason camp as one of the starters at safety.

On the other end of the spectrum, there's Tennessee linebacker Dontavis Sapp. A senior with just two career starts, Sapp was the Vols' most consistent defender this spring, and first-year coach Butch Jones couldn't say enough good things about the way Sapp performed.

Florida thinks it's found its go-to running back in sophomore Matt Jones. LSU junior receiver Jarvis Landry caught everything in sight this spring and put up big numbers, while Auburn junior Justin Garrett found a home in Ellis Johnson's new 4-2-5 defense at the hybrid "star" position, which is part linebacker and part safety.

Go ahead and start voting, and we'll unveil your pick as the SEC's biggest spring star in the coming days.

DawgNation
From Radi Nabulsi : DawgNation opens up the mailbag to check on ESPN 150 DE Dante Sawyer’s top two and where the Bulldogs stand with Lamont Gaillard.

GeauxTigerNation
From Gary Laney : Quentin Gibson and Brandon Harris reignite Louisiana's quarterback tradition.

GigEmNation
From Sam Khan Jr. : Four-star prospect Koda Martin has several big-time offers to choose from. He also could play either tight end, offensive tackle or defensive end in college.

AUBURN, Ala. -- There were times when Reuben Foster wanted to lash out, to speak up and try to set the record straight. His name has been torn down through the past two years, and he has felt helpless to stop it. Every ignorant, angry, bigoted insult imaginable has been thrown his way, and when he's not being guarded, he'll tell you how much it hurt.

"They're talking like I'm a thug," he said, "and they don't even know me."

They said he'll end up in jail because everyone with a tattoo is destined for a criminal record. They said he's fake because every teenager is certain of what he or she wants. They said he's dumb because every athlete is at his or her most eloquent in front of a television camera.

The same people who wished him luck one minute wished him harm the next.

"They told me, 'I hope you tear your ACL,' " Foster said. "It's crazy how people think and what they'd wish upon you."

There have been plenty of in-state battles for football prospects before, but few have left as much scorched earth as the tug-of-war between Alabama and Auburn for Foster, the Class of 2013's top-rated inside linebacker in the ESPN 150. When he committed to Alabama in 2011, half the state loved him. When he flipped to Auburn a year later, the other half rejoiced. When he ended up signing with the Crimson Tide in February, no one knew what to think.

Hell hath no fury like a fan scorned.

"It got to the point where I didn't know who to trust," Foster said. "I didn't want to deal with it anymore. I got to the point where I wanted to give up football. But I knew if I gave up football it would be an even bigger story."

Instead of throwing in the towel, he internalized his feelings. He learned that what he says has little to do with what connects with people. He learned he can't please everyone, and even now that doesn't sit well with him. He'd rather sink under the wave of criticism than become more depressed by trying to fight against it.

"As soon as I signed the [letter of intent], it all broke loose," he said. "I didn't want to come out of the house. I didn't want to do anything."

From his mother's couch in Auburn, he's eager to send a message to those who don't understand what he went through or what he was trying to do when he made his decision about college. And rather than telling them to just get over it already, he feels the need to apologize.

"I didn't mean for all this to happen," he said. "I'm sorry to the Auburn fans, to the Georgia fans who I got their hopes up. I tried to make everyone happy. I hope they forgive me. To the Alabama fans, I'm going to try my best to come in and please all of them."

To read more of Alex Scarborough's story, click here.

From Greg Ostendorf : ESPN 150 athlete Bo Scarbrough is close with Tide signee Reuben Foster. Scarbrough is committed to Alabama, but will visit other schools all while remembering the recruiting lessons Foster told him.

It was nothing more than a simple tackling drill, but to Missouri running back Henry Josey, it meant everything.

A year and half removed from a devastating knee injury that required three separate surgeries, Josey was back in pads looking to hit someone on the first day of spring practice contact.

Josey swiftly maneuvered his way by a defender, causing him to laugh through his face mask, but as he chuckled past his embarrassed teammate, he suddenly felt the jolt from another defender undercutting him.

Josey picked himself up, dusted off, looked at his teammate and laughed some more.

