The best coach in the SEC has been decided ever since Alabama beat Florida in the 2009 SEC Championship Game.

How the SEC coaches stack up to the rest of the FBS has been more open for debate. Athlon Sports unveiled its ranking for all 130 coaches, and here’s how the 14 from the SEC rank:

  • Nick Saban, Alabama (No. 1)
  • Dan Mullen, Mississippi State (No. 19)
  • Jim McElwain, Florida (No. 21)
  • Gus Malzahn, Auburn (No. 22)
  • Bret Bielama, Arkansas (No. 27)
  • Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss (No. 29)
  • Butch Jones, Tennessee (No. 30)
  • Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M (No. 40)
  • Will Muschamp, South Carolina (No. 55)
  • Mark Stoops, Kentucky (No. 60)
  • Derek Mason, Vanderbilt (No. 64)
  • Kirby Smart, Georgia (No. 65)
  • Ed Orgeron, LSU (No. 81)
  • Barry Odom, Missouri (No. 105)

It’s no surprise to see Saban at No. 1 in the SEC and even all of college football based on his decade of dominance at Alabama. A popular offseason debate has been which coach is No. 2 in the SEC. Athlon’s rankings shows it’s a noticeable dropoff from No. 1 to No. 2 in the conference, but Mullen takes that spot.

Here’s why the publication is high on the Bulldogs coach:

While Mississippi State is the SEC West’s toughest job, Mullen has carved out a consistent and successful stint in a brutal division. The Bulldogs are 61-42 under Mullen’s eight years and have earned seven bowl trips in that span. Additionally, Mississippi State’s 19 wins from 2014-15 were the most in a two-year stretch in program history. The Bulldogs also grabbed the No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press poll for the first time in 2014, while earning the top spot in the first CFB playoff rankings that season. Last year’s six wins were the fewest since 2009, but 2016 was expected to be a transition year after quarterback Dak Prescott expired his eligibility. However, with 10 returning starters and the continued development of quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State will be a dark horse team to watch in the SEC this fall.

One can bet that SDS readers and callers on “The Paul Finebaum Show” will have something to say about Mullen leading the pack of non-Saban SEC coaches.

Also sure to lead to some debate is Bielema ranking ahead of Freeze and Sumlin, coaches who have both experienced 10-win seasons during their time in the SEC.

The full rankings can be found here.