College Football - Best conference

[ettsn]

The SEC is clearly head and shoulders above the rest in college football. Yes, Michigan, Ohio State and USC are tough, but as a conference there's no challenge. Meyer might have whined his way into the NC game, but they did win it all because of it, didn't they? And don't be so quick to discount Alabama from the West. It was only 15y ago that they won the NC (1992), and they are always in the hunt. Auburn is attracting a lot of talent right now, as is UGA. Florida was no fluke, and they will be great again this year. None of this is easy for me to say, either (I'm a Vols and Seminoles fan - based on where my parents and siblings went) but it's true. Polls? Give me a break. Many of the top schools of journalism are in the midwest. Those writers look for any reason in the world to drop an SEC school, while letting Big10 and Notre Dame creep their way up. Imagine Michigan having a schedule with not only Ohio State, but Tenn, UGA, Florida and LSU. How many undefeated seasons would you count on?

And speaking of Ohio State, which sport is Florida going to own you guys in next?

[dmz]

I voted for the Big Ten. Now, I know all the good-ole-boys down there in the South will probably take offense to that, but it was a tough decision for me to make. The SEC is the most competitive conference in my mind there is no doubt. I think that you do have to take into account the fact that Big Ten Teams do have a long lay-off before the bowl games. I think you do have to take into account the fact that when USC plays in the Rose Bowl, they're basically playing a home game (they stay at home, practice at home, and know the terrain). I agree with a comment made earlier: I'd love to see a warm weather school play Up North in October or November (Remember what nearly happened to USC's streak when they played in South Bend a couple of years ago--didn't go so well, except for the illegal "Bush Push," or what Michigan did to Vanderbilt just last season--upset team...hah!!!). I don't think they'd quite know what to do with themselves.

Ultimately this is pure speculation, which teams would do better where, but as my old baseball coach used to say "if it was decided beforehand, then there's no reason to play the game. Any team, any team, on any day can be better than the team across the field from them."

And for the folks knocking Penn State and JoePa out there, let's not forget what they did to the SEC's Tennessee, or what Wisconsin did to Arkansas...oh no they didn't play OSU. So let's see by my count so that's Big Ten 2 and SEC 1 in straight head to head competition in last year's bowl games.

[atlien31]

I'm a Notre Dame fan but live in the south and have to say that the SEC is the toughest conf. Week in and out these teams beat each other up. That is one reason why people not in the south say it is not the best. Any team can win any Saturday and the experience on gameday in SEC towns cannot be matched anywhere.

[Razor]

I'm a Big 12 guy but the SEC is tougher week in week out.

[beisenhauer]

I'm a Big1T1en alum (Purdue), and I voted for the SEC.

That said, the Big Ten has a history of shooting itself in the foot when it comes to football. I can recall at least three occasions in which undefeated teams with national championship aspirations lost a game late in the season to a team in the middle or bottom of the conference standings. (Michigan in '96, Michigan State in '99, both to Purdue, and Penn State in '99 to Minnesota.) In 2002, on its way to a national championship, Ohio State needed a hail mary touchdown on fourth-and-forever inside the last minute of the game to get past Purdue. I'm sure there are many other examples.

In the Big Ten, you have to be on your game every single week if you want a shot at the national championship. If you look past somebody, they could very well bite you. I'm not sure any other conference, even the SEC, has that kind of week in, week out pressure.

[Heat]

I'm a Michigan wolverines fan along with VT. I'm Canadian so I have no lines drawn in blood. My bro's an ohio state fan

[dmz]

Big Ten vs. SEC

2-1 record against SEC teams in bowl games last season
8-6 record against SEC teams in bowl games the last five years
15 BCS berths to the SEC's 13
5 Heisman Trophy winners in the past 15 years, compared to the SEC's one

but apparently cold hard facts just don't hold sway against the talking heads at ESPN. there's also a question of academic standards, the Big Ten has some of the toughest academic standards for athletes outside the ivy league.

[ettsn]

0-1 Record against Appalachian State this year.

[Brandonink2001]

One Ohio State fan voting for SEC. . . THIS YEAR.

[Guest]

Yeah, apparently cold hard facts just don't hold sway with some people.

So here are some in re: The SEC

The SEC has won 72.4% of it's non-conference games in it's history. #1 in the nation.

The SEC has won at least 60% of its non-conference games every year since 1982. Also #1 in the nation.

The SEC has 180 bowl wins in it's history. You guessed it, #1 in the nation.

The SEC sent nine teams to bowl games last year, including two to the BCS, resulting in six wins — the most bowl victories in conference history. Florida’s win over Ohio State in the national championship game was the third championship for the SEC since the inception of the BCS in 1998, and the SEC’s fifth national championship in 15 years, sixth in 20 years, best among all Division 1-A conferences.

[ChiChiIsMe]

Yeah, apparently cold hard facts just don't hold sway with some people.

Don't forget the SEC is also #1 at being put on probation.........

[Lost Ball]

Lost Ball can not understand why someone could vote for the Big 10

[CurtisBen]

I am a Mississippi State fan we suck I am well aware of that fact. So please no your team sucks and you can't have an opinion. How on earth could anyone not vote for the SEC I mean come on yea historically the Big Ten is good but really does it matter now what you did in the early 1900's. News flash the SEC is the best now.

[allin]

The truth is that this is one of those things that statistic are really not compelling. Just as different teams are best year to year within a conference, different conferences are best year to year. Since commonality of schedues, bowl match ups etc are not arranged to match teams in a weighted manner, validity of these statistics is marginal at best. Often one or two teams in a conference can distort the picture. How many national championships has the lower half of the SEC won? The big 8/12 was probably the best in the nation during two time periods, 1967-1975, and 1990-1995. The Big ten and Pac 8/10 both had periods of dominance as well. I would argure that the Big 12 is possibly entering one of those periods again. There are probably only 2 really bad teams and 2 average teams in the conference next year, The other eight are all very good and 2-3 could challenge for a national title. Pac could have a really big year also, big ten looks a little down and SEC could have up to 3 really good teams, the rest of the league will be average at best.