It was exactly what he wanted.

“I was looking for the contact the first day we got to hit each other and I wanted to get it over with,” said Josey, who hadn’t been hit since his injury against Texas in mid-November of 2011.

Just to refresh you on Josey’s setback, his surgeries were performed to repair his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), meniscus and patellar tendon. He also had an arthroscopic cleanup.

Josey said there wasn’t much immediate shock when his injury occurred and emotional pain didn’t set in until he found out he had a smorgasbord of injuries to deal with inside his left knee.

“I was more pissed off about it than anything,” he said. “It didn’t really hit me until I got to the hospital that I was actually hurt and my season was over with. It took a big toll on me when it happened and I was hoping I could get back up from it, but I couldn’t.”

The severity of Josey’s injury caused early retirement talk with so much damage and so many surgeries. Josey said he tried to stay positive, but there were moments during his long rehab in which he wanted to quit. The excruciating pain made him wonder if it was all worth it.

“I thought about giving up a lot,” he said with a laugh.

Josey laughed because he finally understood that every stretch, twist and bend his knee underwent in the last year was worth tasting that first hit in March. He dreaded the 30 minutes he spent each day for about a month having his knee bent and stretched to a certain degree on a Biodex machine.

Then there was the helpless feeling with everyday chores. Family members drove 14 hours to assist him and his roommate, former linebacker Will Ebner, had to feed him sometimes. He even had to help him shower at first.

“That’s how weird it got,” Josey said.

But through all the awkward and almost pity-filled moments, Josey said he could see hope in a return to the football field.

That’s what kept him going.

Josey didn’t have a timetable for his return, but he was sprinting and cutting last fall. While he tried to get back into running shape, he watched his teammates stumble through a 5-7 year in their first season in the SEC.

Sometimes it hurt more to watch and not contribute than the actual knee pain.

“It was really tough for me,” he said. “You wanted to help your team out and try to keep picking them up, even though you’re not able to play. It was a big toll on myself watching them play by themselves without me.”

But his teammates aren’t without him anymore. Josey surged back this spring and mimicked his old playmaking ways at times. Josey was the Big 12’s top running back before his injury (1,168 yards and nine touchdowns on 145 carries) and he feels he’s getting back to that level. He slashed, he was a home-run threat and he could pound the ball when needed.

Josey was exactly what Missouri’s tattered 2012 offense needed, but all he could do was sit and watch. This fall, people will be sitting and watching him, and Josey hopes his solid spring carries over to the fall.

“I did exactly what I wanted to [this spring],” he said.

“I’m really proud of myself and I give God all the glory for being able to be back out here and doing what I’m doing again. I’m 100 percent now and I have nothing to worry about anymore.”

Linking our way around the SEC:

• According to the police report, suspended LSU running back Jeremy Hill punched the victim from behind and then celebrated with high-fives after a second man knocked the victim out with another punch.
• Arkansas and Texas Tech are in talks about a future home-and-home football series.
• Listening in to what Alabama coach Nick Saban had to say before his Crimson Caravan stop in Birmingham.
• Former Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray can look to other undrafted free agents for inspiration, writes Mike Strange of The Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Former Tennessee receiver Justin Hunter may be the prize catch the Tennessee Titans have lacked, writes David Climer of The Tennessean.
• Recalling the Clemson-Georgia rivalry.
• Texas A&M spices up its recruiting efforts with a little music.
• Dee Ford solidifies his spot at Auburn's premier pass-rusher with a stellar spring.
• The committee reviewing Auburn's athletic department will file its findings to the president in a few weeks.

Alabama might have fallen to No. 2 in ESPN colleague Mark Schlabach's Way-Too-Early Preseason Top 25, but I'd like to think that most of the college football world still considers the Crimson Tide to be the favorites to win the national championship again.

Alabama lost nine draft picks, including three first-rounders, but Nick Saban has a host of talent returning on both sides of the ball, and the Tide's schedule isn't too daunting after the first two games.

