ESPN College Football

You ask for people to write into the mailbag and there's no hint of hesitation.

The mailbag is back this week and we were bombarded with questions. The pages went on for a while, so I'm sorry if I couldn't get to all of them. Keep them coming, though, because there's always next week.

Let's get to this week's questions:

Ethan in Cullman, Ala., writes: With the recent dominance of Alabama and Coach Saban do you see Auburn and Chizik really being relevant nationally? I realize they have recruited fairly well but I think we all know without Cameron Newton the 2010 Auburn Team was a 6-7 7-5 football team and in all honesty I don't see them improving their win-losses as long as Gene Chizik is the head coach. Take away the 14-0 season and Chizik has a total record of 21-29 as a collegiate head coach. Lets just be honest in the world of college football everything runs through Tuscaloosa, Alabama and I don't see that changing anytime soon. RTR (:

Edward Aschoff: Man, Auburn fans will love you now. I'm sure the Christmas cards are being written as we speak. While I don't see Auburn surpassing Alabama this season, or really next season, I don't think Auburn is going to fall off the map without Newton. Like you wrote, Chizik has recruited well and the team he has now is pretty young. It's going to take more time for this team to crawl back up the SEC standings, but I don't think it's going to take years and years. Auburn has the young talent to challenge some teams in the West this year. Yes, even Alabama. I'm one of the few still on the Auburn bandwagon. I see improvement on the offensive line, quarterback Kiehl Frazier really came along stronger this spring with Scot Loeffler's help and the defense can only get better after a lousy 2011 showing. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Auburn made more news nationally in 2013.

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Jmathews in Weslaco, Texas, writes: Do you think Kevin Sumlin is going to surprise some teams this year with his offensive plan?

Edward Aschoff: It's a little unorthodox by SEC standards, for sure, but I'm not sure if SEC defenses will be confused by that air game. Sumlin and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will have to run the ball more in order to catch some defenses off guard. I know that flashy passing game was fun at Houston, but you have to run the ball to survive in the SEC. Balance will be key because we all know that Sumlin is going to want to throw the ball as much as he can. I don't think we'll truly see what all Sumlin wants to do because he's working with such young quarterbacks. That will restrict a lot of it and could make Christine Michael that much more important at running back. Once Sumlin has the right pieces in place then you'll see some offenses have to plan differently. For now, I think it's a work in progress.

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Jimmy in Pikeville, Ky., writes: Do you believe that Joker Phillips will be able to get the Kentucky Wildcats back to a bowl game this season?

Edward Aschoff: Phillips thinks he's found more offensive playmakers this spring, with youngsters such as Demarco Robinson, Daryl Collins and Ronnie Shields stepping up, and that's huge for the Wildcats. They didn't have many at all last year and that was a main reason Kentucky's offense was so bad. But we still need to see what those players can do against SEC competition in October. And a consistent quarterback has to step up. Maxwell Smith has the lead, but the race isn't over. The schedule is going to be tough for the Wildcats, as well. I think Kentucky needs to sweep nonconference play to ensure a bowl birth. That means beating Louisville to start the season. The Louisville loss was a big one for the Cats last year and right now, Louisville is still a better team. Getting those four nonconference wins will go a long way for Kentucky.

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Reed in Beijing, China, writes: Ex-pat hog fan here in Beijing. I wanted to get your opinion on how Arkansas will split carries between Ronnie Wingo, Knile Davis, and Dennis Johnson this year. Also, who besides Cobi Hamilton do you think will step up to fill the void at receiver?

Edward Aschoff: If Davis is healthy, he'll get the majority of the carries. I don't think there's any debate there. He is in another league compared to the other backs. After that, I think Arkansas goes Johnson then Wingo. Johnson came on during the second half of the season, while Wingo was inconsistent in my opinion. As for receiver, I think Marquel Wade could have a big year, along with tight end Chris Gragg. Wade is a very good athlete and the coaches loved what he did in practice last year. He's someone who has that dynamic feel in the offense and can make big plays. Gragg is big, athletic and tough. Tyler Wilson will key in on him a bunch this fall. He's probably the top returning tight end in the league.

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Ryan in Anaheim, Calif., writes: Is it safe to say that Vanderbilt will have one of the best offenses in the SEC this year? Returning Rodgers, Stacy, Matthews, and Boyd, while also getting Norman back and explosive freshman in Kimbrow. The only weakness I see is the O-line which will be inexperienced, but will that hold them back that much?

Edward Aschoff: That line barely got through spring practice, so it's a problem. Injuries and numbers really hurt the line. The good news is that six true freshmen will be on campus this summer. The bad news is that they are true freshmen. Jordan Rodgers still has to be more comfortable in the pocket. He can be really sporadic at times and coach James Franklin knows it. If he can't improve on the mental side, this offense will struggle. Brian Kimbrow is someone who can be used all over the field, so that will really benefit this offense. The other playmakers you mentioned are solid, no question, but there are some good offenses to battle near the top, such as Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.

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Kyle in Gainesville, Fla., writes: The Gators haven't had many people drafted in the past two years, but next year will be much better. Who do you think could be drafted in the top 2 rounds next year? Bostic, Jenkins, Powell, Easley, Floyd, Elam, Nixon, Debose, and Reed are all guys I think can if they have a big year.

