There’s nowhere to go but up for some of the aerial attacks in the SEC.

Half of the teams in the conference were 86th or worse in the FBS in passing yards per game last season, but many teams are more than equipped to turn things around in that respect.

We look at the five passing games most likely to improve this season, most of which are in the East.

AUBURN

2015 stats: 173.7 passing ypg, 58.5 comp. pct., 11 TDs, 12 INTs
SEC rank: 12th
FBS rank: 111th

Regardless of who wins the starting job between senior Jeremy Johnson, sophomore Sean White or junior transfer John Franklin III, the Tigers’ passing game will improve from a season ago.

The returning production among pass-catchers is a concern as the team’s two leaders in receiving yards, Ricardo Louis (716) and Melvin Ray (279), are gone. However, this is more about an improvement in quarterback play and the system they’re playing with.

Is Gus Malzahn, who is widely considered to be coaching for his job this season, eager to start Franklin III to be able to use the read-option offense that helped Auburn’s offense flourish in 2013 and 2014?

Malzahn needs to be able to run the ball, and he has what he needs to do that this season. Jovon Robinson is a sure-fire bet to run for 1,000 yards, and Roc Thomas and Kerryon Johnson (out for spring) will provide depth. Also, the hiring of Herb Hand will pay dividends as Malzahn and Hand have chemistry as co-offensive coordinators for one of the nation’s best offenses at Tulsa in 2007 and 2008. Hand will be tasked with replacing tackles Shon Coleman and Avery Young as the team’s offensive line coach, but he takes over a group that was among the best in the SEC during J.B. Grimes’ three seasons there.

As for the weapons, Auburn did sign a trio of four-stars in Kyle Davis (early enrollee), Nate Craig-Myers and Eli Stove, and they’ll join junior Jason Smith and seniors Marcus Davis and Tony Stevens.

FLORIDA

2015 stats: 207.1 passing ypg, 56.5 comp. pct., 20 TDs, 10 INTs
SEC rank: 8th
FBS rank: 86th

There’s nowhere to go but up for a Gators passing game that was anemic in the latter portion of 2015, thanks to an offensive line that struggled in pass protection and poor play at quarterback from Treon Harris.

A pair of transfers — redshirt sophomore Luke Del Rio and graduate transfer Austin Appleby — seem to be the leaders in the race for the starting job. Del Rio has received praise from Jim McElwain so far in the spring, and he has familiarity with his offense having spent a year in an Alabama offense run by Florida offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier in 2013. He’s sure to be an upgrade from Harris, who isn’t participating with the team this spring due to suspension.

The team has pass-catching weapons in Antonio Callaway (although he’s also suspended like Harris), Brandon Powell and TE DeAndre Goolsby. Meanwhile, the team has three early enrollees at receiver in Dre Massey, who has gotten tons of praise in spring, along with four-stars Freddie Swain and Joshua Hammond. The No. 2 WR for 2016 Tyrie Cleveland is coming to campus later on.

The team should have a nice stable of running backs with sophomores Jordan Scarlett and Jordan Cronkrite to go with the No. 2 JUCO RB recruit Mark Thompson.

The real question will be the offensive line, which gave up 3.2 sacks per game last season, eighth-worst in the FBS. The group was inexperienced last season, but four of the five starters from the Citrus Bowl against Michigan with the exception of center Trip Thurman are returning, and the depth is leaps and bounds better than it was a season ago. The Gators now have more than a dozen bodies as opposed to just six scholarship linemen in 2015.

GEORGIA

2015 stats: 185.1 passing ypg, 60.9 comp. pct., 14 TDs, 8 INTs
SEC rank: 10th
FBS rank: 104th

In terms of passing yards per game, the Bulldogs’ average of 185.1 was their lowest since 2006 (184.4), and before that you’d have to go back to 1990 (130.5) to find a lower average by the school. It’s safe to say Georgia will improve from that, especially considering star RB Nick Chubb will be back to full health to complement it as he looks to be ahead of schedule in his rehab.

