The college football season gets underway this weekend, so it’s time to take a look at who is on the hot seat in the SEC. However, with five coaches getting the ax in 2017, SEC Hot Seats in canceled for the time being.

The 2018 season begins with no SEC coaches in imminent danger of losing their jobs. You can probably make a case for three coaches, but for now, they are safe.

Derek Mason enters his fifth season at Vanderbilt after failing to reach a bowl for a third time in four seasons. Vanderbilt began the 2017 season 3-0 including a win over then-ranked Kansas State before getting hammered at the hands of Alabama, 59-0. The Commodores went on to lose six of their next seven before defeating in-state rival, Tennessee.

Senior quarter Kyle Shurmur returns to lead the offense. He will be without the services of running back Ralph Webb, who led the Commodores in rushing the past four seasons. However, Vanderbilt will have four returning starters on the offensive line and receiver Kalija Lipscomb, who caught ten touchdowns in 2017.

Vanderbilt will probably be the least talented team in the SEC this season. That is nothing new as they often find themselves at the bottom of both the SEC standings and recruiting rankings. The expectations are far less than what they are at other programs, so if Mason can find a way to stay competitive in 2017, he should be fine. Keep in mind that Vanderbilt has only been to eight bowl games in their program’s history and one was under Mason.

No coach appeared to be more trouble in October of 2017 than Barry Odom. Missouri had lost five straight at that point. The Tigers bounced back to win six in a row before falling to Texas in the Texas Bowl.

The Missouri offense expects to pick up where it ended the 2017 regular season as they averaged 502 yards per game, good for eighth in the country. The Tigers will have star quarterback back for another, however offensive coordinator Josh Heupel left for a head coaching position at Missouri. Enter Derek Dooley. The former Tennessee Volunteers head coach and Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach will begin his first offensive coordinator stint with Missouri in 2018.

Can Missouri keep the offense rolling despite the change? The Tigers have three manageable games in UT-Martin, Wyoming, and Purdue before welcoming Georgia to Columbia on September 22. They get a bye week before a tough two weeks on the road at South Carolina and Alabama. The 2018 season presents plenty of challenges for Odom and Missouri.

2017 was a disappointing season for Ed Orgeron and LSU. Despite winning nine games, it is hard to say that the Tigers did not underachieve last season. There was an embarrassing loss at Mississippi State, then there was another embarrassing loss to Troy on homecoming, and a frustrating loss to Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl.

Despite that, this season is a new opportunity for the Tigers. Orgeron has installed Steve Ensminger as his offensive coordinator and brought in Ohio State transfer Joe Burrow to play quarterback in an offense that looks to be more consistent in 2018.

Defensively, there are holes to fill, but key starters remain. Linebacker Devin White and cornerback Greedy Williams look to build on their strong performances last season while young players come into the fold.

But let’s simplify it with the following messages.

What can Miami expect this Sunday?

Football season is back and I can’t wait to see what it has in store!

OUTTA HERE!