SEC Football: Way-too-early 2015 Power Rankings

Dec 31, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) throws a pass against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the first quarter in the 2014 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

No. 10: Mississippi State Bulldogs

2014 Finish: 10-3, 6-2 SEC, 2nd in SEC West
Key Losses: RB Nick Griffin, WR Jameon Lewis, WR Robert Johnson, TE Malcolm Johnson, OT Blaine Clausell, C Dillon Day, OG Ben Beckwith, DT P.J. Jones, DT Kaleb Eulls, DE Preston Smith, LB Matt Wells, LB Christian Holmes, CB Jamerson Love, SS Jay Hughes, FS Justin Cox
2015 Recruiting Class: 19th in nation (27 commits)
2015 Prediction: 6th (tie) in SEC West

While I’m sure many will be shocked by this low ranking, but the fact is that no other Top 25 team is losing as many starters as the Bulldogs, and they simply weren’t built for this kind of roster depletion.

Dak Prescott is still going to be great, and Josh Robinson will help carry the load, but the losses on both sides of the line and in the receiver corps are really going to hurt this team.

The SEC West is still going to be very strong, and it’s very possible that every team in the division will end with a .500 or above record, just like 2014. But this year Mississippi State will fall on the short end of that. They won some close games that probably won’t go their way in 2015.

Next: Arkansas