Message to the SEC: Don't Sleep on the Big 12 In '09

Much has been made about the SEC and their status as the premier conference in all of college football.

Indeed, I will be the first to tell you that they have been in a league of their own as far as talent, depth, and accomplishments go for the better part of the decade.

I don't need to rattle off the records, stats, and NFL draft picks when compared to the other major conferences, you know the deal; The SEC has incontestably been the best. They know it, we know it, everyone knows it.

Can we expect more of the same this year? Possibly, but I can honestly say that my beloved Big 12 will have a chance to climb atop that pedestal in this season of 2009.

Before you SEC fanatics throw a hissy fit, take an objective look at the teams the Big 12 will field this year.

Texas, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma St. will all most likely finish the season in the top ten. It is within reason that two of those finish in the top five.

Baylor and Texas Tech are very talented as well and could finish the season in the top 25.

Baylor in the top 25? Believe it. People outside the conference may only know Baylor for their up and coming stud Robert Griffin. 

While Griffin is developing into one of the nation's premier quarterbacks, this team is much more than just Griffin, they have playmaker's on both sides of the ball, as the nation will find out when they are slated in a nationally televised game.

Even A&M has reason to be optimistic under second year coach Mike Sherman, and Jarrod Johnson is one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the nation.

I think it is safe to say that there isn't a better division in all of college football than the Big 12 South.

The North got a big boost by a strong outing form Missouri. Illinois was a team that many had circled as a threat to the Big Ten crown and the Tigers thoroughly whopped them. Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri are all teams with the depth and talented needed to finish the season in the top 15 as well.

When you look at Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas Tech, and Baylor objectively, it's hard to not be high on the Big 12 this year.

I'll go as far as to say that I'll take that group of eight slated against any conference's top eight in the country.

So yes, the SEC has been the premier conference for the better part of the decade, but in 2009...

Hail to the Big 12?

Believe it.