HOOVER, Ala. -- Alabama is once again the favorite to win the Southeastern Conference, while LSU, Tennessee, Mississippi and the rest of the league try to figure out a way to derail the Tide.The Crimson Tides title defense is one of several things to watch next season that was discussed during SEC media days, along with Tennessees resurgence as the favorite in the leagues Eastern Division.Three new coaches were introduced at the meetings that ended Thursday -- South Carolinas Will Muschamp, Missouris Barry Odom and Georgias Kirby Smart -- while LSU running back Leonard Fournette, Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly and Tennessee signal-caller Joshua Dobbs were among the most sought-after player interviews.There was also the notable absence of veteran SEC coaches Steve Spurrier and Mark Richt.Spurrier -- known as much for his quick one-liners as his success on the field -- retired last season after 23 years in the league with Florida and most recently South Carolina. Richt was fired by Georgia after 15 seasons in November and is now at Miami.Heres a little more of what was discussed during SEC media days and what to look for next season:TENNESSEE ON THE RISE: Tennessee was voted by the leagues media as the overwhelming favorite to win the SECs Eastern Division. That might seem surprising since the Volunteers havent won their division since 2007, but they have amassed a lot of talent in Knoxville over the past few years. It also helps that the East is full of uncertainty with three new coaches at South Carolina, Georgia and Missouri.Said coach Butch Jones: Thats why you play, is to be in a program like the University of Tennessee where everybody is talking about you. Thats what you work for. Now its what you do with that opportunity.MISSOURIS CHALLENGES: Odom, Missouris first-year coach, stepped to the podium at SEC media days less than 24 hours after finding out that the man who hired him was no longer with the school. Mack Rhoades resigned as Missouris athletic director on Wednesday to take the same job at Baylor. Odom is under contract for five seasons with an annual salary of $2.35 million, but it is more uncertainty next season for a school thats been the site of constant strife.LAW & ORDER: Several Auburn and Alabama players arent expected to miss playing time next season despite their legal problems during the offseason. Tide coach Nick Saban said left tackle Cam Robinson and reserve defensive back Hootie Jones are doing community service and police ride-alongs after a drug and weapons arrest. The charges were eventually dropped.Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said four of his players who were arrested on misdemeanor drug charges, including defensive end Byron Cowart and starting cornerback Carlton Davis, wont miss any time either.OLE MISS INVESTIGATION: The Ole Miss football program has been under NCAA investigation for the better part of four years and the case looks like it could drag into 2017. Coach Hugh Freeze was peppered with NCAA questions during SEC media days, but couldnt provide many answers because the investigation is ongoing. The school has already self-imposed some penalties, including scholarship reductions and three years of probation.Freeze defended his program: I have zero interest in cutting corners to be successful, and our staff knows that very well. I have a lot of things that Im not very good at, but that is not a temptation.BIELEMA CHARM: The evolution of Arkansas Bret Bielema from angry new coach to one of the SECs class clowns has been interesting to watch. Bielema drew several laughs during his appearance on Wednesday thanks to self-depreciating humor and funny anecdotes. One likely reason the fourth-year coach is in a better mood: The Razorbacks are relevant again in the SEC Western Division. Arkansas finished with an 8-5 record in 2015, including a 5-3 mark in the league.Said Bielema: At Arkansas, were not built very sexy, were just kind of a work in progress. We need a lot of time in the bathroom to get ready and come out and look great.---Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP---AP College Football Website: www.collegefootball.ap.orgAuthentic Custom Mariners Jersey . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. Wholesale Custom Mariners Shirts . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. http://www.custommarinersjersey.com/ . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Cheap Custom Mariners Jersey . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. Custom Mariners Jersey China . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. DALLAS -- Fans chanted S-M-U when the Mustangs, three-touchdown underdogs against No. 11 Houston, took a lead that big in the first half.They were chanting again in the final moments of a 38-16 victory Saturday, one of the biggest for a program thats been mostly moribund in three decades since getting shut down by crippling sanctions under the NCAAs so-called death penalty.It means everything, said redshirt freshman quarterback Ben Hicks, who threw for three touchdowns and ran for another score. We just needed one. Weve been saying it all along. Now we got that one, and now we have to flip the script and get ready for Tulane.But let coach Chad Morris and his gang enjoy this one for maybe a day at least. Morris, a Dallas native, took the job after the program collapsed following several promising seasons under June Jones.The laid-back former NFL coach took the Mustangs to their first bowl game since the programs shutdown -- and they went to four in a row.But a losing season in 2013 was followed by an embarrassing start in 2014, and Jones abruptly quit two games into the season. With a season-ending win at Connecticut in 2014, SMU avoided a second winless season since 2003. It was the seventh one-win campaign, though, since 1990.Morris debut last season was as rough as Jones in 2008, but the Mustangs showed promise early this year by staying with high-scoring Texas teams Baylor and TCU before fading in the second half of both games.There was no fade against the Cougarrs in SMUs fourth win in 20 tries against Houston since returning from the death penalty.dddddddddddd The first game was a 95-21 loss.The last time the Mustangs (3-4, 1-2 American) beat a team ranked 11th or higher, they were No. 4 and finishing off a near-perfect 1982 season (11-0-1) with a 7-3 victory over sixth-ranked Pittsburgh in the Cotton Bowl. SMU tied No. 7 Texas A&M in 1994.After the game, to see our student body and our former players and some of the alumni out there, I dont know how long I stayed out there taking pictures with them, Morris said. But the `Thank yous. `Coach, we thank you. Weve been waiting on something like this, to give us life back in this program. They were so close a few years ago and it went down from there.The Mustangs lost senior quarterback Matt Davis to a season-ending knee injury, and Hicks threw nine interceptions in his first four starts. Now he has 486 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions the past two games. The first game was a 43-40 overtime loss to Tulsa two weeks ago.When we came off the field against Tulsa that was as hurt of a locker room as Ive ever been part of, Morris said. For two weeks weve had to respond. And I shared with them that if we could all respond the right way, great things were coming.Great things came quickly.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '