College Football Debate

[Dirtybird#11]

Is the SEC fading down to match the other conferences around the country on the field?

By this I mean is the SEC dominance fading away or is the rest of college football catching up. I mean we've seen 2 teams FSU an OSU win the national championship for the past 2 seasons, and without a true alpha male coming outta the SEC it seems like someone else will win it again.

So let's debate is the SEC fading out of their dominance?

[Dirtybird#11]

Me personally I think it really and truly is. I mean now you got teams like FSU,Clemson,OSU,Michigan,Notre Dame,etc. Making their teams more stacked with great talent and solid coaching. I mean how long will it be before we see teams that are overlooked bridging the gap also? Like Boise State,Marshall,Air Force,BYU,Utah,etc. I mean I figure the SEC couldn't be golden forever, but it's just took such an interesting turn. I mean the SEC in my eyes, Id like to note Imma Clemson fan, has gotten pre-hand advantages over other college teams that are non-SEC because they have to "run through the gauntlet" but are they really?

[Porter Osborne Jr]

What the heck has Michigan and MD done lately to be mentioned with the others? Harbaugh was a great hire but he hasn't done squat there yet.

[Dirtybird#11]

What the heck has Michigan and MD done lately to be mentioned with the others? Harbaugh was a great hire but he hasn't done squat there yet.

ND swapped to the ACC so they'll get better recruits while Michigan will shortly be going more prolific which should result in more wins.

[Porter Osborne Jr]

ND swapped to the ACC so they'll get better recruits while Michigan will shortly be going more prolific which should result in more wins.

But they have yet to pass UGA. When they do you can put them into the discussion about passing us.

[Dirtybird#11]

But they have yet to pass UGA. When they do you can put them into the discussion about passing us.

It's not about passing UGA it's a matter of catching up with the SEC as a whole and if you ask me if both of those teams are in the SEC East they would both finish in 2nd through 4th IMO..... Now am I calling them elite? No I'm not. Im just saying in a few years they'll have finally bridged the gap between what they where (an average 7-5 team) to becoming constant threats inside the top 25 of college football.

[JayOzOne]

Everything goes in cycles, so it's almost time for another conference to become as good as or better than the SEC. With that being said, the SEC has been top heavy for a couple of years and I think that Bama has come back toward the pack at the same time that the (sorry to say it, y'all...) second level SEC squads have moved up to catch them.

At the same time, Jimbo and Urban have clearly learned the SEC blueprint and are set to dominate for years. But with that said, I don't see anyone else in the ACC or B1G giving FSU or OSU competition for at least two years. So, from a conference standpoint, I think the SEC still is on top, but the best teams of the ACC and B1G might be better than the best teams of the SEC right now. That might be true for the Big 12 and Pac 12 soon, although I don't see the opportunity for continued dominance in those conferences for a while.

[Porter Osborne Jr]

It's not about passing UGA it's a matter of catching up with the SEC as a whole and if you ask me if both of those teams are in the SEC East they would both finish in 2nd through 4th IMO..... Now am I calling them elite? No I'm not. Im just saying in a few years they'll have finally bridged the gap between what they where (an average 7-5 team) to becoming constant threats inside the top 25 of college football.

My bad on bringing UGA into this. Must have been a brain fart.

I can see those teams closing the gap. I still see the SEC as the best conference but others are closing the gap, mainly the Pac imo. The Big 10 is still only two teams but I can see PSU and Michigan making things interesting. I'm still not sold on ND even in the ACC.

[Dirtybird#11]

My bad on bringing UGA into this. Must have been a brain fart.

I can see those teams closing the gap. I still see the SEC as the best conference but others are closing the gap, mainly the Pac imo. The Big 10 is still only two teams but I can see PSU and Michigan making things interesting. I'm still not sold on ND even in the ACC.

If you ask me every power 5 conference has 5 teams that could be over .500 or better if they where in the SEC.