Edward Aschoff: Well, if Ronald Powell doesn't come back from his knee injury don't count on him heading to the draft. NFL scouts love Dominique Easley's potential. He's so strong and athletic and just pounds his way through offensive lines. He did suffer that knee injury, so his health will be monitored closely. Elam will compete to be the top safety in the SEC, but his name hasn't been thrown out as much as someone like Eric Reid. Jelani Jenkins is someone scouts like because of his speed and strength. He isn't the biggest linebacker, but he's extremely smart and that will help him a lot. Jon Bostic is getting some attention and a big year will boost his stock for sure. Xavier Nixon has to improve on a bad 2011 and Andre Debose and Jordan Reed have to be more consistent. Of all of them, I think Easley and Jenkins are Florida's top pro prospects.

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Brad in Longview, Texas, writes: If you could take one player from the SEC, outside of a QB, who would it be?

Edward Aschoff: Last year, the answer was easy: Trent Richardson. This year, it's a little more difficult. I don't think I'd go with another offensive player, so I'm going to go with Georgia's Jarvis Jones. He was one of the best players in the nation last year and was the SEC's top defensive player, after getting 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. He's a superb athlete, has tremendous speed and has a relentless attitude. He's also a great leader. He commands respect in the locker room and on the field. It's hard to find a better linebacker out there.

Our Friday stroll around the SEC:

• Florida coach Will Muschamp says he won't be against playing two quarterbacks next season.
• Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that outgoing Georgia president Michael Adams should rename Sanford Stadium for Vince Dooley.
• Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News examines whether more wins in football means fewer academic donations.
• Nick Saban is no fan of Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany's proposal to limit a national playoff to conference champions.
• Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson has no regrets about not declaring for the NFL draft and staying for his senior season.
• Vanderbilt has already surpassed its 2011 total in season ticket sales.
• Missouri lands a verbal commitment from offensive lineman Clay Rhodes of Stilwell, Kan.
• Should Auburn retire Cam Newton's jersey?

It's that time again as we make our rounds in the SEC:

• Georgia kicker Blair Walsh and punter Drew Butler both hope to hear their names called at the NFL draft.
• Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen likes his team's attitude coming out of the spring.
• Former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton has a little fun while campaigning for the cover of "Madden 13."
• Alabama coach Nick Saban talks up his players heading into the NFL draft.
• Plan B has worked out just fine for former Vanderbilt receiver Earl Bennett.
• South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore's draft stock is soaring.
• Arkansas' players welcome John L. Smith's return.
• Joel Erickson of The Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer has a Q&A with Auburn offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler.
• Missouri looks ahead to its SEC football debut.

Auburn’s annual A-Day spring game Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium before a crowd of 43,427 was an offense versus defense scrimmage, and the offense wound up winning 36-27 based on a scoring format devised by the coaches.

The offense received points for touchdowns, field goals, plays of 15 yards or longer and consecutive first downs. The defense received points for touchdowns, turnovers, sacks and three-and-outs.

Auburn coach Gene Chizik downplayed the stats from the game, but sophomore quarterback Kiehl Frazier was named the offensive MVP, defensive end Dee Ford the defensive MVP and punter Steven Clark the special teams MVP.

The Auburn coaches were generally pleased with the way the Tigers ran the ball, and fullback Jay Prosch has been a huge addition to the running game. Prosch transferred in from Illinois and has been a one-man bulldozer in the way he’s cleared running lanes for the Auburn running backs.

The most impressive drive of the scrimmage came with Frazier at quarterback, and it covered 80 yards in 11 plays and consumed more than seven minutes. Corey Grant capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.

Frazier finished 7-of-9 for 92 yards and showed off his ability to scramble around and make plays. Still, Chizik said the quarterback competition would extend into the summer. Clint Moseley was plagued by a sore throwing shoulder for much of the spring.

“We’re not ready to pull the trigger (on a decision) any time soon that I see,” Chizik said.

The best news for the defense was that it generated consistent pressure, led by Ford and LaDarius Owens. The Auburn defensive ends combined to produce five sacks.

"We have a couple of guys that have really stepped forward in rushing the passer. They're going to be difficult to block in certain situations off the edge," Chizik said.

You can get stats, photos and quotes from Auburn's spring game by going here.

Prior to the game, Auburn unveiled statues of its three Heisman Trophy winners -- Bo Jackson, Cam Newton and Pat Sullivan.

The Pac-12 is the conference of quarterbacks. The SEC is all about defense.

Oh, and winning national championships.

But as good as the defenses are in the SEC, what role does poor-to-middling offense play in that perception? As in, what would happen if those defenses played against a series of future NFL quarterbacks, as Pac-12 (and Big 12) defenses do?

The question before us is this: How would USC quarterback Matt Barkley do against those rough-tough SEC defenses?

Ted Miller: It’s sort of a chicken and the egg question. Are SEC defenses so good because they rarely play against A-list quarterbacks? Or do Pac-12 quarterbacks pile up eye-popping numbers because they don’t play against SEC defenses?

Is it more notable that four of the top 11 quarterbacks in the nation in terms of passing efficiency in 2011 were from the Pac-12, compared to none in the top 20 from the SEC? Or is it more important that six SEC defenses ranked in the top 17 in pass efficiency defense compared to zero for the Pac-12?

It’s hard to say. It’s likely a person’s home -- Los Angeles or Baton Rouge -- has a large influence on his or her opinion.

