Questions for each SEC team in spring: Alabama’s defense, Texas and Oklahoma debuts among storylines to follow

The 2024 season is a crucial one for college football. Following the latest wave of realignment, every power conference will have a new lineup. The College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams for the first time in its relatively brief history, opening the door for schools that have been routinely excluded in the past. And, of all the leagues at the FBS level, the SEC may stand to benefit the most from all these changes. 

The SEC is poised to have multiple teams compete for a spot in that expanded playoff format. Though the league isn’t welcoming as many newcomers as other power conferences, its two additions — Oklahoma and Texas — boast elite brand recognition and on-field success. 

But postseason pursuit starts with spring practice. All 16 teams in the new-look SEC have taken the field at this point, giving coaches a glimpse at what their 2024 squads will look like. In Missouri’s case, spring practice is already in the rearview mirror. 

With so much change, each team has at least one burning question to iron out before the first practice period of the year culminates in televised spring games. Prominent programs like Alabama are breaking in a new coach for the first time in almost 20 years, while others are replacing assistants and overhauling position groups after natural attrition and transfer portal losses. 

With that in mind, here’s one question every SEC team — except Missouri, which has already completed its spring sessions — must address as spring practice unfolds. 

Alabama 

What does the defense look like? Defense was a hallmark for former Alabama coach Nick Saban. No matter what else was happening, the Crimson Tide could hang their hat on production from that side of the ball during the legendary leader’s 17-year career. Though Alabama went through plenty of defensive coordinators during that span, the defense itself maintained the same identity with Saban engineering things from the top and molding the system to his philosophy. 

But a new era is underway in Tuscaloosa. Former Washington boss Kalen DeBoer is stepping in and bringing defensive coordinator Kane Wommack — former coach at South Alabama — with him. Wommack is adamant that his 3-4 nickel defense isn’t a grand departure from what Saban ran at Alabama, but both DeBoer and Wommack are certain to introduce some new wrinkles as the team takes on their image. 

There’s certainly a…