ALABAMA
Last season: 12-2, 7-1 SEC
Star power: Running back T.J. Yeldon and wide receiver Amari Cooper are All-American candidates.
Top recruit: Rashaan Evans divided the state of Alabama when he signed with the Crimson Tide over Auburn. The five-star linebacker lives near Auburn's campus, and he claimed Auburn fans threatened to boycott the family business.
They'll win the division if: Former Gainesville High quarterback Blake Sims or FSU transfer Jacob Coker can do a respectable job filling the shoes of AJ McCarron.
They'll come up short if: Alabama can't shake off the emotional scars from ending last season with two losses, which seems unlikely with Nick Saban's motivational skills.
Must-see game: The Auburn game Nov. 29 is a no-brainer, but a close second would be at LSU on Nov. 8. Both of those games will shape the SEC and national championships.
ARKANSAS
Last season: 3-9, 0-8 SEC
Star power: Alex Collins was the nation's top freshman running back last season with 1,026 rushing yards.
Top recruit: Defensive tackle Bijhon Jackson was the No. 1 prospect from Arkansas.
They'll win the division if: Not likely, after going winless in the SEC in Bret Bielema's debut as coach.
They'll come up short if: If they can't stay competitive in SEC games, Bielema's on the hot seat.
Must-see game: It's a brutal season opener against Auburn on Aug. 30.
AUBURN
Last season: 12-2, 7-1 SEC
Star power: Nick Marshall, a former Georgia defensive back, was college football's Cinderella story last season by leading Auburn to an SEC championship at quarterback.
Top recruit: Auburn fended off Alabama for five-star running back Roc Thomas, who became the Crimson Tide's focus after they lost Leonard Fournette to LSU.
They'll win the division if: Gus Malzahn has one of the brightest offensive minds at any level of football. Can the Auburn defense keep up?
They'll come up short if: They can't find another workhorse at running back after Tre Mason left early for the NFL. Former Milton High star Peyton Barber is among the candidates.
Must-see game: The Iron Bowl against Auburn on Nov. 29 is the most highly anticipated rematch of the season.
LSU
Last season: 10-3, 5-3 SEC
Star power: The state of Georgia has produced 147 NFL draft picks over the past 10 years, but none from Buford High. LSU offensive lineman Vadal Alexander will change that stat very soon.
Top recruit: Running back Leonard Fournette was the nation's No. 1 overall prospect. Fournette was compared with Michael Jordan by Les Miles at SEC Media Days, while he reminded teammates of Adrian Peterson.
They'll win the division if: Fournette comes anywhere close to living up to the hype.
They'll come up short if: Former Marietta High quarterback Anthony Jennings or Brandon Harris can't adequately fill the vacancy as LSU's quarterback left by Zach Mettenberger.
Must-see game: LSU fans have moderate expectations, but they will shoot to the moon if Tigers are undefeated going into their Nov. 8 home game against Alabama.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Last season: 7-6, 3-5 SEC
Star power: Jameon Lewis had the second-most receiving yards in school history last season.
Top recruit: They signed two high school quarterbacks out of Georgia, Wheeler's Elijah Staley and Richmond Hill's Nick Fitzgerald.
They'll win the division if: Quarterback Dak Prescott can evolve into a legitimate passing threat. He's already the SEC's active leader in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
They'll come up short if: They can't file some holes along the offensive line.
Must-see game: The Egg Bowl against Ole Miss on Nov. 29 always is the highlight of the season.
OLE MISS
Last season: 8-5, 3-5 SEC
Star power: Robert Nkemdiche, the nation's No. 1 prospect for 2013 from Grayson High, is a preseason All-SEC first-team selection.
Top recruit: The 2014 class, led by safety C.J. Hampton, didn't have nearly the star power from the previous year.
They'll win the division if: The heralded recruits from 2013, including offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, keep progressing.
They'll come up short if: They can't deal with pressures of higher expectations.
Must-see game: Is Ole Miss a pretender or a contender? The Rebels will get a measuring stick against Alabama at home on Oct. 4.
TEXAS A&M
Last season: 9-4, 4-4 SEC
Star power: Deshazor Everett could be the SEC's top cornerback.
Top recruit: Defensive Myles Garrett, wide receiver Speedy Noll and quarterback Kyle Allen ranked among the nation's 10 prospects.
They'll win the division if: Kevin Sumlin can prove that he has coaching skills without the gifted presence Johnny Manziel or his first-year offensive coordinator (Kliff Kingsbury), who is more famous than Sumlin now as Texas Tech's coach.
They'll come up short if: The two quarterback candidates, Kenny Hill or Allen, try too hard to be like Manziel.
Must-see game: We'll find out what life without Manziel is like very quickly as Texas A&M opens against South Carolina on Aug. 28.
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