Is the SEC the Strongest Conference in College Football?

by Paul Grossinger
(Baltimore, MD )

Is it time to proclaim the SEC as the strongest conference in college football? While many analysts will declare this old news, especially considering that the SEC has won four of the last six national titles, I always felt this was premature. However, with injuries and upsets plaguing Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and USC again likely out of title contention after an embarrassing loss to Washington, perhaps it is time to officially crown the SEC.

From an analytical point of view, a lot has changed since last years� bowl games. At that point, the big story was Big 12 versus SEC with Pac 10 powerhouse USC and even Penn State also in the top five. Despite the fact that Florida was atop the rankings at the end of last season, it was followed by Oklahoma, Texas, USC, Penn State, and Texas Tech; with Alabama as the only other representative of the SEC in the BCS bowls. Indeed, while Florida won the title in dominant fashion, Alabama was embarrassed by mid-major Utah in the Sugar Bowl.

However, since that point, Oklahoma has been upset after the loss of several important starters including Heisman winner Sam Bradford and TE Jermaine Gresham, USC is out of the title chase after another loss to an unranked non-contender, Tech has fallen off the map with the loss of both QB Graham Harrell and WR Michael Crabtree, and, while it remains in the top 5 in this years� poll, Penn State looks quite ordinary. As such, with four of the top 7 teams-numbers one Florida, three Alabama, four Mississippi, and seven LSU, it appears that the SEC does indeed have a stranglehold on the rankings.

Barring an embarrassing loss for one of these teams a la USC or a slate of unpredictable and devastating injuries, it appears it will stay that way for the foreseeable future.

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Is the SEC the Strongest Conference in College Football?

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Sep 23, 2009
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Yea, but...
by: Mo

Thanks Paul, great article.

But... only problem is all these tough SEC teams play each other. Especially, Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU. So, they can't all roll through the season undefeated.

This is where the SEC is disadvantaged in the polls as arguably any of the top 4 SEC teams could win any other conference. Obviously, only one can win the SEC.

BUT, ultimate justice is achieved in Bowl season, when the "weaker" SEC teams BEAT UP on their "equivalent" opponents from other conferences.

This is why the SEC comes out on top more than any other conference come bowl time. Which is when it really counts.

Check out Top College Football Bowl Conference.

Sep 23, 2009
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Response to Mo
by: Anonymous

Yes thats true Mo but the pollsters, fallible though they may be, tend to take that into account. For instance, how many ranks will LSU actually lose in the polls if it loses to Alabama, Mississippi, or Florida and visa versa. If all these teams just lose to one another, which is very possible, they will dominate the BCS.
I actually think that the main issue with my theory is that the BCS only takes a certain amount of teams from each conference for BCS Bowl games but it strikes me as a bit early to deal with that.

Sep 23, 2009
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bcs only takes 2
by: mo

Good point, but, to answer your question, the BCS can only take a maximum of 2 teams from any one conference.

So, it's really unfair to SEC #3 and SEC #4 -- BUT, I guess it all evens out since, overall, the conference benefits greatly from getting tough competition during the season.

It's no accident that we've won 3 straight BCS Championships; 4 of the last 6; and 5-0 in BCS Championship Games -- beginning with Tennessee in '99.

It's all good.

mo

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Is the SEC the Strongest Conference in College Football?

Comments for Is the SEC the Strongest Conference in College Football?

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Is the SEC the Strongest Conference in College Football?