Pac-12 fans would be prone to point out: In 2005, LSU ranked No. 3 in the nation in passing efficiency defense. But in the Tigers' trip to Tempe that season, Arizona State’s Sam Keller completed 35 of 56 passes for 461 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in a 35-31 defeat.

Or this: LSU’s defense did a nice job against Oregon’s offense in the 2011 season opener. Of course, the Ducks scored more points on LSU than ANY OF THE OTHER 13 TEAMS LSU PLAYED.

Apologies for the caps lock. Reckless typing.

While we can all acknowledge the SEC -- at least the elite teams -- play better defense than the rest of the nation, it is also worth noting that when future first-round NFL draft picks played quarterback in the SEC, they put up good numbers, whether we’re talking about the Manning brothers, Matt Stafford or Cam Newton. And I’m sure, one day in the future --perhaps this decade! -- we’ll be able to add a name to that list.

There are some nice quartebacks in the SEC: Tyler Wilson, AJ McCarron and Aaron Murray. All three seem like they’d have a good chance of winning the backup job at USC. Maybe.

Chris Low: No way am I going to argue that Barkley wouldn't have success in the SEC.

He's a future pro and probably the front-runner to win the Heisman Trophy in 2012.

The question is: How much success would he have, and would he hit the proverbial wall going against SEC defenses on a weekly basis?

My feeling is that all quarterbacks hit that wall. Any coach will tell you (ask your buddy Lane Kiffin) that what separates SEC defenses is the speed in the front seven, particularly in the defensive line. There are fast players all over the country in college football, but the SEC has cornered the market on fast, explosive defensive linemen and pass-rushers who also have the size and strength to overpower people.

That's the difference, and that's where Barkley would notice the greatest difference.

It wasn't a banner year for quarterbacks in the SEC last season. And, yes, I realize that's an understatement. But it was a banner year for premier defensive players. That's why the first round of the NFL draft next month is going to look like an SEC who's who. As many as 10 SEC defensive players could go in the first round.

Don't sleep on the SEC's quarterback class this coming season, either. Wilson may be a future first-rounder. Murray has thrown nearly 60 touchdown passes in his first two seasons, and we all saw what McCarron did in the BCS title game against an LSU defense that was outstanding.

Barkley's a big-time talent, no question. But it's a different game when you're trying to throw from your back.

And in this league, ALL QUARTERBACKS (sorry, my caps tend to lock up, too) encounter that problem.

Ted Miller: Truth is, Wilson, Murray and McCarron are good quarterbacks who look like guys with NFL futures. Loved how McCarron handled the pressure of the title game, and Murray has Pac-12-type talent.

We're trash talking here, but if you can't acknowledge what is real, well, then it's just noise.

And the reality of this debate is this: Barkley would be more challenged on a weekly basis by SEC defenses than by Pac-12 defenses -- which I believe are underrated but still a step behind the SEC for the reasons the Inimitable Low mentioned above. If Barkley played at Vanderbilt, Mississippi State or Kentucky, he'd just be the best quarterback in the history of those programs while leading those teams to "historic" seasons. Like a third-place finish in their divisions.

Yet what makes Barkley, Barkley is not just Barkley. It's USC. It's his supporting cast. It's receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, who will both have NFL careers. And two tight ends who will also. And a good offensive line, and a 1,000-yard rusher who averaged 6.9 yards per carry in 2011 (Curtis McNeal).

By the way, if you wonder where USC's true potential Achilles heel is this year, it's the defensive line. The Trojans have three A-listers -- guys who would be touted in the SEC -- but are thin thereafter. That's a problem for a team that views itself as a national title contender.

That's ultimately the rub here, too. If all goes according to plan, Barkley and USC should be in position to play for the national title. It's hard to imagine that wouldn't be against another SEC team.

Now, Chris, wouldn't it be fun if it were USC and LSU? Recall that in 2003, LSU won 1/16 of the national title when no one in the entire world thought LSU was better than USC, other than computers obviously loaded with all sorts of viruses.

Or USC-Alabama? Great history, and Saban versus Barkley & Co. would certainly attract plenty of eyeballs.

Chris Low: One of the most compelling things that could happen to college football next season would be for USC and Barkley to take their shot at an SEC defense in the money game.

Then, we could quit debating and let it play out on the field. As much as I knew that Alabama and LSU were the two best teams in the country last season, there was a part of me that wanted to see Oklahoma State against either the Alabama or LSU defense in the BCS title game.

It's the matchup we all want to see: A high-powered offense versus a suffocating defense.

Maybe that's what we'll be treated to this fall.

Of course, I go back to the 2010 national title game, and Oregon had been short-circuiting scoreboards all season long. The Ducks go up against an Auburn defense that had been opportunistic, but wasn't one of the best in the SEC that season statistically. But in that game, Auburn put the clamps on Oregon and won 22-19.

The Tigers won because the Ducks couldn't block Nick Fairley.

And that's what the Trojans would run into if they find themselves up against an SEC team next January in Miami.

It won't come down to Barkley. Sure, he'll make a few plays. He's legit. But what it will come down to is the group of guys blocking for Barkley, and that's where it always gets ugly against SEC defenses.

In the meantime, just make sure the Trojans get there. They've been known to stumble along the way, and what we're left with is a bunch of hollow chatter about what they would have done (or could have done) had they made it to the party.

