Alabama Crimson Tide

Record: 12-2 (7-1)
Success or failure: Failure
Why?: Failure seems like a strong word for a season that featured a Heisman Trophy candidate, a SEC Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff. However, it’s tough to refer to Alabama’s season as a true success, considering the high standard the Tide have set for themselves. Ranked near or at No. 1 for the entire year, the Crimson Tide were the favorites coming into the CFP to win the national championship, but in a stunning defeat Alabama was knocked out by Ohio State and a third-string quarterback in the semifinals. Alabama was dominant for much of the season, but a premature exit in the CFP was anything but a success.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Record: 7-6 (2-6)
Success or failure: Success
Why?: For a while, it appeared as if Arkansas would never quite reach its potential. Everyone knew how talented the Razorbacks were, but it wasn’t translating into wins on the field. The Hogs finished with a 7-6 record, but it could have been much better due to close losses to Texas A&M, Alabama and Mississippi State. But Arkansas redeemed itself at the end of the season with consecutive SEC wins against LSU and Ole Miss and then closed 2014 with a dominating bowl win over Texas. Because the Razorbacks finished strong, many believe that they will take an even larger step forward in 2015, which is all second-year coach Bret Bielema could have asked for after a winless record in the SEC in 2013. Therefore, this year was a success.

Auburn Tigers

Record: 8-5 (4-4)
Success or failure: Failure
Why?: Not many expected Auburn to replicate its 2013 season, but five losses is probably more than most pre-season predictions. The Tigers were not helped by one of the toughest schedules in all of college football, but they seemed to be on their way to another great season halfway through the schedule when they were ranked as high as No. 2. However, the season ended poorly for Auburn, who lost four of its final five games, including a stunning upset defeat at home by unranked Texas A&M. Gus Malzahn has his team heading in the right direction, but the final month of the season soured any good feelings the Tigers may have generated earlier in the year.

LSU Tigers

Record: 8-5 (4-4)
Success or failure: Failure
Why?: This is probably one of the tougher teams to determine whether 2014 was a success or failure. Well, more between a failure or push. I think LSU’s inconsistency at QB was very disappointing and ultimately hindered LSU from having a better season. The Tigers have some exciting young players coming up and running back Leonard Fournette didn’t disappoint with a tremendous freshman year. But the trouble at QB, plus now the loss of John Chavis at defensive coordinator and the five losses in 2014 make this year seem more like a failure than anything else.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Record: 10-3 (6-2)
Success or failure: Success
Why?: Who saw this season coming from the Mississippi State Bulldogs? Perhaps some saw a potential jump from mediocrity for MSU, but I doubt anyone believed this team could be the No. 1 team in the nation. But MSU’s run of three consecutive wins against top-10 teams helped the Bulldogs to a No. 1 ranking before losing to Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The Bulldogs suffered three losses in their final four games, but it’s hard to erase all of the success they had for the first two-thirds of the season. Without a doubt, 2014 was a huge success for Dan Mullen and his squad.

Ole Miss Rebels

Record: 9-4 (5-3)
Success or failure: Success
Why?: Like MSU, Ole Miss exceeded expectations for much of the season. The Rebels were ranked as high as No. 3 this season and had one of the nation’s most feared defenses. The final third of the season was up-and-down for Ole Miss, who suffered losses to LSU and Auburn, but also secured an Egg Bowl win over Mississippi State. Unfortunately for Ole Miss, many will remember the Rebels’ uninspired 42-3 defeat in the Peach Bowl against TCU, but ultimately this was a successful season for the Rebels who were in the top-10 for much of the year.

Texas A&M Aggies

Record: 8-5 (3-5)
Success or failure: Failure
Why?: Texas A&M may have been more a victim of being overrated, but nonetheless I categorize the Aggies’ 2014 season as a failure. The Aggies got off a to a scorching start, headlined by a blowout season-opening win on the road against South Carolina. But quickly Texas A&M fell from the top once it got into the meat of its SEC schedule. The Aggies went through a quarterback change and still had one of the conference’s worst defenses. All in all, the Aggies finished with eight wins and another explosive passing offense, but it’s clear they took a sizable step back from their first two seasons in the SEC.