Another National Title Hunt Unlikely for SEC in 2008

As we near the 2008 college football season, the conference that reigns supreme is again the SEC.  Only myopic fans of the Big Ten and the new hype kids on the block, the Big 12, seem to be pushing their pathetic claims to be king of the hill.

Wake up and smell what Commish Mike Slive’s got cookin'—another campaign toward a BCS Title?

As much as I hate to say it...not this year.  That’s right—I said it.

Georgia, you look the part, and you’ll be a force to be reckoned with—but you will not bring back crystal from Miami.  Why?

You will not make it to Miami.

Last year's championship by LSU was probably the last time a two-loss team will make it to the BCS National Championship game.

I’m an SEC guy!  I grew up in the shadows of LSU Tiger Stadium.  Why would I say such a thing?

Because the SEC is so dadgum good!

Top to bottom, the SEC has the most talent in coaching, has the best facilities, and has an incredible fan base that most NFL owners drool over—not to mention the athletes.  NFL owners drool over them too.

How many head SEC coaches have won a National Championship thus far in the SEC?  Let me see—there’s Miles, Spurrier, Saban, Fulmer, and Meyer.

Five!  Five!  Are you kiddin’ me?

How many top ten recruiting classes does the SEC average every year?  A lot.  I don’t know exactly, but you can set your watch to Florida’s, Tennessee’s, LSU’s, and Georgia’s recruiting classes.

Long story short, the SEC is becoming such a meat grinder and so well-coached that it’s almost a guarantee that whoever the SEC Championship team is will have at least one loss, if not more.  I still can’t believe Auburn was overlooked to go to the championship game a few years back when they went undefeated.  Amazing.

Nonetheless, I would love for an SEC team to emerge as one of the title contenders this year, but I’m afraid that it will not happen.

Most likely you’ll see USC and Ohio State in the BCS Championship game—and yes, Ohio State will make it back but get blown out again.  The Vest is going to have to start shoving some Kevlar in there if he captains another shipwreck, but that’s another topic for another day.

All the hype that surrounds the other national conferences...it’s just that—hype.  Bring your smack when you can compete with the SEC in all the aforementioned categories.

Until then, Big Ten fan, Big 12 fan, and let's add the poor left out Pac-10 fan, you may enjoy this season as your team may reach the top.  But let's not forget that the true national contender will live in the SEC neighborhood.

Tragically, money is what will determine a playoff system.  Most likely until then, there will always be controversy.

But let me remind you: Who was the one and only league commissioner who favored a playoff system, and who put it up for vote this summer?  You know the answer.

Why did every other league vote against a playoff system?  You know the answer to that too.

The SEC would dominate in a playoff system—and they know it.

To all the SEC teams who will yet again battle one another in this year's campaign—happy hunting and Godspeed.