We'll check the guest list in December and chat again then.

Auburn's A-Day festivities just got a little more exciting.

The school will unveil statues commemorating its three Heisman Trophy winners -- Pat Sullivan, Bo Jackson and Cam Newton -- in a ceremony prior to the Tigers' spring game on April 14.

The ceremony will take place on the east side of Jordan-Hare Stadium, where each statue will be permanently located. Fans will get a glimpse of the trio in person, too, as Sullivan, Jackson and Newton are scheduled to be in attendance for the event.

Sullivan won the award in 1971, Jackson in 1985 and Newton in 2010.

Newton is coming off his rookie season in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers, in which he set a rookie NFL record for 4,051 passing yards and was named the named the Offensive Rookie of the Year by The Associated Press.

Our daily stroll around the SEC:

• It looks like Corey Raymond is heading back home after all to coach the LSU defensive backs.
• The late addition of Alex Kozan gives Auburn seven offensive linemen in its 2012 signing class.
• There isn't much initial support for adding a ninth SEC game.
• South Carolina linebacker Angelo Watley is arrested on burglary charges.
• Cam Newton never tires of proving people wrong, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of The Birmingham News.
• Could Ole Miss pull off the recruiting upset of the century with Robert Nkemdiche?
• First year in the SEC means raised ticket prices for Texas A&M.
• Kentucky makes its hiring of receivers coach Pat Washington official.
• Former Florida running back Chris Rainey shows off his versatility.

NEW ORLEANS -- Auburn had Cam Newton.

Alabama had Greg McElroy.

Florida had Tim Tebow, twice (though Chris Leak was the starter in 2006).

And LSU had Matt Flynn.

All solid national championship quarterbacks.

This time, the quarterbacks enter Monday’s Allstate BCS National Championship Game with some concern attached to their names.

For Alabama, it’s the talented but young AJ McCarron. For LSU, it’s embattled senior Jordan Jefferson. Together, they create more questions than answers.

McCarron probably hasn’t received the criticism Jefferson has. As a first-year starter, the sophomore is allowed a mulligan here and there. His year has consisted of 2,400 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and just five interceptions. But it also featured seven games in which he threw for fewer than 200 yards, including the final four games of the regular season, among them Alabama's Nov. 5 showdown with LSU.

His decision-making has been questionable at times and there are more than a handful of times in which McCarron tried to do too much, and while that’s natural for a youngster, it can’t happen Monday.

“Growing as a quarterback all year long, I felt like I've done a pretty good job so far,” McCarron said. “Coming in your first year you're not going to know a whole lot going into it. As of now, I feel like I've been here forever.

“This season's taken a long time.”

It feels like it’s been a tremendously long career for Jefferson. His four years at LSU have seemed like eight and he’s always been such a wild card for the Tigers. He's thrown 34 career touchdowns in 41 starts. To put that in perspective, Georgia's Aaron Murray threw 35 touchdowns this season.

It's been a rocky career for Jefferson, and he's had his share of rocky moments in 2011. His 33-yard performance against Georgia in this year’s SEC championship seemed to set quarterback play back, and he’s completed double-digit passes in a game just once this season, when he threw for 208 yards on 18-of-29 passing.

He’ll enter Monday’s game with fewer than 700 passing yards in nine games. Granted, Jefferson didn’t reclaim his starting spot until mid-November, but he averages just nine pass attempts a game.

And unlike McCarron, fans have let Jefferson know when they’re unhappy. The boo birds that greeted him during the Kentucky game after he returned from his four-game suspension for his role in a bar fight resurfaced at times when Jefferson wasn’t playing well. Most notably, they surrounded Jefferson during an eventual scoring drive against Arkansas and a few times against Georgia.

“Once they see that error occur, I guess it makes them mad a little bit, I guess,” Jefferson said of the boos.

But like his team has all season, Jefferson blocks out the negativity on the field. He can’t control it, so he doesn’t bother with it. It’s just like his reaction to his poor play. Jefferson prides himself on quarterback amnesia.

“Playing quarterback, you’re not always expected to have a perfect performance,” he said. “That’s why you have to put the bad performances behind you and try to find ways to improve for the next performance.”

McCarron stresses over his mistakes more, but only because he’s a perfectionist. Curing his field issues is mandatory for McCarron to get through a practice session, and that attitude should take him far in this league.

“Every game you're not going to be perfect going into the game, especially after the game,” he said. “You just try to eliminate as many mistakes as you possibly can.”

They won’t be perfect. That’s why there are other players to lean on at times. McCarron and Jefferson aren’t true stars and don’t have the flashiest stats, but with help from those around them, their teams are playing for a national title and one will be hoisting that coveted crystal ball Monday night.

It could always be worse, LSU offensive coordinator Greg Studrawa said. LSU’s quarterback play could be like it was the three years after its 2007 championship, when quarterbacks threw 48 touchdowns to 37 interceptions and LSU took a back seat to teams.

“Up-and-down, in my opinion,” he said, “has been better than it’s been.”

It's time to go "Next Level" with some of the bowl games involving SEC teams.

The good people at ESPN Stats & Information have come up with more extra interesting stats for a few bowl games involving the SEC.

