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SEC Football: 5 teams who can dethrone Alabama in 2017

By Jerran Anderson

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Deondre Francois #12 of the Florida State Seminoles celebrates their 33 to 32 win over the Michigan Wolverines during the Capitol One Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Deondre Francois #12 of the Florida State Seminoles celebrates their 33 to 32 win over the Michigan Wolverines during the Capitol One Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) /
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SEC Football
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 02: Kamryn Pettway #36 of the Auburn Tigers is tackled by Austin Roberts #95 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 2, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

1. @ Auburn Tigers – November 25

The Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn have a rivalry that has stood the test of time. The Iron Bowl serves as the season finale for both squads and a lot could be on the line when the game arrives.

The Tigers return eight starters on offense and seven on defense in 2017, not including transfer quarterback Jarrett Stidham, formerly of the Baylor Bears. Stidham saw success at Baylor in 2015. He threw for 1,265 passing yards and 12 touchdowns in 10 games before transferring due to off-the-field turmoil regarding former head coach Art Briles.

Auburn is another team that’s seen its fair share of quarterbacks. In 2016, John Franklin III and Sean White split time at quarterback. This upcoming season, head coach Gus Malzahn could do the same with Stidham and White or give Stidham the job outright.

The Tigers led the SEC in rushing yards per game (271.3 ypg) in 2016 behind the running back tandem of Kamryn Pettway (1,224 rushing yards, seven touchdowns) and Kerryon Johnson (895 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns).

Next: 5 reasons why Alabama will win the SEC again in 2017

On the other side of the ball, the defense returns a majority of a unit that allowed just 17.1 points per game (seventh in the FBS). If the defense can manage the game and keep them in it, Auburn could be the team to dethrone Alabama and dash their National Champions hopes in the process.

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