Special teams are not to be overlooked. If a team is constantly giving up field position through punting or leaving points on the field by missing field goals, winning becomes a lot more difficult.

Who had the best kicking units in the SEC this season?

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama’s field goal kicking was a mess this year, as they finished next-to-last in field goal percentage in the SEC; the Tide made just 14-of-22 field goals on the year, with primary placekicker Adam Griffith hitting just 4-of-9 down the stretch. Even those struggles, which were a big factor in Alabama’s only loss of the season, can’t outweigh the brilliance of freshman punter JK Scott. The Ray Guy Award finalist was third in the country in punting average and had more than half of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line.

4. LSU Tigers

Jamie Keehn was right behind Scott in punting, although he was a bit more inconsistent with a shank here or there. Still, he averaged more than 45 yards per punt and had 17 punts of 50-plus yards. LSU would be higher up if kicker Colby Delahoussaye didn’t go through a late-season funk. After starting the season 7-for-7, he went just 4-for-8 over the final month of the season, seemingly losing confidence in his leg.

3. Florida Gators

After earning his scholarship before the season, former walk-on Francisco Velez was money all year, hitting 12-of-14 attempts, while long-range kicker Austin Hardin hit 4-of-7 from 40-plus yards. Punter Kyle Christy finished fourth in the SEC in punting average at 44.5 yards, and more than a third of his kicks went for 50-plus yards.

2. Kentucky Wildcats

Austin MacGinnis earned a first-team All-SEC nod from the coaches by hitting the most field goals in the conference with 21 makes. He had six misses on the year, but was trusted to kick from long distance and hit 8-of-12 from 40-plus yards. Landon Foster was solid punting, downing 27 punts inside the 20 against just four touchbacks.

1. Texas A&M Aggies

Few teams in the country can match the combination of kicker Josh Lambo and punter Drew Kaser. Lambo led the SEC in field goal percentage, hitting 12-of-14 attempts. Both of Lambo’s misses came from 40-plus yards, and he hit all 53 of his point after attempts. Kaser was a Ray Guy finalist a year ago, and while his punting average dropped by about 3 yards this year he was still 11th in the country in that category this year. He forced 20 fair catches, had 19 punts downed inside the 20 and had 15 punts of 50-plus yards.