Stats & Info checked out the Chick-fil-A Bowl, the Outback Bowl, the Capital One Bowl, the Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl, the AT&T Cotton Bowl and the Allstate BCS National Championship Game. We don't want to overload you with info, so we'll start with the Chick-fil-A Bowl, the Outback Bowl and the Capital One Bowl.

There are some interesting notes in here, so take a look:

Chick-fil-A Bowl -- Virginia vs. No. 25 Auburn

• Clint Moseley has been an upgrade on long passes since taking over as Auburn’s starting quarterback. Moseley has completed more than 50 percent of his throws of 15-plus yards in three of five games against SEC opponents this season. Neither Barrett Trotter nor Kiehl Frazier accomplished this feat once against SEC opponents.
• Auburn has not rushed for 300 yards in a game this season, after having eight such games last season. The Tigers have 16 rushing touchdowns this season and 12 rushes of 20 yards or longer. It only took 11 games last season for Cam Newton to surpass those totals by himself.
• Auburn’s lack of a running game has hurt its play-action passing game. The Tigers have not thrown for more than 76 yards off play-action against an AQ opponent (nine games) this season. Last season, the Tigers threw for at least 100 yards off a run fake in three of its final four games, including 234 in the BCS Championship Game.
• Virginia has held its opponents to no gain or a loss on 39.9 percent of its plays this season, second best in the ACC and sixth best in FBS. The Cavaliers have been even better in their last four games, holding opponents to no yards or less on 43.8 percent of their plays.

Outback Bowl –- No. 17 Michigan State vs. No. 16 Georgia

• Isaiah Crowell was limited to 6 yards on seven carries inside the tackles against LSU in the SEC championship game. It was his fewest yards and lowest average inside the tackles. Crowell entered the game average 60.5 yards and 4.7 yards per carry on the same run.
• If Georgia is unable to run the ball, it could make the Bulldogs predictable on first down. Aaron Murray leads the SEC and is tied for fourth nationally with 17 touchdown passes on first down this season.
• B.J. Cunningham has emerged as Kirk Cousins’ big-play threat. Cunningham has five of the team’s six receiving touchdowns on passes thrown 20 yards or longer this season, including one in each of the Spartans’ last four games.
• Georgia and Michigan State’s defenses are both ranked in the top six of FBS in yards per game and yards per play this season. The Bulldogs and Spartans have both forced 106 negative plays, which is the fifth most in FBS.

Capital One Bowl –- No. 20 Nebraska vs. No. 9 South Carolina

• Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez completes 40.8 percent of his throws of 15-plus yards for his career against AQ opponents. Nebraska is 7-0 against AQ opponents when Martinez completes at least 50 percent of these passes, including the win in its last game against Iowa.
• Nebraska leads the FBS with 17 rushing touchdowns of 40 yards or longer since the start of the 2010 season. The Cornhuskers are 9-1 when they have one such run with the only loss coming in the 2010 Big 12 championship game to Oklahoma.
• Connor Shaw completed 7 of 12 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns when Clemson sent five or more pass-rushers on a play. It was Shaw’s seventh straight game where he completed at least 58 percent of his passes against the blitz this season. The Gamecocks were 6-1 in those games with the only loss coming to Arkansas.
• Shaw has been more productive at home, averaging 107 more passing yards per game at home than on the road in the games that he started. One reason for Shaw’s increased success in Columbia is the accuracy of his deep ball.
• South Carolina has only given up 112 plays of 10 or more yards this season, second fewest in FBS. In their last game, the Gamecocks held Clemson to a season-low eight such plays, including just four pass plays.
• South Carolina has 10 plays of 20 yards or more in its four games against FBS opponents since Marcus Lattimore got hurt against Mississippi State. It’s tied for the third fewest such plays during that time period (from Oct. 16 on).

The regular-season grades are in for the Auburn Tigers, who face Virginia on New Year’s Eve in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

OFFENSE: C-

What a difference a year makes. Better yet, what a difference Cam Newton made. We all knew Newton was a difference-maker and a special player. But after watching him sparkle as a rookie with the Carolina Panthers and watching Auburn struggle just to make a first down for much of this season, it’s obvious how much the Tigers missed him. Other than sophomore tailback Michael Dyer, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the second straight season, Auburn never found anything to hang its hat on offensively. And, now, Dyer is suspended indefinitely after violating team policy. The Tigers averaged just 24.2 points per game after leading the league in 2010 with an average of 41.2 points per game. They juggled three different quarterbacks, never established any kind of downfield passing game and gave up 31 sacks in 12 games. In their last seven SEC games, they scored more than 17 points only once, and that came against Ole Miss.

DEFENSE: F

Even during their 2010 national championship season, the Tigers weren’t a dominant defense. But they made plays when they had to, particularly in the fourth quarter, and rose to the challenge in the BCS National Championship Game. With so many of the key pieces from that defense gone, the Tigers went from an opportunistic defense to a bad defense and didn’t stop much of anybody this season. They were a poor tackling team and gave up more than 1,600 yards in total offense in their first three games, which sort of set the tone. They did hold South Carolina to 13 points and Florida to six points in wins. But LSU, Georgia and Alabama all ripped through Auburn for more than 40 points in what was an ugly end to the regular season for the Tigers. It didn’t take defensive coordinator Ted Roof long to skip town. He left for the UCF defensive coordinator’s job, and head coach Gene Chizik will oversee the defense during the bowl game.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B+

Punter Steven Clarke was one of the best in the country at pinning teams deep. Of his 69 punts, 32 ended up inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. The Tigers were also third in the SEC in net punting and had two different players -- Tre Mason and Onterio McCalebb -- to return kickoffs for touchdowns. They led the league in kickoff return average and also led the league in kickoff coverage. Cody Parkey was second in the league with 34 touchbacks and made 11 of his 15 field-goal attempts. The Tigers also perfectly executed an onsides kick in the final minutes of the season opener to help them escape against Utah State.