The QB battle is in progress in the spring, but many suspect Jacob Eason will assume the starting role at some point in the season, if not Week 1 against North Carolina. The 6-foot-5, 211-pounder threw for 3,585 yards, 43 TDs and only 6 INTs in his senior season at Lake Stevens High School. He’s gotten a reputation for making smart decisions with the football, and the Bulldogs faithful is salivating.

Meanwhile, Greyson Lambert was average, not spectacular last season. Georgia has to replace three starters on the offensive line, including John Theus and Kolton Houston, but Kirby Smart hired maybe the country’s best offensive line coach in Sam Pittman. He worked wonders at Tennessee and Arkansas, and he still has plenty to work with up front to put out a solid product.

Georgia will need some playmakers to step up as Malcolm Mitchell, who easily led the team in receptions (58), receiving yards (865) and receiving TDs (5) last season is gone. New offensive coordinator Jim Chaney is expected to make tight ends a factor, and that means the No. 1 TE for 2016 Isaac Nauta and Jeb Blazevich should get a chance to make an impact. Terry Godwin, Reggie Davis and Isaiah McKenzie are the key returners at wideout as the group welcomes four stars Riley Ridley (early enrollee), Charlie Woerner and Javon Wims.

KENTUCKY

2015 stats: 209.3 passing ypg, 54.9 comp. pct., 10 TDs, 16 INTs
SEC rank: 6th
FBS rank: 79th

The Wildcats have way too much talent not to improve on last season’s production. While Kentucky may have finished sixth in the conference in passing yards per game (209.3), it wasn’t efficient through the air. UK was 12th in passer rating (108.3) and yards per attempt (6.3) while tying Vanderbilt for the most interceptions thrown (16).

First of all, the team brought in co-offensive coordinators with chemistry in Eddie Gran and Darin Hinshaw from Cincinnati. Under their guidance, the Bearcats averaged about 540 yards of total offense per game. Gran, who will be calling the plays, has plenty of experience coaching in the SEC, having done so at Ole Miss, Auburn and Tennessee. Gran also has experience working with head coach Mark Stoops, spending three seasons with him at Florida State.

It’s redshirt sophomore QB Drew Barker’s job to lose as the starter, and he has weapons all around him. The ‘Cats return their top four wideouts from last season in Garrett Johnson, Dorian Baker, Jeff Badet and Blake Bone, who are all entering their junior seasons. Also good news for the passing game, the team’s top three rushers are also back in Stanley “Boom” Williams, Jojo Kemp and Mikel Horton. This is actually where Gran — who has 14 years of experience coaching running backs — is expected to work his magic.

The offensive line also returns four of five starters with the exception of LT Jordan Swindle, but that group was one of only a handful of SEC teams that allowed 30 sacks, so they’ll need to improve there.

TENNESSEE

2015 stats: 198.6 passing ypg, 59.3 comp. pct., 17 TDs, 5 INTs
SEC rank: 9th
FBS rank: 92nd

This isn’t to say the Vols will unleash their full potential offensively by finding a way to make big plays in the passing game. However, Tennessee has a strong chance to at least slightly improve its passing game.

Losing LT Kyler Kerbyson, second-team All-SEC, is a concern, but the Vols’ nine returning starters on offense is tied with LSU and Kentucky for the most in the league. That includes wideouts Josh Malone, Josh Smith and Jauan Jennings along with TEs Ethan Wolf and Jason Croom, who just moved to tight end. Plus, speedy sophomore Preston Williams is getting lots of attention this spring as a player that can take the top off a defense. The team sorely needs that as Auburn, Missouri and Vanderbilt were the only schools with fewer 20-yard completions than the Vols (36). Redshirt freshman Vincent Perry also returns after missing all of last season due to a knee injury.

Assuming those options are viable and Dobbs improves his downfield accuracy and ability to read defenses just a little, one has to figure the pieces are in place for an improvement. That’s also taking into account that the Vols have one of the best running back tandems in the SEC with Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara, who should also get involved out of the backfield. Kamara had 34 catches for 291 yards (8.6 yards per reception) with 3 TDs in 2015.