ARKANSAS
What to like: Quarterback Austin Allen provides stability after leading the SEC with 3,430 passing yards last season, while sophomore tailback Devwah Whaley averaged 5.5 yards per carry a year ago and is capable of filling the shoes of Rawleigh Williams III, who gave up the sport this spring after suffering a second neck injury. Senior center Frank Ragnow hasn't allowed a sack in each of the last two seasons, and the schedule is set up for a potential 5-0 start before the Razorbacks visit Alabama on Oct. 14.
Cause for worry: First and foremost, the end of last season. Coach Bret Bielema had steadily improved the program and was on pace to continue that a year ago, but Arkansas wasted a 24-7 halftime lead at Missouri and a 24-0 halftime lead against Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl. The Razorbacks allowed 143 points in their last four games and lost six members of their defensive front seven from that team. Arkansas has yet to defeat Texas A&M since the Aggies joined the SEC, so Sept. 23 could be a telling gauge.
AUBURN
What to like: The Tigers somehow got to the Sugar Bowl last year with a limited Sean White and an inconsistent Jeremy Johnson as the quarterbacks, but that position should be greatly upgraded with Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham and White, if he can stay healthy. Running backs Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson combined for 2,119 rushing yards last year and overshadowed a solid receiving corps, and there isn't a better kicker out there than Daniel Carlson. Games against Georgia and Alabama are at home.
Cause for worry: Auburn had a vastly improved defense last season under first-year coordinator Kevin Steele, but will it be as good following the departures of Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams up front and Johnathan Ford and Joshua Holsey in the secondary? That quartet comprised Auburn's NFL draft contingent this past spring. Coach Gus Malzahn is full of optimism, but there is a monster test early with a trip to Clemson on Sept. 9. There are also three consecutive trips (in a four-week stretch) to LSU, Arkansas and Texas A&M.
FLORIDA
What to like: Florida has won back-to-back Eastern Division titles without much success at quarterback, and the options appear to be better with redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks, Notre Dame transfer Malik Zaire and veteran Luke Del Rio in the mix. Jordan Scarlett and Antonio Callaway give the Gators proven weapons at tailback and receiver, but the best part of Florida's offense will be a more experienced line. The Gators had six defensive players drafted but should still be stout. Aren't they always on that side of the ball?
Cause for worry: The Gators still have to produce consistency at quarterback, which hasn't happened since Tim Tebow was out of eligibility after the 2009 season. Linebackers Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone have to be replaced, as do corners Teez Tabor and Quincy Wilson. One returning starter, safety Marcell Harris, suffered a season-ending injury this summer. A challenging opener against Michigan in Texas will be different from last season, when the Gators opened at home against UMass, Kentucky and North Texas.
KENTUCKY
What to like: The Wildcats finally got over that 5-7 hump last season under Mark Stoops, winning big games against Mississippi State (40-38) and Louisville (41-38) to earn an invitation to the TaxSlayer Bowl. Eight starters return on offense, including quarterback Stephen Johnson and tailback Benny Snell, who rushed for 1,091 yards and 5.9 yards per carry as a freshman. The nine returning defensive starters are headed by linebacker Jordan Jones, who had 109 tackles and 15.5 tackles for loss a year ago.
Cause for worry: Johnson provided an unexpected spark after Drew Barker was injured early last season, but can the Grambling transfer be more consistent as a senior? The Wildcats allowed at least 33 points in eight games last season against FBS teams, and then there is the battle against history. Kentucky hasn't produced a winning league record since 1977 and has a 30-year losing streak to Florida, a seven-game losing streak to Georgia and just one victory over Tennessee in the last 32 meetings.
LSU
What to like: Tigers junior running back Derrius Guice could become the SEC's top Heisman Trophy candidate after rushing for 1,387 yards and 7.6 yards per carry last season despite being Leonard Fournette's backup for much of the year. Danny Etling should be improved at quarterback, and the offensive line returns three starters. Should the Arden Key saga conclude and the junior defensive menace from Atlanta be good to go, the Tigers could build on their 29-9 thumping of Louisville in the Citrus Bowl.
Cause for worry: LSU lost a lot of household names from last year's team - Fournette, center Ethan Pocic, tackle Maea Teuhema and receivers Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural on offense and safety Jamal Adams, cornerback Tra'Davious White and linebackers Kendell Beckwith and Duke Riley on defense. Coach Ed Orgeron has been solid in interim roles, but LSU fans are hungry for more than just solid. Due to the change in location of last season's Florida game, the Tigers will have to face five SEC foes on the road this year.
OLE MISS
What to like: Sophomore quarterback Shea Patterson is dynamic, and he has a wealth of talented receivers headed by Van Jefferson, A.J. Brown and DaMarkus Lodge. Javon Patterson, Sean Rawlings, Jordan Sims and Rod Taylor are returning starters on what should be an impressive offensive line, and the defensive front should hold its own with end Marquis Haynes and tackle Breeland Speaks. After a devastating loss to Florida State to open last season, the Rebels ease into this year with South Alabama and UT-Martin.
