A look at their non-conference games this year.
Wins vs. Power 5 (margin in parenthesis):
Syracuse (10), Wisconsin (18), Arizona State (21), Louisville (7)
Wins vs. Others:
Eastern Michigan (22), Middle Tennessee (27), Louisiana-Monroe (34), Tennessee-Martin (73), Fresno State (52), New Mexico State (49), Southern Mississippi (18), Northwestern State (49), Troy (28), Louisiana Tech (25), Ball State (33), Nevada (17), Jacksonville State (7), San Jose State (14), UTEP (35)
Losses vs. Power 5:
Texas Tech (11)
Losses vs. Others:
Memphis (13), Toledo (4)
Teams that do not play a Power 5 OOC: Mississippi, Mississippi State
So they are 0-2 against current Top 25 OOC opponents, 4-1 against (unranked) Power 5 teams and load up against a bunch of lesser competition. Two teams don't even play a Power 5 school OOC and the rest play one Power 5 school OOC. This after similar results last year and really struggling in the bowls.
I think the story of the dominance of the SEC West has run it's course. Not that it's not still pretty good - possibly still the best overall - but not nearly as much better than everyone else as they're made out to be.
Wins vs. Power 5 (margin in parenthesis):
Syracuse (10), Wisconsin (18), Arizona State (21), Louisville (7)
Wins vs. Others:
Eastern Michigan (22), Middle Tennessee (27), Louisiana-Monroe (34), Tennessee-Martin (73), Fresno State (52), New Mexico State (49), Southern Mississippi (18), Northwestern State (49), Troy (28), Louisiana Tech (25), Ball State (33), Nevada (17), Jacksonville State (7), San Jose State (14), UTEP (35)
Losses vs. Power 5:
Texas Tech (11)
Losses vs. Others:
Memphis (13), Toledo (4)
Teams that do not play a Power 5 OOC: Mississippi, Mississippi State
So they are 0-2 against current Top 25 OOC opponents, 4-1 against (unranked) Power 5 teams and load up against a bunch of lesser competition. Two teams don't even play a Power 5 school OOC and the rest play one Power 5 school OOC. This after similar results last year and really struggling in the bowls.
I think the story of the dominance of the SEC West has run it's course. Not that it's not still pretty good - possibly still the best overall - but not nearly as much better than everyone else as they're made out to be.
