Next year will be very interesting.
I don't think UF will be much better and I think we have a great shot at them no matter how much of a "rebuilding mode" we are still in. But they may make a perfect hire at OC...I doubt it though.
USC jr will miss their starting QB next year....though SOS obviously does a great job developing QBs. I think we have a decent shot at them, having beaten them this year.
I didn't see all of the Uga-GaTech game, but I was visiting my sister in Atl and her family was into it, so she and my nephew were watching it while my bro in law and I watched the Iron Bowl. FWIW, the announcers thought Mason played a fantastic game. So they may be pretty good next year....but replacing Murray has to be huge, and I don't know if their D will improve that much or not.
Mizzou...who knows, have not taken a close look at their roster. As well as they have played, I don't know anyone who would suggest they have not overachieved this year. In fact, their fans told me that in the stands at the game, so it must be true.
Did they just strike the right combination of playing as a team in a year the East is down, or are they a long term force in the East? We won't know until next year if they can repeat. A bit of an enigma if you ask me.
One other thing....Stoops may or may not be a good HC, but he still has a top 10 class assembled for UK at this point in time (Rivals no. 8 last time I checked). They will probably drop out of the top 10 by signing day, but if he keeps putting together good classes even KENTUCKY might start upsetting a few teams. There may come a day when we can't take ANYONE in the East for granted. It won't be next year though...we should still easily beat UK next season.
Should be a very interesting year next year....practically every team in the East save us and maybe UK lose their starting QBs.