forkbeard3777
Well-known member
- Messages
- 1,671
- Reaction score
- 2,037
I still believe the SEC top to bottom is the deepest conference; however, I certainly will admit that with the change in the college football landscape, its certainly tapered off some - especially at the top.
- Alabama, naturally, was going to take a step back when Saban retired. Maybe DeBoer can right the ship (hope not), but I don't think we'll ever see another dynasty run like that in our lifetime. They should be good (I've heard good things about their offensive line and defense), but until DeBoer gets his QB, it's hard to judge.
- Georgia is still really good, certainly a top 10 team, but they currently aren't that pulverizing juggernaut from a few years ago.
- Texas is Texas. The talent is there and they're always good, but I've always felt (both in Big 12 and SEC play) that teams just don't fear them or their style of play.
- LSU has tapered off with Kelly. Although (and this has been posted in other threads), despite this year's schedule, I do feel good about the group he's assembled this year. If he can't make a run at it this year, he never will.
- OU has regressed.
- Florida isn't what they used to be (although, I do think they'll be a solid, improved team). They just aren't what they were in the 90's - 2000s.
- Tennessee is improving, but they aren't elite.
- Auburn, for whatever reason, has drastically regressed. I thought they'd be much better on Freeze. This team won a NC, played for another (and lost in the final seconds), and had an undefeated season in '04. They've really fallen on hard times.
- South Carolina is that consistent 7, 8 win team. They'll sneak up on a team here or there and they're pretty good, but not elite. Spurrier's teams were better.
- Ole Miss has improved under Kiffin. The running joke is that they're snakebit and will never make the SEC, but they are arguably the lone team that's elevated their play consistently under Kiffin.
- A&M same ole same ole Texas 8&4
- Arkansas has greatly regressed from the Petrino days. They used to field a lot of good teams. They can still be a pain in the ass, but they aren't winning 9, 10, 11+ games anymore.
- Kentucky has taken a step back from Stoops' prior teams.
- Vanderbilt appears to be on the up and up, but even Franklin had them winning 9 games. They aren't there, yet.
- Mississippi State has obviously fallen off from the Dan Mullen and Leach years.
There's still a lot of talent and good teams there, it's just not what it used to be.
