I get that but I think people on this forum downplay the SEC and its strength.
Granted, it all started with me just ribbing B1G fans about not having titles which is just generally shocking.
@NewPhoneWhoDis, I think you are right about certain states able to keep players home and that has given some programs like Florida and advantage over other programs such as Michigan, Nebraska, and Tennessee. However, I don't think it is a game stopper. Look at Oregon, not a lot of raw talent there but they have fielded competitive teams.
I still think LSU belongs in the same sentence as Clemson and Ohio State. That is where I have the disagreement. I also think Clemson and Ohio State struggle more playing LSU's schedules. People say LSU popped up with having a good QB, well so did Clemson with Deshaun Watson. Same definition applies to every program frankly in every sport. What is the Chicago Bulls without Jordan? Tampa Bay Bucs a couple of years ago with Tom Brady? Etc.
In truth, the only consistent elite program in the 2010s has been Alabama and their run is basically unprecedent in College Football. I doubt it happens again for a long time. Sure teams like USC 2003-2008, Florida 2005-2009, Clemson 2015-2019, etc. have had dominant runs in the past but no one has made a run as long as Alabama and been as consistently dominate as Alabama.
And to be frank, Alabama has done it in a very competitive league which is something some of these other teams cannot boast. The proof is in the pudding in that when Alabama hasn't won it, other teams have been in the mix to win it or have won it from the SEC.
Even if you took out all of Alabama's National Titles from the SEC, the SEC still has the most National Titles since 2000. Let that statement sink in.
I do think B1G has elite programs that can get there besides Ohio State (and USC now). Michigan, Nebraska, and Penn State are all top caliber programs that can bring in National Title talent. The others in the group, I am not sure about.
Michigan State has mostly won with great coaching and systems but that often hasn't translated well against teams loaded with talent that have similar teams from a maturity perspective. It is hard to imagine Michigan State having the athletes you see at Florida, LSU, and even at Tennessee or an Ole Miss sometimes.
Wisconsin is another interesting point and I am going to make
@Kburjr really mad with this one but we have seen what Wisconsin can do in the SEC already. Brett Bielema brought basically the same system and recruited the same players at Arkansas. You can look at those Arkansas teams and basically see what Wisconsin would be in the SEC West.
Basically the New B1G has 5-6 programs that are National Title contenders: Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, UCLA (I think they belong despite not winning one in modern history), and USC
There is a second tier that could possibly get there but it isn't very likely: Iowa, Michigan State, Purdue, and Wisconsin
The new SEC will have 7-9 programs that are National Title contenders: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M (same comments as UCLA)
There is a second tier in the SEC as well that seems very unlikely but has a shot: Arkansas, Ole Miss, and South Carolina
SEC just has a few more power programs and is in the better recruiting space as pointed out by
@NewPhoneWhoDis.
NIL should help the B1G because they can use money to buy athletes that are not in their area. There is really only one position on the field that has given the SEC an advantage: Defensive Linemen. B1G matches SEC in size but not speed historically. Big12 and Pac12 can match SEC in speed at D-line but not size. ACC has SEC talent but terrible coaching with the exception of Clemson and FSU in the past.
This is my opinion for what it is worth and it is all opinion anyways. I think your comments about SEC being 1-2 team league is one based only on last 2 years of results and two is kind of insulting.
However, I am also not a big enough homer to think that teams like Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas, etc. won't be good in the SEC. I don't think you will see them winning 6-7 conference titles in a row but they would still fall into that Georgia/LSU/Auburn camp and be elite SEC programs. I DON'T think they would be at the consistency level of Alabama right now, no one is frankly. I also agree that teams like Vanderbilt or frankly Tennessee with its terrible coaching are no different than bottom or mid-tier programs in ACC and B1G.
SEC just has more elite programs at the top versus other leagues and better recruiting trails. The latter kind of sucks for College Football because it has ruined the sport in many ways but that is another topic.
Sorry for the book
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