COACHING: C

Even though it wasn’t always pretty, Chizik and his staff were able to squeeze five wins out of this team through the first seven weeks of the season. The 16-13 win at South Carolina looked like it might propel the Tigers to a big season, bigger than most outside the program expected. But they went south from there and were blown out by LSU, Georgia and Alabama down the stretch. Getting blown out is one thing, especially given how well LSU, Georgia and Alabama were playing at that point. But most troubling to fans on the Plains was how uninspired the Tigers looked in those games. They weren’t even competitive. Auburn’s staff will have a new look to it next season. Roof is already gone, and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn will leave after the bowl game. He took the Arkansas State head coaching job. Despite the deficiencies on offense and defense, the Tigers did find a way to win four SEC games.

Arkansas State will introduce Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn as its new head coach at a news conference Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. ET.

The Ft. Smith, Ark., native leaves Auburn after three years as the Tigers' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. In that time, Malzahn coached one of the nation's most explosive offenses guided by Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton during Auburn's 2010 national championship run.

A person close to Malzahn told ESPN's Joe Schad that Malzahn, who will stay on to call plays for the Tigers in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Virginia, was "looking for a change" from Auburn and "looking to move onto something else."

Malzahn replaces Hugh Freeze, who took over as the head coach at Ole Miss after finishing the 2011 season with a 10-2 record with the Red Wolves.

Auburn will now be searching for two coordinators. Head coach Gene Chizik will serve as defensive coordinator against Virginia after defensive coordinator Ted Roof left to take a similar job at Central Florida.

There's no question that the former high school head coach wanted to get back to heading a program. His name floated around for various head-coaching jobs in the last couple of years and was a top target for the North Carolina and Kansas openings this year. North Carolina eventually hired former Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora, while Kansas hired former Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.

Chizik released a statement Wednesday supporting Malzahn's move to Arkansas State:

“I’m very happy for Gus and the opportunity that awaits him at Arkansas State. Gus has always had the strong desire to become a head coach and the chance for him to return to his home state that he is so familiar with, will be very beneficial. He’s meant a tremendous amount to our program the past three years, helping our offense and our program achieve unprecedented heights, winning a BCS National Championship and setting countless offensive records. Gus has experienced success in each stop of his coaching career and I have no doubt that he will have similar results at Arkansas State. We look forward to having Gus stay with us through the bowl game and hope to send him out with a victory.”

Check the SEC blog later for more on Malzahn and his jump to Arkansas State.

My Heisman Trophy ballot has changed every week for the last couple of months.

I'm not surprised there are more than three players going to the trophy presentation.

Five players were invited to New York for Saturday night's Heisman Trophy presentation -- quarterbacks Andrew Luck of Stanford and Robert Griffin III of Baylor, tailbacks Montee Ball of Wisconsin and Trent Richardson of Alabama and cornerback Tyrann Mathieu of LSU.

It's a shame the Heisman Trust didn't have room for three more quarterbacks because Houston's Case Keenum, USC's Matt Barkley and Boise State's Kellen Moore were just as deserving.

With five finalists going to New York, it figures to be one of the closer votes in recent Heisman Trophy history.

The closest vote in Heisman Trophy history came just two years ago, when Alabama tailback Mark Ingram edged Stanford's Toby Gerhart by only 28 points. Ingram received 227 first-place votes, Gerhart got 222 and Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, the second runner-up, received 203.

Given the number of finalists and their geographical regions, we could have another really close finish on Saturday night.

Luck, the runner-up to Auburn's Cam Newton last season, entered the 2011 season as the Heisman Trophy favorite. His performance didn't slip much this season, as he completed 70 percent of his passes for 3,170 yards with 35 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

I still feel Luck might be the most valuable player on any team in the country. Without him, there's no way the Cardinal is ranked No. 4 in the country and playing No. 3 Oklahoma State in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Luck has done more with less, as Stanford lacks the game-changing playmakers that other teams have.

But Luck might still be the second-best quarterback in New York. Griffin, who is widely known as RG3, completed 72.4 percent of his passes for 3,998 yards with 36 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 644 yards with nine touchdowns.

Without him, the Bears wouldn't have beaten TCU, Oklahoma and Texas. Griffin's one drawback: He had a late interception that sealed the Bears' fate in a 36-35 loss at Kansas State on Oct. 1 and threw two picks in a 59-24 loss at Oklahoma State on Oct. 29. But with everything else RG3 has done this season, it's easy to give him a mulligan for the miscues.

I still believe Richardson is the best player in the country. He looked like the best player on the field in No. 2 Alabama's 9-6 loss in overtime to No. 1 LSU on Nov. 5. He had 89 rushing yards and 80 receiving yards in a game where every yard mattered. He finished the season with 1,583 yards with 20 touchdown runs and three touchdown catches. He's also Mr. Dependable, not losing a fumble in his past 520 touches and only once in 614 career touches.

