Conference Call: What's in store for next season?

Matt Hayes' final Conference Call for the 2009 season comes with one caveat: Don't put too much into bowl games. At least, most bowl games. Some teams wanted to be there; others didn't. It's playing with motivation or playing out the string. The final conference rankings, therefore, are big-picture from the entire season—with an eye toward the 2010 season. 1. SEC 1. Alabama 2. Florida 3. Ole Miss 4. Arkansas 5. LSU 6. Georgia 7. Auburn 8. Tennessee 9. South Carolina 10. Kentucky 11. Mississippi State 12. Vanderbilt Looking to 2010 Alabama and Florida still are the class of the league. Gators and new QB John Brantley will cruise in a rebuilding East Division, but the Tide—and a revamped defense—will be pushed by LSU and emerging Arkansas and Auburn. Two certainties for next fall: Alabama's string of 16 straight regular-season SEC victories will end, and Steve Spurrier will retire if he can't get South Carolina past its...