I looked at 3 different years (2008, 2012 when we joined the league, and 2017). The quality of the football coaches has really gone down significantly in the SEC from '08 when the coaches were very legit to now when almost all these coaches are unproven. Don't let the pre-season hype fool you, most of these programs are asking the same questions about their coach that we are asking. Is our coach the right guy? All these pre-season rankings are based on recruiting rankings and tradition outside of Alabama where it's well deserved. Other than Saban, from the current group of coaches who would you trust to lead your team in a make or break season? Not a lot of confidence from this group in my opinion. I'm really rooting for HCBO to succeed this year because the league is wide open and I'm not really sure he isn't better than plenty of these current coaches anyway. I honestly am not sure how I would rank the coaches 2-14 currently and I don't think there's much of a difference between the 2nd or 3rd best vs. the 11th or 12th best. The whole league could look different in 2 or 3 years. Here's the list below, 2008 was by far most impressive followed by 2012 and lastly the current group. I think Barry has a chance to succeed with this group.
2017
Saban (Alabama)
Gus Malzahn (Auburn)
Bret Bielema (Arkansas)
Kevin Sumlin (A&M)
Dan Mullen (Miss St)
Ed Orgeron (LSU)
Will Muschamp (S Car)
Jim McElwain (UF)
Kirby Smart (UGA)
Butch Jones (Tenn)
Mark Stoops (UK)
Derek Mason (Vandy)
Barry Odom (Mizzou)
?????????? (Ole Miss)
2012
Saban (Alabama)
Gene Chizik (Auburn)
John L. Smith (Arkansas)
Sumlin (A&M)
Mullen (Miss St)
Hugh Freeze (Ole Miss)
Les Miles (LSU)
Will Muschamp (UF)
Mark Richt (UGA)
Steve Spurrier (S Car)
Derek Dooley (Tenn)
James Franklin (Vandy)
Joker Phillips (UK)
Gary Pinkel (Mizzou)
2008
Saban (Alabama)
Tommy Tuberville (Auburn)
Bobby Petrino (Arkansas)
Houston Nutt (Ole Miss)
Miles (LSU)
Sylvester Croom (Miss St)
Bobby Johnson (Vandy)
Rich Brooks (UK)
Urban Meyer (UF)
Richt (UGA)
Phil Fulmer (Tenn)
Spurrier (S Car)
Mike Sherman***(A&M in the Big 12)
Pinkel***( Mizzou in the Big 12)
2017
Saban (Alabama)
Gus Malzahn (Auburn)
Bret Bielema (Arkansas)
Kevin Sumlin (A&M)
Dan Mullen (Miss St)
Ed Orgeron (LSU)
Will Muschamp (S Car)
Jim McElwain (UF)
Kirby Smart (UGA)
Butch Jones (Tenn)
Mark Stoops (UK)
Derek Mason (Vandy)
Barry Odom (Mizzou)
?????????? (Ole Miss)
2012
Saban (Alabama)
Gene Chizik (Auburn)
John L. Smith (Arkansas)
Sumlin (A&M)
Mullen (Miss St)
Hugh Freeze (Ole Miss)
Les Miles (LSU)
Will Muschamp (UF)
Mark Richt (UGA)
Steve Spurrier (S Car)
Derek Dooley (Tenn)
James Franklin (Vandy)
Joker Phillips (UK)
Gary Pinkel (Mizzou)
2008
Saban (Alabama)
Tommy Tuberville (Auburn)
Bobby Petrino (Arkansas)
Houston Nutt (Ole Miss)
Miles (LSU)
Sylvester Croom (Miss St)
Bobby Johnson (Vandy)
Rich Brooks (UK)
Urban Meyer (UF)
Richt (UGA)
Phil Fulmer (Tenn)
Spurrier (S Car)
Mike Sherman***(A&M in the Big 12)
Pinkel***( Mizzou in the Big 12)