But there are teams that will test the Tide's road to a national championship trifecta in 2013. Colleague Travis Haney picked five teams from around the country that could challenge Alabama's title hopes this fall. Ohio State topped his list, while Texas A&M made it from the SEC.

No surprise there with the Aggies. Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel returns with a bundle of riches to accompany him in the Aggies' backfield.

Johnny Football might not have Luke Joeckel protecting him, but Jake Matthews provides quite the safety net with his move to left tackle, and there is still talent and experience up front. Mike Evans leads a young but talented group of pass-catchers.

The defense is a concern, with five members of last season's front seven gone, but the Aggies will still be equipped to win most shootouts.

A&M benefits from getting Alabama at home early in the season, but has to play Arkansas, Ole Miss, LSU and Missouri on the road. Even beating Alabama early doesn't guarantee the Aggies will make it to Atlanta over the Tide.

Here are four other SEC teams that could wreck Alabama's title train this fall:

Florida

The Gators will yet again be elite on defense. First-round draft picks Sharrif Floyd and Matt Elam might be gone, but Dominique Easley moves back to his more natural position at defensive tackle and could one of the best at his position this fall. Marcus Roberson and Loucheiz Purifoy could be the top cornerback duo in the SEC, while inside linebacker Antonio Morrison has the makings of being a budding star.

The offense is still a concern, especially with the lack of proven receiving talent, but quarterback Jeff Driskel has found a lot more confidence in his second year under offensive coordinator Brent Pease, and he'll have a much tougher offensive line and another loaded backfield to work with.

Georgia

Sure, the defense is younger and less experienced, but people in Athens are excited about the younger guys taking over. They were very receptive to coaching and showed continued improvement this spring. Linebacker Jordan Jenkins has playmaker written all over him, while freshman Tray Matthews could be the next big thing at safety. Having Damian Swann back at cornerback is huge.

Offensively, Georgia will be able to score on just about everyone. Aaron Murray is looking to be the first SEC quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in four seasons, and should leave with a handful of SEC/Georgia records. He has five offensive linemen returning, the best one-two running back punch (Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall) and plenty of receivers to throw to, including Malcolm Mitchell, who has moved back to offense full-time.

LSU

Yes, the Tigers lost a ton of talent on the defensive side of the ball, but Les Miles seemed pretty happy with where his defense was -- especially his defensive line -- at the end of spring. Jermauria Rasco could be a big-time player at defensive end for LSU, while linebacker Lamin Barrow has the talent to be an All-SEC performer. The return of cornerbacks Jalen Collins and Jalen Mills should continue the Tigers' trend of having an elite secondary.

The offense should be better, too. Zach Mettenberger is way more comfortable in the offense and has developed better chemistry with his receiving targets, which all return from last season. He'll have a solid offensive line in front of him and a loaded backfield. Although, it will be important to see what happens to the suspended Jeremy Hill, who could be the Tigers' top offensive weapon.

South Carolina

Jadeveon Clowney hasn't left, and the Gamecocks should once again be stacked along their defensive line. South Carolina does have to replace its two-deep at linebacker and has a couple of holes in its secondary, but we all know that a good defensive line can mask weaknesses behind it.

And the offense should be pretty balanced this fall. South Carolina possesses two solid quarterbacks and a talented running back stable led by rising sophomore Mike Davis. Bruce Ellington is back at receiver, and it sounds like the very talented Shaq Roland is finally starting to come around and should be a valuable receiving target this fall. This team has the personnel to make it back to Atlanta.

The 2013 NFL draft is in the rearview mirror, so now it's time to look into our crystal ball one year into the future at all the tantalizing possibilities for the 2014 NFL draft.

The most tantalizing thought of all: South Carolina behemoth defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater both declare as underclassmen and therefore produce one of the biggest debates in recent memory. Do you take a game-changing defensive end with the No. 1 overall pick or a franchise quarterback?

They are already rated as the top two players available for 2014 in several mock drafts. So Edward Aschoff in SEC land and Andrea Adelson in Big East/AAC land decided to let the debate begin!

