The United States as we know it is collapsing.

The United States has never been better.

A wide range of perceptions is possible depending on your point of view and whether you’re an optimist or a pessimist.

So it is in the SEC entering 2016. The SEC West still is more unpredictable top to bottom, but all 14 teams have a range of best-case and worst-case for the fall.

As we steam toward National Signing Day and rosters start to crystalize ahead of spring practice, let’s look at one reason for every program to be excited and to be skeptical.

ALABAMA

Excited: Nick Saban’s quest to tie Bear Bryant.

We slobber all over ourselves in today’s sports world whenever a team, coach or player appears as if they may be remotely great. Words like “legend” and “best ever” get tossed around fluidly. When it becomes something other than hyperbole, it’s pretty special. Even jaded Bama fans can appreciate Saban’s chance to tie Bryant’s six national championships.

Skeptical: Tough standard.

String together 50 consecutive No. 1 recruiting classes and it still isn’t going to be easy to win back-to-back national championships. It’s happened 11 times in the history of the Associated Press poll, which began in 1936. Lose just two games out of 15 — or lose once in the postseason — and to some folks in Crimson it’s a “lost season.”

ARKANSAS

Excited: An 0-0 record.

The Razorbacks have at times felt like a clear top 25 program the last two years, but still lost a combined 11 games mostly due to rough starts. The fan base must be giddy about the possibility of a strong start to 2016. Find a way to win at TCU and this Arkansas team finally could find itself in an outstanding position when Alabama comes to town.

Skeptical: An offensive makeover.

Gone are Brandon Allen, Hunter Henry, Alex Collins, Jonathan Williams, Mitch Smothers, Sebastian Tretola and Denver Kirkland. That’s six very good starters and another long-time leader. Coordinator Dan Enos should be busy this spring.

AUBURN

Excited: JUCO transfer quarterback John Franklin III.

The Nick Marshall clone could return Auburn’s offense to its previous success. The Tigers embrace the fact that the philosophy works best when the team boasts one of the best running games in the country.

Skeptical: Disarray on defense.

Kevin Steele’s last two seasons as a defensive coordinator at Clemson and LSU haven’t been the best. Auburn seemed to have difficulty hiring a coordinator to replace Will Muschamp, who held the job for just one year. There’s been a lot of turnover, and now the team must replace senior linebackers Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy. At least Carl Lawson returned.

FLORIDA

Excited: A starting quarterback not named Treon Harris.

Can you imagine the veracity of the boos that would rain down upon the Florida Gators if the team trotted onto the field with Treon Harris as the starting quarterback Sept. 3 against UMass? Whether it’s Luke Del Rio at his third school or an inexperienced freshman, these fans should be excited to give someone else a crack at the offense.

Skeptical: A starting quarterback not named Will Grier.

Since Grier’s suspension, Florida is 4-4 with one win against a winning team — Georgia, which inexplicably started Faton Bauta that game. Luckily, the Gators have three winnable games to start the season, because the offense in particular may need a confidence boost after the way it finished the season.

GEORGIA

Excited: A new start.

Kirby Smart could be Nick Saban or he could be Derek Dooley for all we know. But he’s not Mark Richt. Make whatever argument you want on either side. But after 15 years, a bit of change should be good for the Bulldogs.

Skeptical: Quarterback remains a concern.

I know, I know: Jacob Eason. But he’s a true freshman who has yet to take a college snap. That doesn’t mean that it’s impossible for him to play well in 2016. But until proven otherwise, Georgia may not have a quarterback capable of winning an SEC title this fall.

KENTUCKY

Excited: Good things come to those who wait.

The Wildcats have been bursting at the seams the last two years with desire to return to a bowl game. Coach Mark Stoops has upgraded the personnel only to face-plant late in the schedule the last two seasons. Surely it’s time for a breakthrough?

Skeptical: No strong identity.

Stoops came to UK known for his tough defenses. That has never materialized in Lexington. Also, the Air Raid offense with Patrick Towles and a bevy of fast young skill players looked mediocre most of last season, and now Towles is gone. This team needs to find a few things it can do well and build the team around that in 2016.

LSU

Excited: Leonard Fournette’s return.

He’s got a chance to put together one of the most impressive single seasons in SEC history. This is likely the final season in Baton Rouge for a once-in-a-generation type of LSU player.

Skeptical: Does this team have the creativity, discipline and precision to beat top 10 teams like Alabama?

We all find Les Miles wildly entertaining. He’s a terrific recruiter with a tremendous track record. But can he evolve? Would he have found the hole in Clemson’s special teams that allowed that Alabama onside kick in the championship game? Will he allow Cam Cameron a longer leash to open up the offense? Oh, and speaking of the Tide, LSU hasn’t beaten them since a flukey 9-6 overtime win in 2011.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Excited: The chance to crush Ole Miss.

