The SEC has been much better than normal this year, with teams other than Kentucky and Florida stepping up to make it one of the most exciting years in recent memory.

To accomplish that, several players have turned in incredible seasons, which will make the race for the SEC Player of the Year much tighter.

There’s one clear front-runner, but that doesn’t mean the award is a foregone conclusion. In fact, as many as seven players have a legitimate claim for the award.

Here’s a look at who could win the award, along with who we think will actually take home the hardware:

Front-runner: Yante Maten, F, Georgia

The case for: Maten not only leads the SEC with 19.5 points per game, he’s also in third place with 8.7 rebounds per contest. He’s been a double-double machine this year, too, recording 12 so far, with two opportunities remaining.

Even though the Bulldogs aren’t at the top of the SEC standings, Maten has been nearly unstoppable. He’s been held under 10 points once in 28 games.

The case against: Georgia isn’t exactly dominating the SEC this year, despite Maten’s efforts.

Heading into Wednesday night’s game against Texas A&M, the Bulldogs are only 7-9 in SEC play and 16-12 overall. Considering the award has traditionally gone to players on better teams, Maten is at a disadvantage.

If the Dawgs end the year on a hot streak, he could get some more attention, but if they falter, Maten’s incredible season might fall by the wayside when award season comes around.

Also in the mix

Kevin Knox, F, Kentucky

Knox has been one of the best players in the league this year, and standing out on what are usually loaded Kentucky teams is hard to do.

The star freshman is averaging 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds and will be a likely lottery pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Kentucky has turned things around as of late too, and a strong finish will only help him with voters.

Collin Sexton, G, Alabama

No SEC freshman has made a bigger impact this season than Sexton, who is averaging 18.1 points per game, good for second in the conference.

Sexton is one of the most competitive players in the nation, and will be a high pick in this year’s NBA Draft. The Crimson Tide have struggled down the stretch though, so that will hurt Sexton’s chances of winning the Player of the Year award.

Bryce Brown, G, Auburn

Brown is the second-leading scorer on potentially the SEC champion, so he definitely deserves a spot on this list. The Tigers have struggled down the stretch as Brown has battled injuries, but he’s still played well overall. The Tigers need a win or Tennessee loss on Saturday to secure their first SEC title since 1999.

Guard play is important in the postseason, and the Tigers can go far in the NCAA Tournament if Brown and leading scorer Mustapha Heron can get hot at the right time.

Kassius Robertson, G, Mizzou

Michael Porter Jr. was the big name going into the year, but Robertson, a transfer from Canisius, has become the Tigers’ most valuable player.

Robertson has had to handle plenty of point guard duties despite not being a natural at the position, but he’s managed to thrive, averaging 16.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists.

Jaylen Barford, G, Arkansas

Barford has taken a huge step forward for the Razorbacks this year, and is tied for second in the SEC in scoring with 18.1 points per game.

The Hogs have ended the regular season with a bang, and if they have another great performance at Mizzou on Saturday, he could swing a lot of voters in his favor.

Verdict: Maten

It’s hard to look past what the senior forward has done for the Bulldogs this year. Sadly, coach Mark Fox hasn’t been able to put the level of talent around him necessary to take the Dawgs to the next level.

However, this is an individual award, and without a standout candidate on a better team, Maten makes the most sense to win this year’s top honor.