Let me be the first to say that I agree with many of Seeen's points about why SEC Football isn't all that. But being an SECer, I feel obligated to stand up for my conference. I want to start by noting that Mizzou still doesn't really feel like an SEC school, so I may be the least biased of any SEC student. This is only our fourth season since joining the SEC and we are still in that transition period. Mizzou isn't all that Southern (despite the racial problems plaguing the campus) and the most popular bar in town is still known by students as Big 12 (it changed it's name to Campus Bar shortly after the switch, which is probably the lamest name for a bar ever). That means that while we're an SEC school, we really aren't a true SEC school.
One of the biggest problems everyone has with the SEC is why the hell Bama is always at the top of the rankings. I know they got embarrassed by Ole Miss, which they really won because of two really lucky big plays. But since then, they've been on an absolute tear. Bama (#13 at this point) absolutely killed #8 Georgia in Athens and made them look silly. They held #2 LSU's Leonard Fournette, who up until that game had been the talk of college football for being the greatest player since Bo Jackson, to 31 yards on 19 carries! This is the same guy who came into the game with nine consecutive games with at least 140 yards, dating back to last year. The fact that these teams aren't ranked now is completely irrelevant. Those were two wins over teams ranked higher than them. I might go as far as saying they're playing like the best team in the nation right now. Derrick Henry looks like no one can stop him. It may look like a one-man offense, but if I'm an OC and my running back can go for 270 yards in a game, he's getting the ball until someone stops him. Their D has really stepped up lately too. FiveThirtyEight's model has Bama at 1, and so does Football Power Index. Of the four teams in the current CFP projections, Bama is the one I would least want to play right now.
I also don't understand the scrutiny that the SEC gets. It's not like the conference just calls for everyone's attention. You can thank ESPN for the constant SEC talk. I mean, just look at Skip Bayless from last year. It's idiots like him that give the SEC our attention and a bad reputation.
I also don't understand the scrutiny that the SEC gets. It's not like the conference just calls for everyone's attention. You can thank ESPN for the constant SEC talk. I mean, just look at Skip Bayless from last year. It's idiots like him that give the SEC our attention and a bad reputation.
I would also argue that the coaching in the SEC is the most high profile and desirable jobs in college football. Everyone HATES Nick Saban, but you couldn't say you wouldn't embrace him to coach your team with open arms. Seeen, would you rather have Mark Helfrich or Saban to coach your Ducks? A coach who's still making a name for himself, or the best current college football coach? Moreover, because of the prestige of an SEC Head Coach, they are on the hottest seats in all of football, NFL or college. Just look at Mark Richt at Georgia. He just got fired after a 9-3 season and a 145-51 record in fifteen seasons. He may not have been able to win the big games, but if any other coach in the nation outside the SEC has that kind of record, there's no shot he gets fired. Les Miles has an even better record as the LSU coach and he was on the verge of being fired.
Finally, the talent in the SEC is far superior compared to other conferences. Just look at this graphic on the breakdown of NFL Draft Picks by conference between 1999 and 2013.
Finally, the talent in the SEC is far superior compared to other conferences. Just look at this graphic on the breakdown of NFL Draft Picks by conference between 1999 and 2013.
The SEC just breeds NFL talent, and that's something that can't be argued. The SEC led again in 2014 (49) and 2015 (54).
Yes, the out-of-conference scheduling might be weak, but a new rule are being implemented next year to where teams must play one Power 5 team each season. I know that's not much better, but its a step in the right direction. Yes, they are always overrepresented in the polls, but that goes along with the bias by ESPN. Despite all the criticisms, there's something many forget: no other conference has won seven straight National Championships (or even come close to that) like the SEC did starting in 2006.
But hey, keep the hate coming. Oh, and don't get me started on college baseball conferences.
By: Gunshow
PS - Seeen, right now I would give the edge to the B1G over the Pac 12. Three teams in the top six to zero, and not to mention what happened last January.
Yes, the out-of-conference scheduling might be weak, but a new rule are being implemented next year to where teams must play one Power 5 team each season. I know that's not much better, but its a step in the right direction. Yes, they are always overrepresented in the polls, but that goes along with the bias by ESPN. Despite all the criticisms, there's something many forget: no other conference has won seven straight National Championships (or even come close to that) like the SEC did starting in 2006.
But hey, keep the hate coming. Oh, and don't get me started on college baseball conferences.
By: Gunshow
PS - Seeen, right now I would give the edge to the B1G over the Pac 12. Three teams in the top six to zero, and not to mention what happened last January.