The PAC12 has got Oregon,Stanford,UCLA,Arizona,an Arizona State you could also make an argument for Utah also.

The BIG12 has got Baylor,TCU,Oklahoma,Kansas State,and a toss up between Texas and Oklahoma State

The BIG10 has got Ohio State,Michigan State,Wisconsin,Nebraska,and yet another toss up between Michigan,Minnesota,and Iowa

The ACC has got Clemson,FSU,Louisville,Notre Dame,Georgia Tech, and Miami. Plus a argument could be made for NC State,Boston College,and Duke.

Then you got the teams who are just out there but still play solid football like Boise State,Air Force,BYU,Marshall,etc. Who we don't know what they offer cause they'll never put them into the big games with these power 5 big shot teams.

[ohiodawg8]

Had this debate with an Ohio fan last night...it seems like those teams are recruiting players more like the way it's done in the SEC, prioritizing speed and athleticism more so than shear size and power. The top teams in other conferences also get the majority of the top players in their respective regions and then pull quality athletes out of the south. In the SEC the quality of high school talent is so deep that every team has NFL talent in their own back yard. Our conference is so deep top to bottom that it can become harder for the top teams to truley separate from the pack year in and year out like they can in other conferences in my opinion. So the top teams from other conferences have SEC level talent and coaching with easier schedules. Im not shocked if they win a few here and there, they should.

[Porter Osborne Jr]

If you ask me every power 5 conference has 5 teams that could be over .500 or better if they where in the SEC.

The PAC12 has got Oregon,Stanford,UCLA,Arizona,an Arizona State you could also make an argument for Utah also.

The BIG12 has got Baylor,TCU,Oklahoma,Kansas State,and a toss up between Texas and Oklahoma State

The BIG10 has got Ohio State,Michigan State,Wisconsin,Nebraska,and yet another toss up between Michigan,Minnesota,and Iowa

The ACC has got Clemson,FSU,Louisville,Notre Dame,Georgia Tech, and Miami. Plus a argument could be made for NC State,Boston College,and Duke.

Then you got the teams who are just out there but still play solid football like Boise State,Air Force,BYU,Marshall,etc. Who we don't know what they offer cause they'll never put them into the big games with these power 5 big shot teams.

Are you saying they would be .500 most years?

[GAbred]

If dominance is judged on championships then there is no question the conference is fading. Probably never have a run like there was for 8 years again. Even during the stretch of dominance I believe there were teams out there that could have won it all certain years that weren't in the SEC but didn't get the opportunity to prove it on the field.

As far as talent and depth goes the conference is still the best. The NFL draft always has a heavy dose of SEC players. So to play against the best and prepare for the next level, it seems that would be a good place to play football.

In the coming years this will be settled on the field as the SEC plays more power 5 games. In season contests are the best judge to me, rather than bowl games where motivation is questionable.

[Dirtybird#11]

Are you saying they would be .500 most years?

Yes. Now of course there is a few teams in there that'll slip up every now an then like Minnesota,Nebraska,Oklahoma State,etc. But for the most part I think they could compete at a solid level.

[Dirtybird#11]

Had this debate with an Ohio fan last night...it seems like those teams are recruiting players more like the way it's done in the SEC, prioritizing speed and athleticism more so than shear size and power. The top teams in other conferences also get the majority of the top players in their respective regions and then pull quality athletes out of the south. In the SEC the quality of high school talent is so deep that every team has NFL talent in their own back yard. Our conference is so deep top to bottom that it can become harder for the top teams to truley separate from the pack year in and year out like they can in other conferences in my opinion. So the top teams from other conferences have SEC level talent and coaching with easier schedules. Im not shocked if they win a few here and there, they should.

The thing is tho in the past few season if you look at strength of schedule not many SEC teams where in the top 5. Teams like ND,Stanford,USC,Virginia Tech,etc. Have made it where their schedules are a little rougher than what they could've been and what they where back when the SEC was on its title reign. The only team that comes to mind last season that had it rough an was ranked in the top 5 in the SEC was the Vols.

