As a time-honored tradition in the Southland, the Southeastern Conference teams step onto the grass fields, turning the page for fall camp in anticipation of the upcoming college football season. Regardless of their past victories, every team is now winless, with the same dreams and aspirations to bring glory and honor to their school. Yet, as a new season dawns, there’s an undeniable sense of anticipation and a unique tranquility that is difficult to put into words. Amidst the turmoil in the world, this college football season offers a much-needed sense of normalcy that is often elusive in today’s society.

While it may seem trivial to some, college football holds a significant place in the hearts of the Southeastern Conference community. The start of fall camps marks the beginning of four months where every Saturday offers a much-needed break and a distraction from life’s problems, regardless of the weekly outcomes.

Heading into the 2024 Southeastern Conference season, Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss, and Alabama seem to be the four that everyone is picking to reach the College Football Playoff, while Missouri and LSU sit right outside of the pecking order of teams that have the best chance at playing spoiler in the race for the College Football Playoff.

All six of these have many question marks heading into the fall of 2024. However, the hype around Ole Miss is undeniable as the Rebels try to navigate the expectations of reaching the College Football Playoff and having the talent and depth to make some real noise at winning a National Championship. As much as Coach Kiffin tries to downplay the outside noise, Ole Miss, with a favorable schedule and depth at every position, has one of the best chances at playing spoiler in the College Football Playoff.

Elsewhere around that top six, how will Texas respond to life in the Southeastern Conference? There’s enough talk, and Sark is a damn good coach, but will playing the SEC grind be too much for the newbies to overcome, or will the Longhorns make a trip to Atlanta en route to the College Football Playoff to play for a Southeastern Conference Championship?

What does life after Coach Saban look like for Alabama? Kalen Deboer has won everywhere, including his latest stop at Washington, where he led the Huskies to the National Championship game against Michigan. Coach Deboer has recruited well, but will Alabama fans be patient enough to give him a grace season without adding too much pressure to the cooker?

In the 2024 season, Georgia is the clear-cut favorite to win the National Championship. Still, can the Bulldogs overcome the off-the-field legal stuff to handle business on the field? If anybody in college football can handle the heat, Kirby Smart spent many years under Coach Saban in Alabama. Despite what some may say, winning cures all, Georgia, led by Carson Beck at quarterback, has the highest potential in the Southeastern Conference to bring home a National Championship back to Athens.

For LSU, this fall will be about proving people wrong. Everywhere you turn, a level of disrespect is shown in the way of LSU. Suppose the Tigers can figure things out on the offensive side of the ball after losing Jayden Daniels to the NFL Draft. In that case, LSU will be in an excellent position to play spoiler for Ole Miss, Alabama, and others vying for a position in the College Football Playoff from the Southeastern Conference.

As for the Missouri Tigers, winning the Cotton Bowl over Ohio State last season gave Coach Drinkwitz a bump with eight returning starters on the offensive side to take Missouri to the next step by returning to Atlanta and reaching the College Football Playoff. Mizzou will have to travel to Texas A&M, Alabama, and Mississippi State but avoids LSU, Georgia, and Texas this fall. On the outside looking in, Mizzou has a favorable chance at taking that next step in 2024.

By Friday, the Southeastern Conference teams will take to the practice field as the race for Atlanta starts in the brutal southern heat.