The SEC went 9-2 with a national championship this bowl season, restoring its claim as the best conference in America.

Alabama supplied the biggest victories, of course, including its fourth title in seven years, but there were enough blowouts for most of the league to feel good heading into next season — even while saying goodbye to numerous stars who were most responsible for said blowouts.

With that in mind, let’s look ahead to 2016, ranking the season openers for each SEC school, toughest to easiest.

WHO SCHEDULED THESE GUYS?

Auburn vs. Clemson, Sept. 3: Clemson QB Deshaun Watson kicks off his 2016 Heisman campaign at Jordan-Hare, a place he once considered making his home. Watson made Alabama’s defense look ordinary and slow. Imagine what he’ll do to Auburn’s.

Georgia vs. North Carolina, Sept. 3, Georgia Dome: Welcome to Georgia, Kirby Smart. Good thing the new coach embraces challenges. He’ll get one in trying to stop UNC 1,400-yard rusher Elijah Hood. Remember him? We’re quite sure Smart does. Hood is the stud running back who famously flushed a recruiting letter from Nick Saban.

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Ole Miss vs. Florida State, Monday Sept. 5, Orlando: Monday night fireworks featuring the two biggest threats to Alabama and Clemson’s title bid this past season. FSU will be starting anew, again, at QB, but it still has Dalvin Cook, who is an SEC back at an ACC school. Chad Kelly will challenge FSU’s revamped secondary in a game that will keep the scorekeeper busy.

SOUNDS EASIER THAN IT WILL BE

Kentucky vs. Southern Miss, Sept. 3: USM QB Nick Mullens (from Hoover, Ala.) threw for 4,476 yards and 38 TDs last season. Both totals were top 6 nationally. He threw for 311 and 1 TD against Mississippi State, 447 and 2 scores against Nebraska and 331 and 2 scores against Washington in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. The C-USA West champs lost all three, however. That’s Kentucky’s best hope: That they do enough to overcome a 350-yard, 3-TD day from Mullens.

SOUNDS TOUGHER THAN IT WILL BE

Alabama vs. USC, Sept. 3, AT&T Stadium, Arlington: Nick Saban is 8-0 in the past eight season openers (or second game) against Power 5 competition. Several of those victims were ranked. In other words, Alabama’s plug-n-play machine will roll along. The offense returns several key parts, beginning with OC Lane Kiffin, who will find a way to get the ball to Calvin Ridley. Go ahead and start the hype for Cooper Bateman, Jake Coker’s heir to the throw. But the offense still will be run-first, led by Bo Scarbrough, who will remind you of Derrick Henry.

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So, yes, Alabama will be OK.

LSU vs. Wisconsin, Sept. 3, Lambeau Field: What a great experience. This is Wisconsin’s first game at historic Lambeau. All that will be missing is the snow.

“I’m very excited about this game and I hope our fans are, too,” Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said in a statement when the contract was announced in 2013. “It is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our program, a great experience for our players to play in one of the most revered stadiums in the country and a terrific chance for our fans to see us play a quality opponent in the state of Wisconsin.”

As for the game, look for Leonard Fournette to kick his Heisman campaign into gear.

TOSS UPS

Missouri at West Virginia, Sept. 3: Mountaineers QB Skyler Howard no doubt relishes another opportunity to prove to another Power 5 school that he belongs. Howard, overlooked as a recruit largely because he’s just 6-0, threw for 3,145 yards and 26 TDs last season. Missouri’s first-time head coach Barry Odom isn’t exactly easing into his new role.

South Carolina at Vanderbilt, Thursday, Sept. 1: Not exactly the showcase event the SEC would want to kick off its new season — two offensive-challenged teams, both with QB questions, one with a new coach, new philosophy, neither with much more hope than to climb to .500. Excited yet? Alabama and LSU famously engaged in an exciting, memorable 9-6 slugfest. This might produce a similar amount of points without nearly the stakes.

Texas A&M vs. UCLA, Sept. 3: Dangerous game for the Aggies, who get elite QB Josh Rosen, coming off a freshman All-American season in which he finished fourth in the Pac-12 in passing yards (3,669) and seventh in TDs (23). A&M will counter with its equally dangerous aerial attack. Good thing DBs have all summer to work on their back pedal. They’re going to need it.

PAD THOSE STATS DAY

Arkansas vs. La. Tech, Sept. 3: Both teams lose their QB and 1,000-yard running backs, so obvious advantage goes to the Razorbacks, who will be in reload mode rather than rebuild — at home.

Florida vs. UMass, Sept 3: A nice way to ease into the season, regardless of who wins Florida’s quarterback job. The Minutemen finished 3-9 last season, 2-6 in the MAC.

Mississippi State vs. South Alabama, Sept. 3: The Bulldogs ease into Game 1 AD (After Dak) against a Sun Belt team that finished 5-7 last season and suffered blowouts against two Power 5 teams Nebraska and N.C. State.

Tennessee vs. Appalachian State, Sept. 3: Consider this qualifying for the Volunteers’ much-anticipated showdown the following week against Virginia Tech at Bristol Motor Speedway.