I dont like the SEC either, but I think the fact that they've won however many straight championships carries some weight. I think the quote also was in the context of ", assuming there aren't two other undefeated teams." I think the Pac-12 is a really good league this year and definitely more fun to watch but I think the SEC is probably still the best.

I think it's a moot point anyway because Alabama has a great shot of going undefeated.

I don't think it was the case that they mean if there aren't 2 undefeated especially when there are currently so many undefeated. And even if there were one loss teams, what has the SEC done this year to deserve that? The SEC West was seen as the only strong part of the conference last year. When you pointed at the East teams as weak a SEC fan would claim the West was carrying the conference. Now, with the exception of Alabama the West sucks, and everyone is waving their hands telling us to look at the East who coincidently schedule no quality opponents out of conference this year. Its ridiculous. I just hope Arkansas runs riot through the conference and proves its weakness.

I think that was what the commentator meant -- I don't think anyone thinks that a 1 loss SEC team should play over an undefeated team from another BCS conference or Notre Dame. There also aren't that many undefeated teams outside the sec...remember Ohio State isn't bowl eligible.

I think the winner of this West Virginia - Texas game (which should be awesome) and FSU has the best chance of going undefeated. I'm not a believer in Rutgers yet (sorry), and Oregon still has to play USC, Stanford and Oregon State. And Notre Dame's schedule might be even tougher.

Who do you think is the best conference this year? Pac 12?

I think the SEC has 5 legit top 25 teams - georgia, florida, south carolina, lsu and bama
The pac 12 might have six - usc, oregon, oregon st, stanford, washington, ucla...although im not sure about washington really.

So there's definitely an argument to be made for the pac 12...none of the other leagues come close in terms of depth

SEC is down and overrated. We get it.... No one [I know] here in SEC country agreed with that assessment fwiw. Only way one could say that is if Alabama ended up 12-1 with a loss to a 10-2 East champion in the SECCG, I think. But it's too early to say it's a lock.

As far as the 'best' conference, I'll go with SEC or Pac-12. Leaning Pac-12 right now, but the USC-Georgia game will say a lot.

Also unbelievable sports night...4 really good college games and two baseball playoff games

This isn't about Rutgers, this is about why Georgia Florida South Carolina LSU and Bama are legit top 25?

Arkansas was "legit" before it turned out that they were nothing special. Name one quality ooc game on ANY of those schedules besides the ONLY team that can be called truly legit in that group, Alabama and possibly LSU's win over Washington.

This SEC cocoon inflates the team's standing while protecting the conference from any real regular season tests.

If you mean Alabama's win over Michigan, then it's LSU's win over Washington. Michigan is exemplary of the very thing you're rightfully criticizing (preseason rankings being too important when they don't reflect anything).

As for why they or anyone is legitimate top-25, we're *almost* to the point where records and opponents' records can be a valid reference point for legitimacy.

Well, until they win national championships and bowl games. There's undoubtedly an SEC bias that oughtn't exist, but it has *some* basis in reality. It's just absurdly over-the-top.

"Leaning Pac-12 right now, but the USC-Georgia game will say a lot. "

Heres my major problem. Any result will be seen as a + for SEC. A blowout will be spun as a dominant performance by the winner against tough opponents. A close sloppy defensive game will be dubbed "SEC football" and the defenses will have psalms written to them. An offensive game, somehow, will also be called "SEC football" a term that used to be reserved for a fast paced defensive game but has lost all meaning since ESPN invested their college football in the SEC and all their journalists joined the spin machine

and yes I understand we mostly agree

in other news did anyone see the homerism from the fox sports announcers for Texas. Disgusting.

Frank - "The pac 12 might have six - usc, oregon, oregon st, stanford, washington, ucla...although im not sure about washington really."

IMHO, replace Washington with Arizona State. ASU's only loss was a close road loss at an SEC team. I don't get why they aren't ranked other than they weren't expected to be any good this year. They have a bye week this week so won't have a chance to rise in the rankings until next week.

an SEC team that just lost to Vanderbilt

For what it is worth, I am looking through west coast glasses, being an Oregon State fan. And very happy with my Beavers so far, although today was as smooth as I had hoped it would be.

Well, I wasn't saying the SEC team was any good. But on the other hand, they do have a pretty good win over a pretty good Pac-12 team. (SEC fans aren't the only ones that can use circular logic! (Not saying any of you were, but I've heard so many SEC fans talk about how good the SEC is because it has to play the SEC.))

So much for overrated FSU. I knew that was garbage.

Calling the top 10:
1. Alabama
2. Oregon
3. South Carolina
4. West Virginia
5. Florida
6. Notre Dame
7. Kansas State
8. Southern Cal
9. Oklahoma
10. Florida State

Sadly the Sec is the best conference by default. The pac 12 is underachieving. The big 12 hasnt had any significant noncon wins.

Kstate is a good squad, they get no respect.

actually they get alot of respect

By whom? They were just jumped by Florida & WVU in the rankings.

WVU deserves it. They showed what no one believed, they can raid the Big 12 and beat the crap out of people despite having 3 losses in the Big East last year. That jump is the product of people dropping their inherited bias against them. The fact Florida jumped them is the point of this thread

and if that wasn't enough, it was consolation for sitting through that sitting through that god awful announce job

"Name one quality ooc game on ANY of those schedules"

Name a quality OOC game on anybody's schedule who isnt in the Big East or MAC or doesnt have a perennial rivalry with Notre Dame? The fact is most of the top conferences schedule cupcakes and at most put one decent noncon opponent on there.

Face it - WVU had a weak noncon schedule. Oregon had a weak noncon schedule. Stanford, USC, and Oklahoma all play Notre Dame but nobody else who is remotely ranked. KState demolished Miami but Miami looks pathetic.

Michigan played Alabama and Notre and two decent MAC teams. I think thats a reasonably tough out of conference schedule.

Michigan didn't play any MAC teams. I'll give them credit though for having two quality noncon opponents, more than most.

UMass is now in the MAC, it's their first year. Bama, Air Force, ND, and UMass OOC.

Fair enough. But theyre 0-6 and not very good.

True, we beat them pretty easily. Right now Michigan's two losses came against the #1 and #7 ranked teams -- and we should have beat ND.

From what I've been hearing from AD's, with the new playoff system coming, the days of the cupcakes to pad schedules is coming to an end. Strength of schedule is going to be very important, to the point that losing to a highly ranked team will likely outweigh beating a cupcake.

better for the fans anyway, get to see some nice matchups

just hope the end of the big east schedule holds out like it is right now. Would be a sickk ending to the season.

Wow, how the hell is LSU still in the top-10? Not deserved at all. Shouldn't be a big deal because South Carolina will kick our asses clean out of the top-15, but still.

Got the positioning all wrong, but I successfully picked 9 of the top 10. Not bad.

MM - "Strength of schedule is going to be very important, to the point that losing to a highly ranked team will likely outweigh beating a cupcake."

From your fingers to the deity or non-deity of your choice's ears!