The SEC experienced just one head coaching change for the 2015 season. Jim McElwain now takes the reigns of an underachieving Gators’ program under the previous regime of Will Muschamp.

So, after another long season and brutal in-conference play, which head coach won’t return in 2016?

Let’s speculate, shall we?

Jon Cooper (@JonSDS): Steve Spurrier

It’s the beginning of the end for Steve Spurrier. After recently admitting he considered retiring after the 2014 season, you know it’s weighing heavily on his mind. He’s only saying ‘three to five more years’ in an effort to keep this recruiting class intact. South Carolina would never run Spurrier out of town, but another year of Spurrier being .500 could. He just can’t sleep at night or live with himself suffering through average seasons. The Gamecocks have many questions at quarterback, offensive line and defense, and USC is going through somewhat of a rebuilding phase in 2015. If that leads to a 6-6 season, the chances of Spurrier sticking around for another season are very slim.

Brad Crawford (@BCrawfordSDS): Steve Spurrier

Another letdown season in Columbia, S.C. would make the Head Ball Coach flinch. Spurrier has said on the record several times that he doesn’t like the feeling he gets after losses and he may experience that more than he would like in 2015. Health isn’t an issue for the 70-year-old coach, but continuing to win with the Gamecocks could be a challenge.

Ethan Levine (@ELevineSDS): Derek Mason and Steve Spurrier

There were two SEC teams that suffered serious regressions in 2014 — South Carolina and Vanderbilt — and both teams could be bidding their head coaches farewell at the end of the 2015 season. Vandy has played the role of the SEC’s doormat for a generation, and if it regresses from back to back nine-win seasons by missing a bowl game once again in 2015, it could cost Derek Mason his job after just two seasons. Spurrier is a Hall of Fame inductee, but his South Carolina team fell to 7-6 in 2014 after opening the year ranked in the top 10, and his 2015 recruiting class is falling apart. If the Gamecocks struggle in the lackluster SEC East again in 2015, it could signal the end of Spurrier’s illustrious career in the SEC.

Christopher Smith (@CSmithSDS): Kevin Sumlin and Steve Spurrier

I’d keep an eye on Derek Mason if he endures another 0-8 SEC season and the Vanderbilt program doesn’t appear to be headed toward progress. Frustrations at Georgia seem shelved just below the surface. With expectations again high in 2015, what will happen if the Bulldogs don’t win the East?

But for now, I’ll stick with Sumlin and Spurrier. Texas A&M is paying Sumlin $5 million per season. The reality of his contract is that he’d better win an SEC West title at some point, or at least come darned close most seasons. He’s already pulled the coordinator-as-scapegoat move. If the team doesn’t become a Top 15 program immediately with John Chavis helming the defense, Sumlin is running out of time to justify his salary. I don’t see the Aggies doing much better than the team did this season with seven regular-season wins and a sub-.500 SEC record, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a hot offensive coordinator next December or January.

Spurrier admitted giving strong consideration to retirement after this season. Then he went on record saying he’d coach two or three more years, which hurt the team’s recruiting. If the Gamecocks endure yet another long 6-6 year in 2015, it’s possible Spurrier wakes up every morning dreaming about Crescent Beach, Fla.

Brett Weisband (@WeisbandSDS): Mark Stoops

The improvement that Kentucky showed early in 2014 turned out to be a mirage, one that earned Stoops a contract extension. When the Wildcats fail to become bowl eligible in Stoops’ third season in Lexington, it will spell doom. There aren’t many signs that the defense, the downfall of the 2014 team, will improve next year, and the offense could well be switching gears away from the hybrid Air Raid attack its tried out for Stoops’ first two seasons. I foresee more disjointed efforts in 2015, which will cost Stoops his job.