Last year's college football season is in the past, and the start to a new season is almost upon us, yet one thing still remains the same: The SEC is the strongest conference in college football. Though, as with every argument, of course there are its naysayers.
Many have begun to question the supremacy of the SEC, bringing to light the limited successes or scarce bright spots that other conferences have to offer. Some will speak of Clemson and the fun to watch, fast paced, viewer friendly play of the ACC. This conference has, admittedly, become much stronger in the last few years, led mainly by the success of Florida State and Clemson. Yet, outside of these two teams, the conference gives little to admire and often much to laugh at. With teams like Wake Forest, who hasn’t had a winning record since 2008 and doesn’t look to be getting closer anytime soon, and Miami, a team that always seems poised to be good but hasn’t been since the early 2000’s, the stone cold fact on the ACC still holds true: Its depth is lacking.
This becomes even more obvious when compared to the depth of the SEC, where powerhouse programs can easily finish in the middle or bottom of the conference, and it always seems that anyone has a chance in any conference game. This is most exemplified by the conference records of teams, compared to their overall records. Just last season, teams such as Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Auburn all lacked a winning percentage in conference play. Yet, unsurprisingly, each finished the season with an overall winning record. Even the Auburn Tigers, who were an abysmal 2-6 in conference play and were the worst team in the SEC West were able to win all five of their out of conference games and end the season with a 7-6 winning record.
Yet some still argue for the likes of the Big Ten as the most powerful conference. They argue that, top to bottom, the strength of the Big Ten supersedes that of the SEC, to which I respond with one simple question: How did the two teams that won the two divisions of the Big Ten last season fare in their bowl games? And if the answer is horribly, where one of the teams got destroyed by an Alabama team that represented the SEC extremely well en route to another championship, then I say that, sadly, your point is mute.
I cannot sit here in my right mind and say that the SEC is the only strong conference. I cannot say that there are no teams in other conferences capable of competing with and beating teams in the SEC. Those would be blatant lies.
But I can tell you that there is no conference in college football that is even remotely comparable. No conference is as good from top to bottom, or able to consistently compete head to head with the best the SEC has to offer. The reason? Well blatantly put, the SEC has been, and still is, the best conference in college football.