Ball has been a scoring machine for the No. 10 Badgers this season, running for 1,759 yards with 32 touchdown runs and six touchdown receptions. His 38 total touchdowns are one shy of matching former Oklahoma State running back Barry Sanders' NCAA single-season record of 39 set in 11 games in 1988. Ball's production helped lead the Badgers to a Jan. 2 date against Oregon in the Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO.

Mathieu fell off my ballot after he was suspended from playing in the Tigers' 45-10 victory over Auburn on Oct. 22 for smoking synthetic marijuana. But his big plays helped the Tigers overcome deficits in each of their last two victories, over Arkansas and Georgia in the SEC championship game.

Mathieu -- aka the "Honey Badger" -- is the best player on the top-ranked team. He leads the Tigers with 70 tackles and has forced six fumbles and recovered five. He also is the most dynamic punt returner I've seen since Florida State's Deion Sanders. Mathieu has scored four touchdowns -- two on fumble returns and two on punt returns.

To penalize Mathieu for one foolish mistake wouldn't have been right. After all, Newton was briefly ruled ineligible at Auburn last season and 2010 Heisman Trophy finalist LaMichael James of Oregon was suspended from playing in last season's opener.

It only makes sense that the most exciting weekend in the SEC will be the last one.

Here are some things to keep an eye on Friday and Saturday after that delicious turkey dinner:

1. National championship berths: Depending on the outcomes Friday and Saturday, we could see two SEC teams punch their tickets to the national title game. A win over Auburn on Saturday will likely send Alabama to New Orleans for the big game if LSU beats Arkansas on Friday. If the Tigers win, they too might be headed to the national title game, regardless of what happens in the SEC title game against Georgia. Arkansas has a chance as well. If the Hogs win and Alabama loses, Arkansas will play in the SEC championship game and a win there will send the Hogs to the national championship. Arkansas needs Alabama to lose because even if the Hogs beat LSU, the Tigers, not the Hogs, could still appear in the national title game.

2. Twenty-seven and counting: Derek Dooley might have reiterated to his team that what Tennessee did was “kick the [expletive] out of Vandy,” but the same rowdy speech could be given when talking about Kentucky. Tennessee has won 26 straight games against Kentucky. Total dominance. Kentucky has had a very disappointing season, but would love nothing more than to end a bowl-less season with a win over rival Tennessee. However, Tennessee’s quarterback has returned. Tyler Bray was rusty against Vanderbilt, but without him, Tennessee might not be in a position this week to become bowl eligible.

3. Ten SEC bowl teams?: Speaking of bowl eligible, the SEC has a chance to send 10 teams to the postseason for the second straight year. But it won’t be easy. Seven teams are eligible, but three have a chance to get to that critical sixth win in order to be considered for postseason play. Those teams are Mississippi State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs host 2-9 Ole Miss, Tennessee plays a Kentucky team it hasn’t lost to since 1984 and Vanderbilt travels to Wake Forest. Mississippi State and Tennessee probably have the best chances of getting to that sixth win, considering their opponents, while the Commodores will have to overcome their road woes to make it back to a bowl for the first time since 2008.

4. Heisman moment?: There is no question that the Heisman Trophy race is wide open. No player has yet to consistently stick out nationally, so this weekend will be big for one last Heisman moment for a few players. One of those players is Alabama running back Trent Richardson. The junior is the SEC’s top rusher (1,380 yards and 20 touchdowns), and has a strong case to be the nation’s best running back. He’s built like a tank, but can outrun some of the SEC’s most fleet-footed defenders. This weekend, all eyes will be on him as he takes on Auburn. Another strong performance on national television could keep Richardson at the top of some voters’ ballots. This is a revenge game and a national championship berth is on the line. Richardson will have no problem getting motivated.

5. Friends meeting in the Swamp: Neither Florida coach Will Muschamp nor Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher has really wanted to talk about facing each other this weekend. Everyone knows the backstory: They coached together at LSU under Nick Saban, are buds and own a beach house together. Now, they’re facing each other for the first time as head coaches in a very bitter rivalry. This game could help make both coaches’ seasons, considering the disappointments that have come along for both teams. Muschamp needs this win to finally notch another win over a rival, while Fisher needs to develop a winning streak over the Gators. This has the potential to be ugly on both sides offensively, but all anyone can wait for is the postgame handshake. Winner takes the beach house?

6. Curing those road woes: Vanderbilt has yet to get a win on the road this season, and that doesn’t bode well for a team looking to earn a bowl berth. The Commodores have to go to Wake Forest Saturday in a game that will determine if Vanderbilt makes it back to the postseason for the first time since 2008. There is no question that new coach James Franklin has one of the better, more exciting Vandy teams we’ve seen in a while, But the Commodores have seen the same results on the road and didn’t get that big, signature SEC win. A win over Wake would give the Commodores even more to be thankful for: bowl eligibility.

7. Slowing down that Clemson offense: Clemson’s offense was all the rave earlier in the year, but after a blowout loss to N.C. State last week, the Tigers are battered and bruised heading into Columbia, S.C. Waiting for them will be a hungry defense looking to put an exclamation point on South Carolina’s season. The Gamecocks don’t win games with their offense, but it hasn’t mattered much with that defense patrolling the field. South Carolina is allowing 19 points a game, and Clemson is scoring 35. The Gamecocks are giving up less than 280 yards per contest, while Clemson is racking up 465 yards. There isn’t a lot of love when these two get together, so this one should be fun.