AA: The first thing I want to say is I love Clowney. I love watching him play. I love his demeanor. I love his personality. I had a front-row seat for the Outback Bowl and chronicled his demolition of Michigan running back Vincent Smith, the best play I have ever seen in person. Now, having said that, is there really a debate here? Honestly? To build an NFL team, you build at quarterback. That is why the overwhelming majority of No. 1 overall picks have been quarterbacks. Let's just go back to 2000 to make things easy. Do you know how many No. 1 overall picks were quarterbacks in that time span? Ten. Do you know how many No. 1 overall picks were defensive ends in that same span? Two. Teddy Bridgewater has every single measurable tool every single NFL team wants. He has a great arm, great physical size and can make plays with his legs. And he has every single intangible every NFL team wants. He is a gritty leader, plays through pain, is a student of the game, obsesses about every detail and has absolutely no character issues. Bridgewater is the clear choice.

EA: I love Bridgewater. He can sling it with the best of them and has the toughness that any coach at either the college or pro level would want. I'd start a franchise around him, if Jadeveon Clowney wasn't sitting there. Yes, the NFL has turned into more of an offensive league, but let's just look at the most recent Super Bowl. Defense wins championships, and Clowney will make an immediate impact with whichever team wins his sweepstakes. Were scouts and talking heads clamoring for Bridgewater to skip the 2013 season so that he could guarantee his spot as the first player taken in next year's draft? In the words of Kevin McCallister: I don't think so. Clowney is more than just a man-child. I'm not sure he's even human. He runs a 4.5 40-yard dash at 6-6, 272 pounds. He's a physical specimen and could play in the NFL right now. He would have been the unquestioned first pick in this year's draft if he could have left early. "The Hit" was only the beginning. Also, he's going up against the best offensive lines in the country and still has 21 sacks, 33.5 tackles for loss and seven forced fumbles during his two-year career. How is Bridgewater's stock going to go any higher playing in the Big East?

AA: His stock is not going to go up any higher because he already is listed either No. 1 or No. 2 on just about every early 2014 mock NFL draft. Where do you want him to go, infinity and beyond? The competition will be bland this year, but forget that. Bridgewater will always have Florida. Clowney? Not so much. Scoreboard says Louisville > Florida > South Carolina in 2012. And yes, if the Gamecocks had Bridgewater under center, they would have been playing for another SEC title last year. One more point on the schedule. Whom did Eric Fisher play against in the MAC that warranted his selection as the No. 1 overall pick? Fisher was selected over a player at his position from the SEC. So throw conference affiliation out. Now, let's look at what value a quarterback brings to a team versus what value a defensive end brings to a team. For my millions upon millions, I want a player who touches the ball every single play he is no the field. There is no doubt that Clowney is a once-in-a-lifetime player. But it is much more difficult for a once-in-a-lifetime defensive player to change the fortunes of a pro team without a strong quarterback behind center. Defense may win championships, but the last time I checked, No. 1 overall picks John Elway, Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning all won Super Bowls. Mario Williams, Courtney Brown and Bruce Smith? Nada.

EA: Wow! So you're putting Teddy Heisman in the same boat as Elway and the Mannings? My goodness. I mean he's good, but his shinning moment was beating a Florida squad that barely made it off the bus in New Orleans. Here's the thing about Clowney: He still has a lot of room to grow. He's admitted to taking plays off last year, and he was still arguably the best defensive player in the country. Imagine if he had played to his full potential last year. And everyone in Columbia seems to think that he's ready to become a complete player. Think about that for a second. He's even more motivated going into his final year. He wants to prove something and he might just prove that he's the best player in the country, regardless of position. You don't find athletes like Clowney every day. There are plenty of quarterbacks out there who could be franchise players. There's no one in next year's draft who comes close to measuring up to the kind of defender Clowney is -- and will be. Sure, he won't throw any touchdowns and he won't have the ball in his hands every play, but he'll change games for his future team. He'll figure out a way to get the ball back to his offense and he'll figure out a way to get points on the scoreboard. He might even do it himself sometimes. The bottom line is that Clowney is a rare breed, and passing on him with the first pick would be foolish.