[Porter Osborne Jr]

I just have a hard time believing Minnesota, Nebraska, Arizona, Arizona State and some others can be at .500 most years.

How many SEC teams do you feel would be .500 in the other conferences?

[JayOzOne]

Without casting doubts about the SEC as the top conference (it is, by far), it should be noted that Texas A&M and Mizzou have been in the thick of things in the ACC since they joined. Even though both programs had long proud histories in the Big 12 (and Big 8 and SWC), neither was perceived to be a powerhouse or a major loss when they departed. I'd be willing to bet most thought that they would be doormats in the SEC, at least for the first five years or so.

[SacFalcFan]

The thing is tho in the past few season if you look at strength of schedule not many SEC teams where in the top 5. Teams like ND,Stanford,USC,Virginia Tech,etc. Have made it where their schedules are a little rougher than what they could've been and what they where back when the SEC was on its title reign. The only team that comes to mind last season that had it rough an was ranked in the top 5 in the SEC was the Vols.

in the preseason the SOS had 3 SEC teams in the top 5 heading into 2014 with i believe 7 sec teams in the top 19 in SOS. at the end of the season I have used Sagarin's list which is a very good list and with his list 2 of the top 5 SOS were from the SEC (Alabama and Georgia) while 5 of the top 10 were SEC schools. the second best conference is the pac-12 which tied the SEC in having 4 teams with 10 wins or more this past year. there really isn't much to debate even the biggest SEC hater will admit the best conference is the SEC and they aren't falling back to the pack anytime soon. that's not to say there isn't a lot of talented teams outside the SEC because we know there is plenty. the pac-12 has separated itself where it's clear they are the 2nd best conference out there. btw are you that same clemson fan who created this same thread not even 5 months ago, but a different username?

[Dirtybird#11]

I just have a hard time believing Minnesota, Nebraska, Arizona, Arizona State and some others can be at .500 most years.

How many SEC teams do you feel would be .500 in the other conferences?

Depends.... Which conference. IMO if I was ranking POWER 5 conferences it would look like this....

1.SEC

2.PAC12

3.ACC

4.BIG12

5.BIG10

But some SEC teams would struggle. I mean we've seen what TAMU and Mizzou can do in a different conference cause they where in the BIG12 some odd years ago.... But the thing is they never won anything noteworthy in the BIG12. But in all honesty I think the only 2 teams that could run any other conference on a consistent basis is BAMA and LSU. But I mean LSU aside from the 1 year they went to the BCS title has been a 9-3 to 8-4 team..... Id also like to note I didn't say 1 SEC East team could be as "dominant".... Cause they showed us exactly what they could do on the last week of the season when they where swept 4-0....

[Dirtybird#11]

in the preseason the SOS had 3 SEC teams in the top 5 heading into 2014 with i believe 7 sec teams in the top 19 in SOS. at the end of the season I have used Sagarin's list which is a very good list and with his list 2 of the top 5 SOS were from the SEC (Alabama and Georgia) while 5 of the top 10 were SEC schools. the second best conference is the pac-12 which tied the SEC in having 4 teams with 10 wins or more this past year. there really isn't much to debate even the biggest SEC hater will admit the best conference is the SEC and they aren't falling back to the pack anytime soon. that's not to say there isn't a lot of talented teams outside the SEC because we know there is plenty. the pac-12 has separated itself where it's clear they are the 2nd best conference out there. btw are you that same clemson fan who created this same thread not even 5 months ago, but a different username?

I based mine off a SEC magazine I get yearly. (Great reading for preseason CFB btw) An their top 5 was..

1.Stanford

2.Tennessee

3.Notre Dame

4.West Virginia

5.Arkansas

An this is DB#11! I'm just here for opinions/debate. Not to stir the pot.