Cause for worry: The school has self-imposed a bowl ban, yet the NCAA has yet to render its verdict. Head coach Hugh Freeze had to resign for personal reasons, and cornerback Ken Webster and linebacker Detric Bing-Dukes were arrested this month for shoplifting. Matt Luke's Rebels may rally around the "us against the world" mentality and could be 3-0 after a Sept. 16 trip to California, but the open date comes too early and is followed by trips to Alabama and Auburn.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
What to like: Nick Fitzgerald set SEC single-season records last year for 100-yard rushing games (eight) by a quarterback and average yards per carry (7.1) by a quarterback. Fitzgerald will be a junior this season, as will running back Aeris Williams, who added 720 yards (5.3 per carry) to the 1,375 total of his quarterback. The Bulldogs went just 6-7 last season but had tight losses to South Alabama (21-20), LSU (23-20), BYU (28-21 in 2 OT) and Kentucky (40-38), so they weren't that far from 10-3.
Cause for worry: After winning 19 games during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, the Bulldogs took a step back last year. Yes, there were tough defeats, but MSU also lost 51-3 to Alabama, fell behind Auburn 35-0 at home before losing 38-14 and couldn't keep up with Arkansas in a 58-42 defeat. Turnover at defensive coordinator has been continual in Starkville, with Todd Grantham now in charge and with seven defenders who were in junior college last year, including former Georgia signees Chauncey Rivers and Jonathan Abram.
MISSOURI
What to like: Ten starters return offensively, including junior quarterback Drew Lock (3,399 yards and 23 touchdowns), sophomore running back Damarea Crockett (1,062 yards and 6.9 per carry) and senior receiver J'Mon Moore (1,012 yards and eight scores). The defense was admittedly abysmal last season but returns tackle Terry Beckner Jr., who missed last season due to injury after earning Freshman All-America honors in 2015. Missouri did end last year with a 28-24 upset of Arkansas, so there is some momentum.
Cause for worry: Before topping the Razorbacks, Missouri was 3-8 and unsightly on most occasions. The Tigers led the SEC in total offense with 500.5 yards per game, but that total was bolstered by humiliations of Eastern Michigan (61-21) and Delaware State (79-0). Who knew there was a Delaware State? The Tigers allowed at least 28 points in six of their eight SEC games and lost six starters from that defense, so year two under head coach Barry Odom and coordinator DeMontie Cross will have to be better for those two to keep their jobs.
SOUTH CAROLINA
What to like: The Gamecocks were the surprise of the SEC last year, as coach Will Muschamp inherited a 3-9 mess and orchestrated a 6-6 regular season highlighted by a 24-21 upset of No. 18 Tennessee. Ten starters return offensively, including sophomore quarterback Jake Bentley, sophomore running back Rico Dowdle, junior receiver Deebo Samuel and junior tight end Hayden Hurst. Senior linebacker Skai Moore, who led the Gamecocks in tackles during the 2013-15 seasons, is back after missing last year due to a neck injury.
Cause for worry: For all the Gamecocks accomplished last year, they closed with a 56-7 loss at Clemson and a 46-39 overtime loss to South Florida in the Birmingham Bowl. The defensive end tandem of Darius English and Marquavius Lewis must be replaced, and so must reliable kicker Elliott Fry. The start to the season is tricky, as the Gamecocks open with North Carolina State in Charlotte before heading to Missouri and then coming home to face Kentucky, a program they haven't topped since 2013.
TEXAS A&M
What to like: The Aggies always seem to have substantial firepower under coach Kevin Sumlin, and this year is no different with the return of sophomore tailback Trayveon Williams (1,057 yards and 6.8 yards per carry) and junior receiver Christian Kirk (83 catches for 928 yards). Kirk is fantastic on special teams as well, with his 23.1-yard average in career punt returns leading the NCAA. Seven starters return defensively, including senior safety Armani Watts, who has 30 career starts and sealed last year's win over Tennessee.
Cause for worry: Quarterback has been adventurous for the Aggies since the departure of Johnny Manziel, and this year seems even more uncertain. Jake Hubenak isn't as dazzling as his predecessors, so will it be redshirt freshman Nick Starkel or even true freshman Kellen Mond? Last year's defense was beyond disappointing in the second season with John Chavis as coordinator, and now ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall are in the NFL. The Aggies closed last season with five straight losses to Power Five programs.
VANDERBILT
What to like: The Commodores erupted offensively last November, closing the regular season with surprise double-digit defeats of Ole Miss (38-17) and Tennessee (45-34) to earn a bid to the Independence Bowl. Nine starters return from that unit, including quarterback Kyle Shurmur, running back Ralph Webb and receivers C.J. Duncan, Trent Sherfield and Kalija Lipscomb. The experienced Oren Burks replaces Zach Cunningham at linebacker, while Tre Herndon heads a secondary with three starters back.
Cause for worry: Shurmur was brilliant against Ole Miss and Tennessee but laid an egg in Shreveport, so he must be more consistent if the Commodores are to improve on their six-win total from a year ago. Cunningham was the first consensus All-American in program history, so it could be challenging simply moving on without him. This clearly is Derek Mason's program now, and the fourth-year coach has cycled up a lot of seniors, but there is a three-game stretch against Alabama, Florida and Georgia that may not be pretty.