Phil Steele shares thoughts on SEC West in 2023

Not many divisions in college football are tougher than the SEC West. While the top has been dominated by Alabama for so many years, the depth within the division is staggering. The 2023 season will be no different, even everyone is predicting LSU to join the Crimson Tide at the top.

“Of course, everyone’s got Alabama, LSU at the top,” Steele said. “I’ll leave those two at the top.”

The last time Alabama or LSU was not in Atlanta representing the SEC West was in 2017. Just three times has it happened since Nick Saban took over in Tuscaloosa (Auburn in 2010, 2013, and 2017).

Many expect the current trend to continue, Steele included. With this year’s Alabama-LSU game scheduled in Tuscaloosa, it’s the preseason game of the season in the SEC.

Texas A&M ‘clear’ No. 3 in the SEC West

The remaining five teams might be fighting for third place but Steele thinks there is a clear contender for Alabama and LSU. He believes in what Jimbo Fisher is cooking in College Station this season, citing the number of starters coming back on both sides of the ball.

“I think (Texas) A&M is your clear No. 3 or even possibly No. 2 team. I was talking to (Jimbo Fisher) about the offensive line last year and he said ‘we’re going to be outstanding. One of the top offensive lines in the country next year.’ He didn’t say ‘this year.’ He said ‘next year.’ Well, it’s next year.

“That was the case in a lot of areas. I think Texas A&M has 10 starters back on offense, 10 on defense. Tons of talent. Just didn’t have things go right last year.”

Offensive changes are thought to be coming as well, with Bobby Petrino being hired as the Aggies’ offensive coordinator.

Phil Steele expects Ole Miss to improve

Ole Miss got off to a great start last year, winning their first seven games. From there? Lane Kiffin dropped four out of the last five while rumors swirled around his name taking the Auburn job. Not a great recipe.

If the record is going to improve in Oxford, Steele is looking at Jaxson Dart. If he wins the quarterback competition over a veteran such as Spencer Sanders, it’s a positive sign of improvement heading into Year Two with the Rebels.

“After that, I’m going with Ole Miss,” Steele said. “I know Ole Miss started out the season strong last year… Lane Kiffin has a lot of talent coming back, 16 returning starters. They’re better at the quarterback position. I really think Jaxson Dart will be a vastly improved QB this year. They also brought in a ton of transfers. This is a talented team, I think they get off to a good start once again.”

Tough schedules to hamper Arkansas, Mississippi State

Being in the bottom half of the SEC West can be a daunting task when looking at the schedule. Fans can wonder where a win is going to come from. Prime example this year is Arkansas, which faces one of the toughest four-game stretches of anybody in college football.

“Arkansas, my main concern for them, would be that four-game stretch,” Steele said. “Does anybody in the country play a four-game stretch like at LSU, Texas A&M in Arlington, at Ole Miss, and at Alabama? That is just brutal and it’s all in four weeks, all away from home. They also only have 10 returning starters coming back.”

Mississippi State will have a few problems to overcome but the schedule surely is one of them. The division’s top two teams are in Starkville, leaving games the Bulldogs need to win away from Starkville. A tough task in Year One for Zach Arnett.

“At the bottom, I’ve got Mississippi State,” Steele said. “Zach Arnett has a solid defense. If the offense gets it together quickly, they’d be a threat. But they also have a tough schedule. Why? They get LSU and Alabama at home.”

Steele did touch briefly comment on Auburn, saying they would be “better” under Hugh Freeze during his first season on the Plains.