SEC Football: Way-too-early 2015 Power Rankings

Nov 29, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Treon Harris (3) runs in the open field during the second quarter against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium. Florida State Seminoles defeated Florida Gators 24-19. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

No. 12: Florida Gators

2014 Finish: 7-5, 4-4 SEC, 3rd in SEC East
Key Losses: QB Jeff Driskel, WR Quinton Dunbar, TE Clay Burton, C Max Garcia, OG Trenton Brown, OT Chaz Green, RB Matt Jones, DT Darious Cummings, LB Neiron Ball, LB Michael Taylor, DB Jabari Gorman
2015 Recruiting Class: 87th in nation (8 commits)
2015 Prediction: 5th in SEC East

The Gators are the only team in the SEC breaking in a new head coach, and the transition isn’t going to be pretty. Will Muschamp was all about defense, and the offense suffered a lot during his tenure. McElwain is going to have to completely rebuild this year’s recruiting class in a very short time.

Florida does have a good young QB in Treon Harris, but not much else going on offense. Defensively the Gators are returning a lot of players, and eight of them are starters, so there won’t be much of a falloff.

Depth and learning new systems is going to be the big problem for this team. McElwain is a good coach, and will keep them from sinking to the bottom of the SEC, but it may be a year without a bowl bid for the Gators.

Next: Kentucky