Ranking the 2015 SEC team schedule posters

Create a slogan and run with it.

Every college football team in the country — yes, even Division II and lower classifications, has its own brand it is trying to push to a fan base in hopes of generating more interest heading into the season.

Some graphically-enhanced images are subtle, others direct and to the point. The SEC’s schedule posters for this season provide a wide-ranging source of the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to spending hours dealing with vectors and filters in photo software.

Hanging in rooms and offices around the South, here are the league’s schedule posters ranked from worst to first. We combed social media and Texas A&M message boards to find the Aggies’ 2015 schedule poster, but no luck. If you have one in your possession, send us a photo at bcrawford@saturdaydownsouth.com:

13. ARKANSAS

Certainly ‘Uncommon’ compared to other SEC schedule posters, the Razorbacks swung and missed here. The only state-shaped poster was an interesting touch I suppose.

12. SOUTH CAROLINA

Sticking with the generic Under Armour-heavy scheme of this year’s football media guide (the same image in fact), the Gamecocks must not have the star power for individuals to be featured on the schedule poster. Pharoh Cooper and Steve Spurrier would work, no?

11. LSU

Ok, the Tigers are really starting to abuse the “it’s Saturday Night in Death Valley” phrase. We get it. LSU gets more home night kickoffs than any team in the country. I do like how designers have included an area for you to fill in the score on the poster.

*Update* on Aug. 26; We’ve received this updated poster from a reader. Much better for the Tigers.

10. KENTUCKY

New Commonwealth Stadium is being pushed again. We hope this updated venue lives up to its preseason hype for the Wildcats.

9. ALABAMA

Simple and clean, this has the ‘BUILT BY BAMA’ feel. And finally, a poster includes the home stadium in a way that doesn’t detract from the primary image.

8. GEORGIA

The Bulldogs are coming at you, literally. Bonus points for including Nick Chubb on the schedule. Teams are too often scared to push their best players in the preseason.

7. TENNESSEE

The angle of this Butch Jones shot is awkward, but I get the idea. The team logos at the bottom of the poster for the 2015 schedule is a nice look.

6. FLORIDA

At least the Gators’ generic player wears the number of Vernon Hargreaves. We can at least pretend the SEC’s best corner participated in the shoot. Would’ve liked to have seen ‘FLORIDA’ instead of ‘GATORS’ across the front ribbon.

5. AUBURN

Interesting that Auburn put just as many coaches (three) as players on its schedule poster collage, but it works. The super-imposed ‘FAST PHYSICAL FOOTBALL’ is money.

4. OLE MISS

Another team taking the alternate covers route is Ole Miss. Four players, all in their alternate red home jerseys, tell us what it means to be a Rebel and gave us their autograph, too. Ole Miss shot its media guide photos on the same day with the same standouts.

3. VANDERBILT

Dark Water. Anchor Down. Schedule with team logos. The Commodores incorporated several must-haves in their schedule poster, but the ‘Two Thousand Fifteen’ throws everything off a bit.

2. MIZZOU

One of four alternate covers for the Tigers, this shattered glass in-your-face approach shows Mizzou is ready to explode through the competition once again in its quest for a third straight Eastern Division title. Well done.

1. MISSISSIPPI STATE

This certainly doesn’t look like a team picked to finish last in the Western Division this season. With Dak leading the way front and center, Mississippi State’s poster is the SEC’s best.