[SacFalcFan]

I based mine off a SEC magazine I get yearly. (Great reading for preseason CFB btw) An their top 5 was..

1.Stanford

2.Tennessee

3.Notre Dame

4.West Virginia

5.Arkansas

An this is DB#11!

yeah you need better information than that. the NCAA way of determining SOS is taking the year's before records. the reality is preseason SOS isn't worth anything. you have no idea how teams will be during the year. the only SOS that are worth anything are after the season and Sagarin does a very good one. so you need to use that and I already broke that down in the post above showing how strong the SEC schedules were. so using the actually real SOS for the season in that top 5 you posted only 1 (arkansas) was top 10 and only 1 (stanford) was top 20. i only read preseason mags to keep myself from going stir crazy til the season starts. it's just good for a fun read of other teams. ah figured that it was you.

[Dirtybird#11]

yeah you need better information than that. the NCAA way of determining SOS is taking the year's before records. the reality is preseason SOS isn't worth anything. you have no idea how teams will be during the year. the only SOS that are worth anything are after the season and Sagarin does a very good one. so you need to use that and I already broke that down in the post above showing how strong the SEC schedules were. so using the actually real SOS for the season in that top 5 you posted only 1 (arkansas) was top 10 and only 1 (stanford) was top 20. i only read preseason mags to keep myself from going stir crazy til the season starts. it's just good for a fun read of other teams. ah figured that it was you.

I see your point, but isn't it a little crazy how the so-called whipping boys of the SEC are really challenging theirselves while teams like LSU and Bama are just sorta meh at the moment. I mean if you ask me Tennessee,Arkansas,and Kentucky deserve a prize for really running the gauntlet all the while getting above or at .500

[Pollack4Heisman]

Id also like to note I didn't say 1 SEC East team could be as "dominant".... Cause they showed us exactly what they could do on the last week of the season when they where swept 4-0....

They also showed a 5-0 record in the bowl games as well so what's your point. End of the day, college football is a stepping stone to the NFL and the SEC has Been pretty successfully at putting guys in the league. Debates like these are always utterly useless because every Tom, ****, and Harry has an opinion and they all believe their right. If you want to think that teams like ND and Michigan can roll through the SEC, then more power to you.

[Dirtybird#11]

They also showed a 5-0 record in the bowl games as well so what's your point. End of the day, college football is a stepping stone to the NFL and the SEC has Been pretty successfully at putting guys in the league. Debates like these are always utterly useless because every Tom, ****, and Harry has an opinion and they all believe their right. If you want to think that teams like ND and Michigan can roll through the SEC, then more power to you.

I'm just saying these players are slowly starting to get to other conferences. Don't believe me? The past 3 drafts the SEC's number of selected players in the 1st round has went down.

2015-Dante Fowler,Todd Gurley,Bud Dupree,Cedric Ogbeuhi,Amari Cooper,Shane Ray,and DJ Humphries=7

2014-Jake Matthews,ODB,Mike Evans,Jadeveon Clowney,Greg Robinson,Dee Ford,CJ Mosely,Juwan James,Ha Ha Clinton Dix,Johnny Manziel,Dominique Easley=11

2013-Luke Joeckel,Dee Milliner,DJ Fluker,Chance Warmack,Sheldon Richardson,Jarvis Jones,Eric Reid,Shariff Flyod,Coradelle Patterson,Alec Ogletree,Matt Elam,Barkevious Mingo=12

And I'm not saying teams like ND or Michigan could steam roll the SEC I'm saying they could compete.

[SacFalcFan]

the SEC lead all conferences in the 2015 nfl draft with 54 draft choices.. this was up from the 2014 draft where they had 49 draft picks. next..

[Dirtybird#11]

the SEC lead all conferences in the 2015 nfl draft with 54 draft choices.. this was up from the 2014 draft where they had 49 draft picks. next..

Chances are some of those late rounders won't pan out. Can you give us a number from rounds 3 an up?