There’s only a handful of teams in the SEC labeled legitimate threats for championships every season and over the last few years, Georgia, a perennial Top 15 program built on rich tradition and elite players, hasn’t been one of those select few.

The right pieces appear to be in place, but something is holding the Bulldogs back. As the leader in Athens, it is Mark Richt’s job to find out what that something is and get it corrected quickly coming off Georgia’s third Top 10 class in five seasons along with the return of one of the nation’s best ballcarriers, Nick Chubb.

Richt’s contract was extended through 2019 in January despite a late-season slide last fall that caused much of the fanbase to question the direction of the team, one that lost control of its destiny with a flat performance against Florida.

What will change, if anything, for the new-look Bulldogs in 2015?

Georgia’s window to cash in on its annual ‘Eastern Division favorite’ label by winning the SEC — and compete for its first national title since 1980 — is closing thanks to Tennessee’s noticeable momentum and Jim McElwain’s boisterous arrival in Gainesville. Based on a recruiting edge during the stretch, four league losses to South Carolina over the last five years are inexcusable and have knocked the Bulldogs off their perch in a much-maligned division, ultimately keeping Georgia away from Atlanta and opening the window for two-time defending champ, Mizzou.

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In a league with several questions coming into spring practice chasing former SEC heavyweight Urban Meyer’s locomotive at Ohio State, Georgia’s in great shape with the emergence of several playmakers on offense along with four returning starters up front, defensive line depth and a secondary that Jeremy Pruitt expects to be one of the SEC’s best.

The Bulldogs’ school record-setting pro-style offense may have a new facilitator in Brice Ramsey, but their philosophy should remain unchanged under Brian Schottenheimer, one of several new assistants on staff.

Even during periods of success, Richt hasn’t been able to shake the big-game knock, handcuffed by memorable losses. Since coming up a few yards short against second-ranked Alabama in the 2012 SEC Championship Game, Georgia has won seven games in 12 tries against ranked teams, but few have been mentioned. Much of that has to do with the Bulldogs’ last league title coming in 2005 — an eternity from a fan’s perspective considering the pedestal on which the program sits nationally.

Often tabbed as a trendy darkhorse national champion pick before each season, maybe Georgia will perform better as the underdog going up against contenders Mizzou and Tennessee this fall. The Gators are still a year or two away and South Carolina is on a downward trend.

Even without the bullseye focused on the Bulldogs, there’s still pressure to win for Richt and his staff, but coming at it from a different angle may work best.