AJ McCarron will once again be the man everyone is chasing this weekend.

Alabama's two-time national championship-winning quarterback will drive the pace car before NASCAR's Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway, leading the field before Sunday's Aaron's 499. He'll be driving around the track in a special Ford Mustang GT.

McCarron said he has watched races at Talladega and has "always had a passion to get up to speed on the track." Sunday, he'll get his chance to show some speed out there.

It's a pretty cool deal for McCarron. I've never been to a race at Talladega, but I've driven by during one -- ironically, it was after an Alabama-Tennessee game -- and I swear I felt my car shake from a combination of the cars and the roar of the crowd. It really is an awesome sight to see, so I can only imagine what it would be like to be there in person.

There will be more Bama love on the track Sunday with Michael Waltrip's No. 55 Aaron's Toyota sporting an Alabama national championship paint scheme.

Everybody is looking for balance on offense. Well, just about everybody.

Who has been the most balanced offense in the SEC over the past three years?

Believe it or not, it’s been Florida, at least in terms of total passing yards versus total rushing yards.

The Gators have passed for 6,712 yards during the 2010-12 seasons and rushed for 6,464 yards during that same span. Of course, the truth is they haven’t been very good offensively in any of the past three years. They were 12^th in the SEC in total offense last season and 10^th in 2011 and 2010.

So in terms of true balance, the title the past three years has to go to Alabama.

No surprise there, huh?

The Crimson Tide are the only team in the league with more than 8,000 rushing yards and more than 8,000 passing yards over the past three seasons.

The biggest discrepancy between rushing and passing yards over the past three seasons belongs to Arkansas. The Hogs have passed for 11,865 yards and rushed for 5,145 yards, a difference of 6,720 yards.

The only team close to that is Tennessee. The Vols have passed for 10,007 yards and rushed for 4,425 yards, which is the lowest rushing total in the SEC over the past three years by more than 500 yards.

Auburn and LSU are the only two teams in the league with more rushing yards than passing yards over the last three years. Auburn has rushed for 8,138 yards and passed for 6.903 yards. LSU has rushed for 7,508 yards and passed for 6,765 yards..

Below is a team-by-team breakdown:

