Our long offseason nightmare is finally over. When Arkansas kicks off with Florida A&M tonight, SEC football will officially be back.

Nevertheless, the best conference in America has a two-pronged problem at this point. First, the East continues to lag behind the West. Second, Alabama has separated itself from everyone else in the league more than ever.

The Crimson Tide — overwhelmingly No. 1 in the country in both polls — do have a few more question marks than usual, like a new offensive coordinator and lots of bodies to replace on defense, but Nick Saban remains the standard by which all coaches are measured. Most every expert in the field has ‘Bama in the College Football Playoff yet again.

As for the other 13 ballclubs, it doesn’t take much digging to find rather intriguing storylines. Can Auburn make a splash in the West? Is Georgia really the team to beat in the East? Will the Magnolia State mudslinging ever calm down?

With an extended Week 1 capturing our attention until Monday evening, here’s one thought for all 14 of the SEC’s member institutions.

ALABAMA

If Florida State has one glaring weakness, it’s the offensive line. That’s usually music to the ears of any Crimson Tide fanatic, but ‘Bama has to replace tons of pass-rushing production from 2016. With D-linemen like Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson now in the NFL, are Da’Ron Payne and Da’Shawn Hand ready to step out of the shadows and become bona fide beasts? We’ll see.

ARKANSAS

Florida A&M is already 1-0, although a 29-7 victory over Texas Southern isn’t going to make the Razorbacks nervous. The mantra for coach Bret Bielema and Co. in 2017 is to build a bulletproof wall around quarterback Austin Allen. While the Rattlers registered 3 sacks in their opener, they have no business getting anywhere near Allen.

AUBURN

The Tigers better not get caught looking ahead, as they head to Clemson in Week 2 for a rematch with the defending national champion. Georgia Southern comes to Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday and has frustrated SEC opponents before. The Eagles lost by an aggregate total of only 16 points the last two seasons to Ole Miss and Georgia.

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FLORIDA

It’s official: Feleipe Franks is QB1 for the Gators. However, he’s been dealt a poor hand for his first career start against Michigan. His best wide receiver, Antonio Callaway, is suspended. So is best running back, Jordan Scarlett. Furthermore, Wolverines defensive coordinator Don Brown is arguably the best in the business.

GEORGIA

Even if the Bulldogs return 10 starters on defense, they won’t be all they can be on that side of the football unless Trenton Thompson is healthy at the tackle position. The all-conference selection had a trying offseason that saw him leave the team for a while. Hopefully, he’s back to his old self and controls the line of scrimmage vs. Appalachian State.

KENTUCKY

Wildcats coach Mark Stoops has hinted that he’ll play two signal callers at Southern Miss. Drew Barker, last season’s original starter, is healthy again and more of a gifted passer than Stephen Johnson, who replaced him in 2016. UK ran the rock incredibly well a year ago, but if Barker can spark the aerial attack, then this offense might be scary.

LSU

All eyes will be on first-year Tigers offensive coordinator Matt Canada, who is maybe the most important coaching hire in the league. The sneak preview we got in the spring game wasn’t impressive, plus now running back Derrius Guice isn’t 100 percent. BYU has already defeated Portland State and surrendered just 220 total yards.

OLE MISS

Fortunately for the Rebels, it shouldn’t be too difficult to get fired up for South Alabama. Just a year ago, the frisky Jaguars went to Davis Wade Stadium and knocked off rival Mississippi State. The biggest hurdle for interim coach Matt Luke might be controlling his emotions. Considering his generational ties to the program, this is legitimately a dream come true for him.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

The Bulldogs should know better than to take a non-Power 5 opponent lightly, as referenced above, even though Charleston Southern is an FCS cupcake, not a Sun Belt nuisance. If the defense is going to be any better in 2017, then coach Dan Mullen must get contributions right away from a handful of JUCO transfers. First-year coordinator Todd Grantham is in the spotlight, too.

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MISSOURI

A former 5-star recruit from nearby East St. Louis (Ill.) High School, defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr. was supposed to be an immediate superstar for the Tigers and then head off to the NFL Draft as a first-round pick. Instead, his first two seasons in Columbia have seen more valleys than peaks. He’s the key to Mizzou turning things around on D vs. Missouri State.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Of the five neutral-site matchups in the SEC on opening weekend, the Gamecocks’ showdown with N.C. State in Charlotte is receiving the least attention. Like USC in its conference, the Wolfpack are a popular dark horse in the ACC and might upset the balance of power. The winner of this one could be indicative of the overall strength of each league.

TENNESSEE

This past season, the Volunteers supposedly had the premier backfield in the SEC with dual-threat QB Joshua Dobbs, smash-mouth tailback Jalen Hurd and multi-dimensional talent Alvin Kamara. The trio has departed. True freshman ball carriers Ty Chandler, Trey Coleman and Tim Jordan could all see the field Monday against Georgia Tech.

TEXAS A&M

Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin is sitting on quite the hot seat, so the choice he has to make on a starting field general at UCLA will go a long way in determining if he keeps his job. Jake Hubenak, Nick Starkel and Kellen Mond all struggled in the spring game, too. But remember, this system is about as passer-friendly as it gets once somebody figures it out.

VANDERBILT

One of the hardest players to replace in the entire conference for 2017 is linebacker Zach Cunningham, who left the Commodores a year early for the pros. Vandy travels in Week 1 to Middle Tennessee State, which had the No. 8 passing offense in America last season. Oren Burks has been a standout safety and linebacker in his career, but now he has to do more than ever.