Creed
New member
I think everyone agrees the SEC is the top conference. So can the Big 10 be up to the same level as the SEC and separate themselves from the Big 12, PAC 12 and ACC?
First, let me say the addition of Nebraska helps a ton. The Big 10 is barely below .500 against the SEC in the BCS era which not many conferences can say that. By adding a quality program like Nebraska helps tremendously with conference depth which will aid in bowl alignments. Also with Nebraska another team that has potential to win a NC, which only OSU has been in the discussion in recent years.
I think the bigger question is, what advantages does the SEC have and can the Big 10 overcome those advantages?
1. Recruiting - SEC is in one of the best recruiting areas (along with Tx and Cali) in the US and will get 90% of the top recruits in the SE. The Big 10 will land 1 or 2 Florida, LA, GA, SC kids but none have been differences makers like a Cam Newton or Patrick Peterson.
2. Playing by the Rules - In the SEC the motto is: "If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying". I know the OSU, USC and now Oregon are under the gun now but from what I hear from SEC fans is that they don't care and it's just a part of the game. I think at least one SEC team has benn on probation for the last 25 years.
3. Academics - It is no secret the SEC has the most lax admission policies and "special qualifiers" than other conferences. Also, look at the JC transfers the SEC gets like Cam Newton, Nick Farley, etc. Kids that could not make it academically (even with SEC standards) go to a so-called college to improve their grades. Look at Duron Carter who flunked out of OSU then is openly accepted at Alabama since they have a strong need at WR. I know Jim Delaney got in trouble a couple years ago when asked about the lack of speed in the Big 10. His response was something like: "we are not going to sacrifice academics in order to recruit a certain type of athlete". I think you know what that is code for.
4. Over-signing - the topic of the last year. Houston Nutt signs 38 players and through various methods eventually the numbers work-out. Football is a game of numbers and the more players you are cycling through leads to advantages. Players don't live up to expectations and are "advised" to seek employment, I mean opportunities elsewhere. Player gets injured and is cut loose. Having other quality players waiting in the wings helps the SEC schools not lose a step.
5. Scheduling - yes, every SEC team plays a tough conference schedule but not playing any tough non-conference regular season games does not give the other conferences a chance to prove to the media and coaches that they are a quality team as well. If they do play a non-conference game, it is early in the season where weather has little effect. Look at the non-conference road games for the SEC in recent years: UGA at Colorado and Okie St. - both losses; Auburn at WVU - loss; UT at Cal, UCLA - both losses; LSU at a below avg Washington - close win.
6. Bowl Alignments - most are virtual home games for the SEC. Now there's not much that will change as there will be no bowls in Chicago or Cleveland. If there were a playoff and the first round was played at Ohio State or Nebraska in December I think the SEC would not be so dominate. There's no pitch and catch then use the speed when playing in December in the Midwest.
7. Coaches Salary - SEC's pays the best and are going to get the top coaches like Saban, Meyer, Miles, etc.
So what's is it going to take to catch up to the SEC? It is impossible?
First, let me say the addition of Nebraska helps a ton. The Big 10 is barely below .500 against the SEC in the BCS era which not many conferences can say that. By adding a quality program like Nebraska helps tremendously with conference depth which will aid in bowl alignments. Also with Nebraska another team that has potential to win a NC, which only OSU has been in the discussion in recent years.
I think the bigger question is, what advantages does the SEC have and can the Big 10 overcome those advantages?
1. Recruiting - SEC is in one of the best recruiting areas (along with Tx and Cali) in the US and will get 90% of the top recruits in the SE. The Big 10 will land 1 or 2 Florida, LA, GA, SC kids but none have been differences makers like a Cam Newton or Patrick Peterson.
2. Playing by the Rules - In the SEC the motto is: "If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying". I know the OSU, USC and now Oregon are under the gun now but from what I hear from SEC fans is that they don't care and it's just a part of the game. I think at least one SEC team has benn on probation for the last 25 years.
3. Academics - It is no secret the SEC has the most lax admission policies and "special qualifiers" than other conferences. Also, look at the JC transfers the SEC gets like Cam Newton, Nick Farley, etc. Kids that could not make it academically (even with SEC standards) go to a so-called college to improve their grades. Look at Duron Carter who flunked out of OSU then is openly accepted at Alabama since they have a strong need at WR. I know Jim Delaney got in trouble a couple years ago when asked about the lack of speed in the Big 10. His response was something like: "we are not going to sacrifice academics in order to recruit a certain type of athlete". I think you know what that is code for.
4. Over-signing - the topic of the last year. Houston Nutt signs 38 players and through various methods eventually the numbers work-out. Football is a game of numbers and the more players you are cycling through leads to advantages. Players don't live up to expectations and are "advised" to seek employment, I mean opportunities elsewhere. Player gets injured and is cut loose. Having other quality players waiting in the wings helps the SEC schools not lose a step.
5. Scheduling - yes, every SEC team plays a tough conference schedule but not playing any tough non-conference regular season games does not give the other conferences a chance to prove to the media and coaches that they are a quality team as well. If they do play a non-conference game, it is early in the season where weather has little effect. Look at the non-conference road games for the SEC in recent years: UGA at Colorado and Okie St. - both losses; Auburn at WVU - loss; UT at Cal, UCLA - both losses; LSU at a below avg Washington - close win.
6. Bowl Alignments - most are virtual home games for the SEC. Now there's not much that will change as there will be no bowls in Chicago or Cleveland. If there were a playoff and the first round was played at Ohio State or Nebraska in December I think the SEC would not be so dominate. There's no pitch and catch then use the speed when playing in December in the Midwest.
7. Coaches Salary - SEC's pays the best and are going to get the top coaches like Saban, Meyer, Miles, etc.
So what's is it going to take to catch up to the SEC? It is impossible?
