For college football fans, we have entered the arid part of the calendar.

National Signing Day is in the rearview mirror, and spring practice remains far off in the distance. A lot will change between now and next fall, but that won’t stop us from analyzing the world of college football in the SEC.

As the weeks and months pass, each team’s outlook will slowly begin to come into focus. For now, however, here is one thing that each SEC team can count on in 2017.

Alabama – An effective running game

The Crimson Tide have always valued a strong rushing attack. Usually, that rushing attack is of the downhill, power style, but last year there was a greater use of the read option. No matter what scheme Alabama chooses to adopt, it will have success on the ground. With Jalen Hurts, Damien Harris, Josh Jacobs and Bo Scarbrough returning and newcomer Najee Harris joining the group, the Tide should have the most lethal backfield in college football.

Arkansas – New targets for Austin Allen

Austin Allen quietly had one of the best seasons for a quarterback in the SEC last year. The junior threw for 3,430 yards with 25 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. His receiving corps will look a lot different in 2017, however, as four of the Razorbacks top five receivers won’t be returning. Brandon Martin, the No. 2 JUCO receiver for 2017, should be ready to make an impact right away, but there will be plenty of chances for young players to step up.

Auburn – A better passing attack

Auburn had one of the worst passing offenses in 2016, but the Tigers have taken steps to correct that. Most notably, Auburn landed former Baylor quarterback Jarrett Stidham. The dual-threat quarterback seems like the perfect fit for the Tigers’ offense. A young corps of receivers including Kyle Davis, Eli Stove and Darius Slayton should also continue to improve, giving Auburn a more dynamic aerial attack.

Florida – A tougher road to Atlanta

The Gators have been successful under Jim McElwain, making the SEC championship game in each of his first two seasons. The road might not be so easy in 2017, however. Teams like Georgia, Kentucky and South Carolina appear to be on the rise, and the Gators will draw Texas A&M from the SEC West along with their annual matchup with LSU. Florida should once again be competitive in the division race, but it will have some serious competition.

Georgia – Stout defensive play

A lot of eyes will be on the Bulldogs offense in Jacob Eason’s second year, but it’s the defense that should become this team’s strength. In 2016, Georgia’s young defenders took a big step forward and appear ready to become an elite group next season. The Bulldogs will lose only one starter on defense for next year, and players like Roquan Smith, Natrez Patrick, Trent Thompson and Julian Rochester should continue to develop. Add to that the incoming talent on the defensive side of the ball, and the Bulldogs might begin to resemble Kirby Smart’s old team.

Kentucky – A familiar offensive identity

While Kentucky certainly will aim to find a more balanced offensive attack, the Wildcats know full well what they do best. With Benny Snell returning after his sensational freshman campaign, Kentucky will look to run the ball early and often. Incoming freshmen Bryant Koback and Lynn Bowden will bring additional talent to the backfield, especially Bowden who should become a very versatile player for Kentucky.

LSU – Greater emphasis on a passing game

In the final years under Les Miles, the Tigers severely lacked a dynamic passing attack. Moving forward, that won’t likely be the case. Ed Orgeron has hired Matt Canada to become LSU’s new offensive coordinator, and Canada knows how to make the most out of the players at his disposal. He will have two talented freshmen quarterbacks to work with in Lowell Narcisse and Myles Brennan. With Derrius Guice in the backfield, the Tigers will still run the ball often, but they should be able to create a more balanced approach.

Mississippi State – A new look on defense

Mississippi State’s defense struggled in 2016, especially against the pass. Dan Mullen and his staff took steps to correct that immediately by signing a plethora of JUCO defenders in the Bulldogs’ 2017 recruiting class. Players like Chauncey Rivers, Johnathan Abram, Deion Pope and Lee Autry ought to help make an impact from the beginning, which should help Mississippi State turn things around.

Missouri – A defensive turnaround

Over the years, it’s been Missouri’s defense that kept the Tigers in games. That completely changed in Barry Odom’s first season as head coach. Part of the reason was an inability to adjust to new defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross and his scheme changes. Odom took over the play-calling duties on defense toward the end of the season, which he will continue to do in 2017, and it appeared to make a positive impact. It’s unlikely that Missouri will become the imposing defensive force that it was under Gary Pinkel, but the Tigers should make some strides next season.

Ole Miss – Excitement at quarterback

There hasn’t been much positivity in Oxford recently, as an NCAA investigation looms over the program and seriously impacted the Rebels’ 2017 recruiting class, but there is one reason for optimism. In his three-game stint at the end of the season, Shea Patterson proved that he will be a very fun quarterback to watch. Patterson has drawn favorable comparisons to former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, and for good reason. Ole Miss fans will have a front row seat to watch one of the most exciting young players in the SEC.

South Carolina – A more explosive offense

It didn’t take long for Will Muschamp to get South Carolina’s defense into a strong rhythm, but that wasn’t the case with the offense. Once Jake Bentley was inserted as the team’s starting quarterback, and some key players returned from injury, the offense saw steady improvement. Moving forward, there should be an increased emphasis on creating explosive plays. Deebo Samuel and Bryan Edwards are talented perimeter threats, and they will be complemented by freshmen OrTre Smith and Shi Smith. If the Gamecocks offense can develop more potency, South Carolina will be a major contender in the East.

Tennessee – New faces and a new identity

The Vols had the most experienced squad in the SEC last season, but that means there will be a lot of new starters on the field in 2017. As the classes of 2016 and 2017 begin to make a greater impact there will likely be a few growing pains along the way. It’s also likely that Tennessee finds a new identity as fresh faces begin to settle into their new roles. That’s not a bad thing, as Butch Jones has often thrived in the underdog role. He should be able to tap into that mentality with this team next year.

Texas A&M – Incoming freshmen making an immediate impact

Like Tennessee, Texas A&M had a veteran-laden team in 2016. Now that those starting jobs have been vacated, there are several freshmen who will have the opportunity to play early. The Aggies put together a very good 2017 recruiting class, especially on defense. There are potential impact players on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Kellen Mond, linebacker Anthony Hines and receiver Jhamon Ausbon. Texas A&M should have an interesting mix of youth and experience on the field in 2017.

Vanderbilt – A small step backward

In Derek Mason’s third season, Vanderbilt finally had a bit of a breakthrough. The Commodores earned a road victory at Georgia and beat both Ole Miss and Tennessee at home. For those who are expecting Vanderbilt to ride that momentum into next season, there might be some disappointment ahead. The Commodores have a tough schedule in 2017, and their SEC East competition looks to be on the rise. Vanderbilt played a lot of good teams close last season, but it would be a surprise if it did the same this fall.