ALABAMA

2012: 3,185 rush, 3,052 pass

2011: 2,788 rush, 2,797 pass

2010: 2,378 rush, 3,395 pass

Total: 8,351 rush, 9,244 pass

ARKANSAS

2012: 1,424 rush, 3,618 pass

2011: 1,786 rush, 3,909 pass

2010: 1,935 rush, 4,338 pass

Total: 5,145 rush, 11,865 pass

AUBURN

2012: 1,781 rush, 1,879 pass

2011: 2,370 rush, 2,022 pass

2010: 3,987 rush, 3,002 pass

Total: 8,138 rush, 6,903 pass

FLORIDA

2012: 2,440 rush, 1,902 pass

2011: 1,859 rush, 2,414 pass

2010: 2,165 rush, 2,396 pass

Total: 6,464 rush, 6,712 pass

GEORGIA

2012: 2,556 rush, 3,991 pass

2011: 2,296 rush, 3,423 pass

2010: 1,854 rush, 3,151 pass

Total: 6,706 rush, 10,565 pass

KENTUCKY

2012: 1,665 rush, 2,115 pass

2011: 1,490 rush, 1,627 pass

2010: 2,061 rush, 3,501 pass

Total: 5,216 rush, 7,243 pass

LSU

2012: 2,258 rush, 2,607 pass

2011: 2,836 rush, 2,135 pass

2010: 2,414 rush, 2,023 pass

Total: 7,508 rush, 6,765 pass

MISS. STATE

2012: 1,874 rush, 3,091 pass

2011: 2,279 rush, 2,364 pass

2010: 2,793 rush, 2,424 pass

Total: 6,946 rush, 7,897 pass

MISSOURI

2012: 1,662 rush, 2,615 pass

2011: 3,172 rush, 3,010 pass

2010: 2,033 rush, 3,292 pass

Total: 6,867 rush, 8,917 pass

OLE MISS

2012: 2,260 rush, 3,249 pass

2011: 1,555 rush, 1,820 pass

2010: 2,491 rush, 2,307 pass

Total: 6,306 rush, 7,376 pass

SOUTH CAROLINA

2012: 1,800 rush, 3,095 pass

2011: 2,497 rush, 2,359 pass

2010: 2,161 rush, 3,338 pass

Total: 6,458 rush, 8,792 pass

TENNESSEE

2012: 1,924 rush, 3,787 pass

2011: 1,081 rush, 2,911 pass

2010: 1,420 rush, 3,309 pass

Total: 4,425 rush, 10,007 pass

TEXAS A&M

2012: 3,147 rush, 4,114 pass

2011: 2,589 rush, 3,784 pass

2010: 2,145 rush, 3,599 pass

Total: 7,881 rush, 11,497 pass

VANDERBILT

2012: 2,162 rush, 2,774 pass

2011: 2,138 rush, 2,270 pass

2010: 1,666 rush, 1,913 pass

Total: 5,966 rush, 6,957 pass

DawgNation
From Radi Nabulsi : With spring football hitting high schools in the south and the spring evaluation period hitting its third week, a few new targets could be close to getting Georgia offers.
More from Nabulsi: Mark Richt is in favor of adding an early signing period for football.

GatorNation
From Michael DiRocco: Will Muschamp was in New York to support several of his players at the NFL draft, but he was also adding to his recruiting credentials.

GigEmNation
From Sam Khan Jr. : Class of 2015 cornerback Kendall Sheffield, who already has a few big-time offers, talks about visiting Texas A&M.

Also from Khan Jr. : Class of 2015 Alabama defensive back commit Deionte Thompson is being pursued by Texas and Texas A&M.

The adage has always been that if something ain't broke, don't fix it. By all accounts, that mantra has worked just fine for the SEC.

Just look at the seven straight BCS titles.

But changes to scheduling is being talked about in college football's most successful conference, especially with the new College Football Playoff on the horizon.

Currently, SEC teams play eight conference games, but that number could move to nine. Talk of SEC teams playing nine conference games isn't anything new, but with two more teams in the conference and strength of schedule becoming a very important factor in how the playoff committee chooses its four playoff teams, nine-game talk has increased.

SEC coaches fielded questions about increasing the number of conference games during last week's SEC coaches teleconference, and league commissioner Mike Slive addressed a nine-game conference schedule Monday.

"Obviously the playoff impacts how we think about scheduling," Slive said. "Strength of scheduling will be a significant component in the committee's analysis. As far as I am concerned, I am open-minded about how we should schedule, and I anticipate continued discussions about how we schedule in the future."

Nine games is a tricky subject when it comes to the SEC. Coaches have made the argument that the league is tough enough, and adding another conference game makes the road to Atlanta -- and the national championship -- that much harder. Also, SEC championship teams would have to play 10 conference games. That's a lot of wear and tear before heading into a four-team playoff.

Then, you have a schools like Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and South Carolina who annually play nonconference rivals. Those certainly aren't gimmie games, so think about adding another conference game to the slate.

"We're not for nine conference games because of our instate rival Florida State," Florida coach Wil Muschamp said.

While the selfish part of me wants to see all SEC teams playing tougher nonconference games more consistently, I understand why coaches and athletic directors would be against that. Again, scheduling formulas have worked to this point.

Here's what Missouri's Gary Pinkel had to say about moving to nine conference games:

“Most coaches like eight games, and one of the reasons is because it’s such a tough league as it is. It would have a huge effect on your nonconference (schedule) going down to three games. There’s a lot of aspects to it. And I think TV will have maybe something to say about that also, in terms of what they would like.”

But there are arguments for moving to nine games. With a nine-game SEC schedule players would have the chance to play every SEC school during their careers. It would also help bolster teams' strength of schedule for the upcoming playoff. You'd certainly get a much more entertaining game than Alabama taking on a directional school or an FCS opponent.

Strength of schedule is certainly going to be an issue the SEC has to tackle, whether it has eight or nine conference games, but as long as the SEC stays as strong as it is, chances are its champion will continuously sit at the playoff table.

