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SEC East preseason power rankings: Can Missouri football cause some chaos in 2021?

By Ethan Lee

Dec 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Connor Bazelak (8) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Connor Bazelak (8) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 23: A goal line post is seen during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO – NOVEMBER 23: A goal line post is seen during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

Where does the Missouri football program stack up in the SEC East heading into the 2021 season?

As the Missouri football program starts to get set for the 2021 season, the Tigers have a lot to prove this year. Going into second season of the Eliah Drinkwitz era of Missouri football, where do the Tigers stand when comparing them to the other teams in their division?

Sure, Missouri is looking to prove it belongs, but there are plenty of other teams in the SEC East who are looking to show off their potential this year.

Georgia is aiming for a national title and likely won’t want a team like Mizzou to get in the way. The Florida Gators will be trying to defend their division crown and would be averse to being upset by the Missouri football team.

Plus, there’s Kentucky, who is always looking to upset other teams and overachieve. Then there’s three teams who are breaking in new head coaches.

So, where do the Tigers stand among their contemporaries?

No. 7: Vanderbilt Commodores

Look, nobody should be surprised by this ranking for the Vanderbilt Commodores. The Commodores are breaking in a new coach and will be fighting for a ton of respect in 2021, but that’s Vanderbilt every year, right?

Vandy is one of the most difficult jobs in all of college football. It’s an incredibly difficult gig to be successful at. There’s generally not a ton of support for the program and Vanderbilt doesn’t have a large fanbase the way many other teams in the SEC do.

ESPN’s Football Power Index has the Commodores at 111th in the country heading into 2021 while Bill Connelly’s SP+ preseason rankings put Vandy at 108th in the country. That’s far from where Vanderbilt fans want their team to be ranked, but the Commodores weren’t any good in 2020. This is a team that failed to win a single game a season ago.

So, new head coach Clark Lea will have his work cut out for him.

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