Which SEC teams have improved — or suffered — since the end of the 2014 season?

Littered with offseason coaching hires, the league may have gotten stronger as a unit since falling in the Playoff semifinal, a terrifying thought for the rest of college football as the SEC tries to end its two-year ‘drought’ in its quest for a national title.

RELATED: SEC Preseason Power Rankings

Taking into consideration recruiting success, injuries, coaching hires, arrests, transfers and overall momentum, here’s how we rank the SEC based on the offseason:

SEC teams that suffered during the offseason

Vanderbilt — Potential starting quarterback Patton Robinette quit football and Derek Mason didn’t look comfortable at media days — not a promising offseason following last year’s winless SEC campaign.

Mizzou — You would be hard-pressed to find another defending division champ across college football with as many notable personnel losses as the Tigers, but Mizzou won’t press the panic button. The strength of the program over the last several years has been the pass rush, but the core of Shane Ray, Markus Golden, Harold Brantley (injury) and Marcus Loud (dismissed) is no longer available. Keeping defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski away from Illinois was a major plus following DC Dave Steckel’s exit to Missouri State. Another complication is the lack of proven pass-catchers. Tigers must replace their top four wideouts off last season’s team.

Alabama — Before Crimson Tide fans send hate mail to inbox due to the placement here, take this into consideration coming off a league championship and Playoff berth: Not only did Alabama lose its best receiver in program history, but Nick Saban still hasn’t found his quarterback entering fall camp and has extreme depth concerns in the backfield. Alabama will be fine after its fifth straight No. 1 signing class and we’ve still slotted the Crimson Tide No. 1 in our preseason SEC Power Rankings, but saying this team ‘improved’ since the end of last season wouldn’t be accurate.

Mississippi State — Remember when the Bulldogs were unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the country last season with the most positive momentum in program history? Everyone seems to dismiss Mississippi State’s 2014 success this fall following a couple notable personnel losses on both sides of the football. The Bulldogs aren’t ranked in the preseason (which doesn’t bother Dan Mullen) and were picked to finish last in the West, but do welcome back the SEC’s best player in Dak Prescott. Shouldn’t that count for something?

LSU — More or less stagnant since the end of last season, LSU was able to hold together its annual Top 10-ranked signing class despite losing defensive coordinator John Chavis to Texas A&M, a testament to the time and effort Les Miles’ staff put into recruiting. The questions that lingered on offense throughout the 2014 campaign however remain heading into fall practice, specifically at quarterback where Cam Cameron needs to see separation between Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris. Jennings was one of three suspended players now back with the team, but defensive tackle Trey Lealaimatafao was kicked off after an arrest and it doesn’t appear cornerback Rashard Robinson will return. This week’s been detrimental to future success as well. Maquedius Bain announced his intention to transfer and the nation’s top player in 2017, Dylan Moses, decommitted.

SEC teams that improved during the offseason

Arkansas — SEC dark horse is admittedly an overused phrase, but the Razorbacks seem to always be in the conversation — and for good reason. Not only did Arkansas improve on offense this offseason thanks to Jonathan Williams’ decision to return, the subsequent hire of play-caller Dan Enos and Brandon Allen’s obvious improvement, but the defensive front seven made strides despite the noticeable loss of Trey Flowers and Martrell Spaight to the NFL.

Tennessee — The Vols are ranked in the preseason coaches poll for the first time since 2008, a sign of a program on the rise under Butch Jones. The recent Nike revamp is certainly going to help the revitalization of a once dominant power, not to mention Tennessee’s recent success on the recruiting trail. Similar to the buzz surrounding Arkansas, it’s not often 7-6 teams receive this much positive ink the following season. And all of those star players who missed the spring due to nagging injuries? They’re healthy.

Florida — It was out with the old and in with the new in Gainesville this offseason as the Gators pushed Will Muschamp out the door in favor of Jim McElwain, a former Nick Saban assistant who sees the Florida job as a ‘tremendous opportunity’ he anxiously expected. He salvaged a recruiting class with instant-impact five-star CeCe Jefferson and Martez Ivey and believes there are two young quarterbacks in the system — Treon Harris and Will Grier — who are game-ready. McElwain’s cautiously optimistic in Year 1, as is the Florida fanbase, but at least the remnants of 2013’s 4-8 are long gone.

Ole Miss — Another signing class ranked inside the top 20 nationally including touted JUCO transfer Chad Kelly at quarterback bolsters a roster that already flexes four potential first-round picks in 2016. The return of Laremy Tunsil and Laquon Treadwell provides this team with veteran leadership offensively as the unit undergoes changes under center. JUCO transfer Tony Bridges will be one of the league’s brightest newcomers on defense.

South Carolina — Don’t tell Steve Spurrier his program’s on the decline, or else. The Gamecocks licked their wounds after an Independence Bowl win was the consolation prize finished up a disappointing season, but the offseason has had a positive spin. Spurrier grabbed one of his Florida buddies, Jon Hoke, to overhaul the defense and signed immediate starter Marquavius Lewis to help strengthen an under-performing defensive line. Kansas transfer Isaiah Johnson was a massive get for the secondary at safety.

Auburn — This program ‘won the offseason’ with regards to player additions, coaching staff changes and media momentum. In addition to convincing Will Muschamp to join forces, the Tigers added a premiere pass rusher in five-star Byron Cowart, welcomed back All-SEC caliber end Carl Lawson and won’t have to wait any longer for safety Tray Matthews (Georgia transfer) to see the field — and that’s just defensively. Jeremy Johnson’s Heisman buzz as a first-year quarterback is off the charts. Auburn gets bonus points for the monstrous new scoreboard at Jordan-Hare set to make its debut on Sept. 12.

Kentucky — A freight train as of late on the recruiting trail, the Wildcats are building toward a brighter future and fans seem to realize this despite a lack of results on the field. Last season’s second-half collapse soured a promising start, but there were flashes of success that provided a temporary look at what can happen down the road in Lexington. Kentucky has interchangeable quarterbacks in Patrick Towles and Drew Barker and believe they upgraded the offensive system with the hire of Shannon Dawson. There are questions at the point of attack on defense, but the secondary’s expected to be a team strength.

Texas A&M — Five-star quarterback Kyler Murray, five-star pass rusher Daylon Mack and five-star coaching hire John Chavis. Who didn’t Kevin Sumlin sign this offseason? The Aggies made substantial strides defensively with acquisition of Chavis, luring him away from Les Miles in Baton Rouge to turn things around in College Station. Murray’s decision to skip the MLB Amateur Draft a few months later made it an offseason to remember for Sumlin. Let’s see if it pays off.

Georgia — Not only were the Bulldogs huge winners on National Signing Day, but landing Brian Schottenheimer to fill the void left by Mike Bobo feels like a home run considering the former St. Louis Rams assistant’s penchant for running the football and the fanbase’s displeasure with his predecessor. Picking up Virginia transfer quarterback Greyson Lambert adds stability and another experienced option to a position of interest heading into the season.