So why alter a working product?

Plus, the SEC still has to figure out its rotation issues with scheduling first. Does the conference stay with a permanent cross-division opponent, regardless of how many conference games teams play?

Like last year's SEC spring meetings, which begin at the end of May, coaches and administors will discuss all things under the scheduling sun, but another thing to consider when it comes to nine conference games is that teams would be giving up a home game every year in order to play another league game. That means a loss of revenue, folks.

There are pluses and minuses to nine conference games, and while the Big Ten is taking on the challenge, the SEC doesn't have to be so fast to copy its northern cousins.

Checking out some lunch links on a Tuesday while you chow down on that delicious chicken salad sandwich.

• NFL draft success is an important sales pitch on the recruiting trail.
• Auburn running back Tre Mason follows in Onterio McCalebb's footsteps by continuing Auburn's squirrel-chasing legacy.
• Georgia coach Mark Richt says his offensive line doesn't have to be dominant this fall.
• Former Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson got a life-changing gift on his 29th birthday.
• Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart gets a one-year extension and a $50,000 retention bonus.
• Texas A&M is expected to announce on Wednesday that Kyle Field's capacity will go over 102,000.
• Missouri adds wide receiver Thomas Richard to its 2014 recruiting class.
• Alabama's AJ McCarron is on the Senior Bowl's preliminary 2014 list of eight quarterback candidates.

SEC commissioner Mike Slive says he wants "football expertise" on the selection committee that will pick the four teams for the College Football Playoff starting in 2014.

The most intriguing component in the whole move to a playoff remains the makeup of that committee.

Who's going to be on it? Better yet, who wants to be on it?

From an SEC perspective and a football perspective, I've come up with a few possible candidates. And, yes, I realize that just about every one of these would be perceived as having some kind of bias, which is going to be the problem in finding a panel that satisfies everybody.

They're listed in alphabetical order:

Bill Battle: The new Alabama athletic director was the head coach at Tennessee in the early 1970s and later founded Collegiate Licensing Company and built it into a money-making empire.

Charles Davis: A former defensive back at Tennessee, Davis has carved out an impressive broadcasting career at several different networks and provides analysis for both college football and the NFL.

Vince Dooley: A true legend in SEC coaching circles, Dooley is about as intertwined with SEC football as it gets. He played at Auburn and was a Hall of Fame coach at Georgia.

Jeremy Foley: He's easily the SEC athletic director with the most clout nationally, although he's already said he wouldn't be interesting in serving on the committee.

Phillip Fulmer: Granted, the Alabama fans wouldn't be thrilled, but Fulmer won 98 SEC games, tied for the fifth most in history, and he's available.

Bo Jackson: Still very involved at his alma mater, Auburn, Bo knows football as well as he played it ... and just about every other sport imaginable.

Bobby Johnson: Now retired and living in Charleston, S.C., the former Vanderbilt coach is as sharp and respected as they come and would be a terrific choice.

Roy Kramer: He might be the father of the BCS, but few men have helped to shape college football and the SEC in a positive way more so than Kramer, who's retired and living in East Tennessee.

Archie Manning: One of the SEC's greatest players, Manning still keeps close taps on college football in between watching his two famous sons play in the NFL.

Joe Pendry: A veteran of both the college and pro game, Pendry is now retired from coaching after helping to build some powerhouse offensive lines at Alabama.

Bill Polian: He's currently doing NFL analysis for ESPN, but few people anywhere know the game inside and out any better than Polian, one of the NFL's top executives for a long time.

Gene Stallings: He has ties to both Alabama and Texas A&M and played under the legendary Bear Bryant. Stallings knows what championship teams look like.

Sterling Sharpe: The former South Carolina and Pro Bowl receiver for the Packers is doing a little radio now in addition to his NFL Network duties. He would offer some keen insight in the selection of the teams.

Danny Wuerffel: The former Heisman Trophy winner at Florida would be an excellent choice. He was as smart as he was good and is one of the best people you're ever going to meet. He's also doing better after battling some health problems.