8. Atlanta success: Georgia doesn’t like Georgia Tech, and the feeling is mutual on the other side. What really frustrates the Yellow Jacket faithful is that Georgia hasn’t lost to Georgia Tech in Atlanta since 1999 – and that was an overtime thriller. Georgia Tech’s offense is having a special year, but the Bulldogs will be back in Atlanta next week for the SEC championship game. A loss won’t knock the Dawgs out of the title game, so the pressure is off Georgia. The Yellow Jackets must protect their house better then they have against Georgia. The thing is that Georgia Tech has yet to face a defense like Georgia’s this year.

9. Redemption song: Last year’s unbearable loss to Auburn still stings around Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Crimson Tide had video of Cam Newton’s valiant comeback inside Bryant-Denny Stadium running all around Alabama’s football complex during the spring and over the summer. You better believe that the Tide is out for redemption. Alabama blew a 24-point lead to the Tigers last year and football life just hasn’t been the same for the Tide. Another loss to Auburn would ruin a great season for the Tide.

10. Emotions flowing: There will be moments this weekend in the SEC that will be bigger than football. Friday, Arkansas will take on LSU without redshirt freshman tight end Garrett Uekman, who died suddenly Sunday. Arkansas players and coaches haven’t had much media contact this week as they continue to mourn, and no one can blame them. The Razorbacks will carry heavy hearts into Baton Rouge, La. Saturday, Alabama and Auburn will meet nearly seven months after the devastating tornadoes that ravaged the state of Alabama, including the city of Tuscaloosa. Both sides of the rivalry were affected by the devastation, but reached out to help one another. There will be times Saturday when Auburn fans and Alabama fans will embrace and set football aside before the game is played.

Making the rounds in the SEC:

• The president of the South Carolina Press Association has asked the University of South Carolina president to intervene concerning Steve Spurrier's rant earlier this week directed at a local columnist.
• Don Kausler Jr. of The Birmingham News takes a glimpse into halftime with the Alabama football team.
• Vanderbilt is still trying to settle on its starting quarterback for Saturday's game with Georgia.
• Jeff Schultz of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that the NCAA was right to end its investigation into Auburn's recruitment of Cam Newton.
• Meet LSU's "other" cornerback -- Tharold Simon.
• Upsets do happen. Ole Miss has its 31-30 win over eventual national champion Florida in 2008 as proof.
• Marcus Green and Malcolm Johnson give Mississippi State a potent combo at tight end.
• Tennessee offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and the Vols' offense are looking to find their rhythm.
• Georgia linebacker Mike Gilliard takes former teammate Akeem Dent's words to heart.

The NCAA is done with its investigation into Auburn regarding Cam Newton and any pay-for-play allegations.

After conducting more than 80 interviews during the 13-month investigation, the NCAA found no evidence that major violations took place. That means the NCAA cleared Auburn of any wrongdoing both by Newton, whose father shopped his services to another school for nearly $200,000, and involving the allegations by four former players who said they received payments during their recruitment or careers.

According to a letter from the NCAA to Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs, based on information gathered from "an extensive number documents" such as bank records, personal IRS tax documents, telephone records and e-mail messages, the enforcement staff "has not substantiated any further violations involving Mr. Newton."

The four former players -- Raven Gray, Stanley McClover, Chaz Ramsey and Tony Reddick -- appeared on HBO's Real Sports "Dirty Money" and alleged that they had received impermissible inducements and extra benefits. After multiple interviews, the NCAA concluded that none of their allegations was substantiated. Gray was interviewed by the NCAA, but none of the other three cooperated with the NCAA.

The NCAA added that the case could be reopened if any new evidence pops up, but it looks like this saga is finally over.

Now, Auburn coach Gene Chizik can really lay his head down on his pillow at night and sleep more soundly because he doesn't have to worry about answering questions concerning the NCAA's investigation. This also means that recruits and their families don't have to worry about the dark cloud of potential NCAA violations hanging over Auburn's football program.

And the players who actually won the championship, including Newton, no longer have to worry about hearing how their title was tainted.

Sure, opposing fan bases will no doubt sound off, and there will be doubters, but Auburn can now turn to the NCAA's findings as its defense. And that's all the defense Auburn needs.

“We appreciate the NCAA and thank them for their professionalism and thoroughness during this exhaustive investigation," Jacobs said in a statement. "We are pleased to put this matter behind us.”

This has been a major distraction for an entire program, but it had to be especially distracting to a coach who couldn't have enjoyed his national championship season as much as he let on. With this sitting in the back of his and everyone else's mind at Auburn, it had to sour the feel in some way.

Chizik and everyone involved with last year's remarkable season can now finally fully enjoy it. It's late, but it's always better late than never.

The NCAA released a statement on the decision Wednesday. Here's part of what it said:

The NCAA enforcement staff is committed to a fair and thorough investigative process. As such, any allegations of major rules violations must meet a burden of proof, which is a higher standard than rampant public speculation online and in the media. The allegations must be based on credible and persuasive information and includes a good-faith belief that the Committee on Infractions could make a finding.