The Bulldogs won 19 games the last two years. The Rebels won 19 games the last two years. Mississippi State is losing a few high-profile players to the NFL draft. Ole Miss is losing a few high-profile players to the draft. Ole Miss returns quarterback Chad Kelly and has recruited a little bit better. But so much better that every single person and their grandmother is talking about Ole Miss ahead of 2016, and no one thinks Mississippi State is going to be good?

Skeptical: No more Dak Prescott.

Original, right? Maybe not, but Prescott meant as much to the Bulldogs the last two seasons as players like Peyton Manning and Herschel Walker did during their final college year. It’s tough to replace an all-time legend, but coach Dan Mullen’s impressive track record with quarterbacks helps.

MISSOURI

Excited: The SEC East.

As in, the schedule. There are three main reasons for Mizzou to be thrilled about the possibilities in 2016: Kentucky, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Skeptical: Ish Witter is the only returning skill player with more than 500 career yards.

Even the terrible offensive line is losing long-time standouts Evan Boehm and Connor McGovern. Who is going to make plays for this unit?

OLE MISS

Excited: The potential for a stable top 20 program.

Back in 2013, when coach Hugh Freeze was landing five-star after five-star, most Ole Miss fans would’ve been happy stringing together two or three tremendous years with a once-in-a-lifetime recruiting class. Despite the Sugar Bowl win, that ’13 class didn’t quite reach the highest heights. But the Rebels may have something even better: A sustainable top 20 team.

Skeptical: The SEC West never sleeps.

Ole Miss lost three games in 2015 — despite beating Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium and Mississippi State at Davis-Wade Stadium. That’s never happened in the same season. Not once. But that’s the type of Herculean production it takes to win 10 games in the SEC West. Some fans surely are wondering what could’ve been if not for the fourth-and-25 play and the Memphis clunker.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Excited: The 2016 class.

It won’t be ranked especially high — perhaps outside the top 25 for the first time since 2010. But who doesn’t get excited near National Signing Day, especially for quarterbacks like Brandon McIlwain? Plus, Will Muschamp looks to build major recruiting momentum for 2017.

Skeptical: No playmakers.

Pharoh Cooper, Jerell Adams and Brandon Wilds are leaving from a team that struggled mightily to find playmakers. This season could be even worse on offense. And Will Muschamp-coached teams haven’t been so good on that side of the ball.

TENNESSEE

Excited: Team 120 could break several Rocky Top droughts.

Tennessee hasn’t been a preseason top-10 team in the Associated Press poll since 2005 and hasn’t participated in the SEC Championship Game since 2007. Tennessee hasn’t beaten Florida since 2004 or Alabama since 2006. This year’s roster has the talent to make a legitimate push for a top-10 ranking at the end of the season and start a new streak against its rivals.

Skeptical: The “Third Saturday in October” looms.

The Vols have the misfortune of being the only SEC East team that must face Alabama every single year. Team 119 nearly clipped the Tide, which would’ve prevented the national championship. Lose to Alabama and the margin for error in the other 11 games becomes next to nothing if we’re talking SEC title contention.

TEXAS A&M

Excited: The second year of the John Chavis/Myles Garrett tandem.

Garrett could be the single-most disruptive defensive player in 2016 if he plays to his potential. And Chavis, with a full year in College Station at this point, should be poised to make real progress with a slowly-upgrading corps of linebackers and defensive backs.

Skeptical: Can this coaching staff groom a cohesive passing game?

Since Johnny Manziel left, the play-calling and the quarterback position have been topsy-turvy. Coach Kevin Sumlin better find stability here quick. Transfer Trevor Knight is a temporary Band-Aid, but one that the staff desperately needs to work out if they want to retain their jobs. The pass-catching talent is there, but Sumlin’s staff hasn’t been able to harness it.

VANDERBILT

Excited: SEC victories.

The Commodores won not one, but two SEC games in 2015. That’s a formula to at least have a chance at a bowl game if Vandy can repeat it annually. And with Kentucky, Missouri and South Carolina all beatable, optimistic Vanderbilt fans can hope for at least 3-5 in the conference.

Skeptical: An offensive sinkhole.

Vanderbilt’s offense ranked 124th in the country in points per game last season. No matter how impressive that coach Derek Mason’s defensive unit becomes, it won’t matter if it’s a chore to score double digits. And though we love Ralph Webb and think Kyle Shurmur could develop, it’s difficult to imagine this group being anything but gosh-awful.