SEC preview: Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M in hunt for national title

The rest of the SEC isn’t about to throw a pity party for Alabama and Georgia, no matter how many stars they lost to the NFL.

Everyone else in the league is still chasing last season’s two top teams, with Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M leading the pursuit. It hardly matters that Alabama lost some of its best offensive playmakers, and Georgia must replace some of its top defenders among 15 NFL Draft picks,

The preseason No. 1 Crimson Tide, third-ranked Bulldogs and sixth-ranked Aggies have abundant talent and national championship aspirations. Georgia wound up on top last season and, like ’Bama, wants to remain regular contenders not, as coach Kirby Smart put it, “one-year wonders.”

“This program was built to be here for a long time,” Smart said.

Alabama, which lost to Georgia in the national championship game, has two of college football’s biggest stars: Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young and national defensive player of the year Will Anderson. The Tide turned to the transfer portal to replace tailback Brian Robinson Jr. and top receivers Jameson Williams and John Metchie III.

The Bulldogs have All-America tight end Brock Bowers, quarterback Stetson Bennett and a well-stocked defense.

“We have plenty of talent,” Smart said. “What we lack right now is experience.”

Alabama is still stinging from that 33-18 loss to Smart and the Bulldogs, who snapped a 41-year national title drought.

As ever, anything short of a national title at Alabama is a disappointment in Tuscaloosa. A “participation trophy” is on display in the cafeteria where the players eat as a daily reminder.

Saban recently called last season “a rebuilding year” after a massive loss of NFL talent, and this season’s Georgia team can relate.

Safety Jordan Battle said Alabama is striving to remedy one apparent shortcoming from 2021.

“We’re trying to get the brotherhood mentality back on task,” Battle said. “I feel like that’s one thing we didn’t do last year. I feel like we didn’t have the leadership like the 2020 (title team’s) leadership.”

Alabama’s title hopes could hinge on five transfers: tailback Jahmyr Gibbs, receivers Jermaine Burton and Tyler Harrell, cornerback Eli Ricks and tackle Tyler Steen. Texas A&M brought in LSU quarterback transfer Max Johnson. Ole Miss could start USC transfer Jaxson Dart at QB.

Billy Napier (Florida) and Brian Kelly (LSU) are trying to turn their programs back into contenders after 6-7 seasons. With the transfer portal, the teams are all hoping to fill voids immediately with experienced players. The most prominent is South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler, via Oklahoma.