Preemptive favorites, falls in 2014 SEC race

Although the Southeastern Conference’s streak of football national championships came to an end after seven titles, the SEC enjoyed a spectacular season by most standards.

Four SEC teams finished in the final top 10. Six were in the final top 20.

But the SEC also leads the way with 27 early entries into the NFL Draft. Those premature departures along with several high-profile seniors completing their eligibility (Alabama QB A.J. McCarron, Georgia QB Aaron Murray, Auburn DE Dee Ford, etc.