As part of its SEC preview series, AL.com asked the SEC’s sports information directors to rank the conference teams 1-14. Predicted finishes in each division were previously published, and now we know how the top media staffers view the conference top to bottom.

Alabama Tennessee LSU Georgia Ole Miss Florida Auburn Arkansas Texas A&M Mississippi State Missouri South Carolina Kentucky Vanderbilt

It should come as no surprise to see the defending champions on top for 2016. The following summary is offered for why Alabama remains No. 1:

The king stays the king. After winning the SEC and a national championship last season, Alabama is again the pick to win the SEC this year. Alabama loses several of its top contributors from last season’s title team, including Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, but the future is bright in Tuscaloosa with the way Nick Saban has been recruiting.

Somewhat noteworthy of the list is an apparent bridging of the gap between the two divisions at the top. While the SEC West dominates the middle, and the SEC East rounds out the bottom four, Nos. 1-6 are split three and three, with the West seen as slightly better. If the prediction plays out on the field, then the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta will truly be between the conference’s top two teams.