SEC - The Next Decade

From ESPN writer mark Schlabach.

Some of these SEC related prognostications are interesting.

Enjoy.

What Does the Next Decade Hold?

By Mark Schlabach

ESPN.com

The SEC will win at least four more national championshipsThe past decade ended with SEC teams winning four consecutive BCS national championships. Alabama will repeat as national champions in 2010 and will win at least one more title under Nick Saban, who will eventually become the sport's first $6 million coach. Florida's Urban Meyer will win at least one more national title before retiring, and current Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will guide LSU back to the promised land near the end of the decade.

Michigan will become relevant againThe Wolverines will return to national prominence -- under current LSU coach Les Miles or Stanford coach (and UM alumnus) Jim Harbaugh. The Wolverines will stick with coach Rich Rodriguez for a couple of more seasons, before eventually pulling the plug on what has been a bad marriage. Rodriguez will return to his native West Virginia, where he'll unsuccessfully run for public office.

Famous names will dot the landscape

You might feel old when hearing the names of potential future stars: Collinsworth, Favre, Gretzky and Montana. A new generation of players with famous fathers and relatives stand to become the stars of tomorrow.

Nick Montana, son of Joe, might be Washington's quarterback of the future. Austin Collinsworth, son of Chris, is a defensive back headed to Notre Dame. Dylan Favre, nephew of Brett, is a record-setting quarterback headed to Mississippi State.

A Bowden will return to the sideline

For the first time in four decades, the 2010 season will start without a Bowden coaching at a major college program. Bobby Bowden was forced to retire after 34 seasons at Florida State, and Clemson fired his son, Tommy, midway through the '09 season.

But major college football won't be without a Bowden on the sideline for long. Tommy will return to coaching before the 2011 season, and brother Terry will land a midlevel FBS job after leading Division II North Alabama to a national championship next season.