SEC Football Power Rankings, Week 13: Tua’s injury puts damper on season

Apparently an article in which we shared the SEC power rankings headquarters’ thoughts on how the Razorbacks should conduct their coaching search raised some hairs on some of Arkansas’ faithful fans. We respect honesty and being frank here between the hedges and on the plains. There’s a reason the Razorbacks are here in the rankings: they stink.

Arkansas is going to get outbid by every other job — save Vanderbilt if it comes open and Rutgers — that comes open this offseason. Every program has their list of candidates just like the Razorbacks, and their lists might be similar.

There are some that think the right coach can do in Fayetteville the same thing Dabo Swinney did in Clemson. There are lots of factors that went into Clemson becoming an elite program; most of which aren’t in play with the Razorbacks. They need a solid veteran coach who can evaluate, recruit and develop talent, and who can light up the scoreboard and bring back some fun and life to a program that’s had neither since Bobby Petrino.

While we are on the theme of coaches on the hot seat, Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason commented after their upset win over the Missouri Tigers that everyone wants his job. That might not be completely accurate.

There are definitely some people who don’t want him to have his job, but I don’t know exactly who wants it. You have academic requirements other schools in the SEC don’t have, and a university that’s shown little interest in investing in the football program. They might be the last SEC school that’s as proud of their other sports as they are football.

Vanderbilt has yet to learn what every other school in the SEC already knows; football money makes your entire university better. They better get on board that train — quickly.

We got to headquarters this morning and found Steve Spurrier sipping tea — no mint juleps as it was 8 a.m. for Pete’s sake — and pouring over some game film from his beloved Gamecocks and Gators.

We were shocked at how deeply passionate he is about South Carolina. That’s a man who truly believes in leaving something better than you found it. “They haven’t developed the quarterback in Columbia dang it. Dan Mullen’s the complete opposite in Gainesville. It’s 2019, you can’t win if your quarterback doesn’t get better every game.”

We found his assessment of the quarterback situation in Columbia to be spot-on from coach. Even before he got hurt, Jake Bentley hadn’t grown as a quarterback. His replacement, Ryan Hilinski, has gotten no better throughout the season. They have offensive talent at South Carolina, but they look like the same team every week.

“I wonder if they still think it’s my fault,” Spurrier ponders.

We think it is, he set expectations so high that Will Muschamp can’t meet them. The larger question is, how hot is Muschamp’s seat? Despite the university president’s comments, not very considering his $20 million buyout.

With Greg Schiano allegedly close to reuniting with Rutgers, where does that leave current Mississippi State head coach Joe Moorhead? He was linked to the Rutgers job, but it seems as if all signs are pointing to the administration in Piscataway wanting Schiano more than Moorhead.

If Boston College decides to part ways with Steve Addazio, could Moorhead land in Chestnut Hill? If Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio steps down, or retires and current Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi is pegged for the job over a Matt Campbell, would Moorhead go to Pitt?

It seems preposterous to say that another year two coach is on his way out but Moorhead isn’t meshing well with the culture of the place affectionately known as “Starkvegas.” He’s an East Coast guy, and everyone can’t do what Matt Rhule — another East Coast guy — did in Waco.

What if the Bulldogs — who play Abilene Christian and Mississippi — make another bowl game? Will Moorhead even want to leave? So many questions we don’t have answers to.