SEC Open Thread

[Jiggafini19Deux]

One thing they can still point to: 87 players drafted. The Big Ten had 67. ACC and Big 12 each had 38. I'm sure the portal and realignment skew these numbers to a degree, but you have to go back to 2006 for the last draft the SEC didn't have the most players picked.

The Big Ten did have the most first rounders this past draft. That SEC streak was broken.

 

[ulukinatme]

The funny part I’m realizing is the propaganda has probably always been this bad, they just don’t hold the cards anymore.

I liked this one the other day, ESPN has all 16 SEC teams in the Top 20 for Strength of Schedule. Like...wow.

 

[OrlaNDomer]

Would love to see a comparison of the pre-season SoS from the last 5 years vs the end-of-year SoS. Betting there's a trend of SEC schedules weakening over the course of the season.

Edit:
Don't know how legit this website is but here's what I found for 2024-2025:

2024 - SEC started the season with 12 of the top 25 hardest SoS (#1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24) and ended the season with 14 of the top 25 hardest SoS (#1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25) with an average rise of 4.36 spots between the 14 teams.

2025 - SEC started with 14 of the top 25 hardest SoS (#1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 20, 23, 24) and ended the season with 11 of the top 25 hardest SoS (#4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23) with an average drop of 5.43 spots between the 14 teams.

So not sure it's a trend, but pretty clear to me from year-to-year pre-season SoS is about as useful as pre-season ranking in general.

Source: NCAA College Football Season SOS Rankings & Ratings

 

[jerseyborn1971]

I want to see the draft numbers in 3 years. I bet they look very different.

 

[tirishman505]

The SEC has definitely switched to hyping their draft numbers, especially as proof that their conference is so much harder. I have a hard time getting behind this because there were a lot of mediocre to bad teams in the SEC. Florida, 7 draft picks, was bad. LSU, also with 7, was mediocre. Missouri (6), Tennessee (5), Auburn (5) were all mediocre to bad. Alabama had 10, the 2nd most after Ohio St, and they were severely flawed.

Nobody makes this argument for Clemson (7) or Penn State (6). Where SEC homers see it as proof of the gauntlet that is their conference schedule, after watching teams with my own eyes it just looks to me like squandered talent and dysfunctional programs.

 

[Dale]

The NFL Draft thing without the merit of winning the first round is a self own of all the talent with a lack of coaching much of the conference possesses

 

[Notre Dame Joe]

The school is paying out of their revenue, and boosters are donating to the school to make up for their lost revenue.

The main advantage of revenue sharing versus NIL is lack of scrutiny through CSC on rev share contracts. ND can choose to give Ian Premer mostly whatever revenue they want. An NIL deal would theoretically pass through NILGo.

Interesting, I have always wondered about the mechanics of it.

This is what we are up against. Whether directly or indirectly, state schools are bidding with the taxpayer's money.

Big Ten Program With $78M Debt Finds Seven-Figure Loophole to Use Taxpayer Money for NIL: Report

A Big Ten school, which is coming off a disappointed 5-7 season, found a creative way to pay its athletes legally but indirectly.

www.essentiallysports.com

 

[Irishokie]

Wasn’t it last year Missouri AND Tennessee did not beat a P5 opponent with a winning record? Screw these inflated rankings propping up wins against subpar conference affiliates. IIRC Oklahoma’s offense even looked decent against Tennessee.

 

[Irish2155]

In their bias opinion, the Bishop win over Auburn was a good. So were the two beat downs afterwards. Gritty.

Marcus has heard loud and clear.

 

[bpob55]

 

[SarasotaJoe]

In their bias opinion, the Bishop win over Auburn was a good. So were the two beat downs afterwards. Gritty.

Marcus has heard loud and clear.

Heard what, exactly, loud and clear?

 

[Notre Dame Joe]

Heard what, exactly, loud and clear?

That TPTB will bend over to accomodate the SEC.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

"ESPN Analytics." LOL. From "ESPN Insights." Wow. Just wow.

We're in an era of intellectual bankruptcy, minimal critical thinking, and zero shame. It is truly a time to be alive.

 

[dublinirish]

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think the logical conclusion is that the SEC was doing business when everything was under the table. Now that everything is above board with NIL and The Portal, they're not the big dawg anymore. They're running with wolves now.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

They had street hustle money. Now everyone else has Venture Capital money.

 

[KPENN]

 

[SarasotaJoe]

I think the logical conclusion is that the SEC was doing business when everything was under the table. Now that everything is above board with NIL and The Portal, they're not the big dawg anymore. They're running with wolves now.

I think it’s a combination of that (under the table), good to elite coaching at the top, and the majority of better athletes and players come from the southeast. The coaching has taken a nose dive and the talent isn’t being pooled there. Athletes are going to other programs now or are transferring

 

[SarasotaJoe]

Why do these things always seem to happen with lsu? Is daniels number and jersey retired? If so, honor it and don’t give it to another player. If not, daniels is out of line

 

[Irish#1]

Disrespected because the team issued #5? This won't be the last time. lol

 

[SarasotaJoe]

I can’t tell you how sick I am of the “disrespect” play. Hey asshole you have no right not to be disrespected

 

[zelezo vlk]

This is soft

 

[notredomer23]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49596211/daniels-sends-cease-desist-lsu-pickett-given-no-5

Idk why Mr. Ausberry wants to deal with this nonsense. 1 thing after another down there.

This seems like an awful look for Daniels, though. Unreal season, but still just 18-7 as a starter in his time at LSU. The ego on some of these guys.

 

[tirishman505]

I think the logical conclusion is that the SEC was doing business when everything was under the table. Now that everything is above board with NIL and The Portal, they're not the big dawg anymore. They're running with wolves now.

And why they are pushing incredibly hard for a spending cap. They're hoping everyone will go back to following the rules, while they don't.

 

[Huntr]

Lmao bitch

 

[zelezo vlk]

And why they are pushing incredibly hard for a spending cap. They're hoping everyone will go back to following the rules, while they don't.

Serious question: since NIL is legal, the price of players seems to have skyrocketed from bag men days (if old rumors were accurate). Will a 5 figure bag outside the cap really make a big difference for a significant amount of recruitments where players are already pulling in 6 figures? We all know the SEC is too poor to afford much more than a paltry 5 figures

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

Serious question: since NIL is legal, the price of players seems to have skyrocketed from bag men days (if old rumors were accurate). Will a 5 figure bag outside the cap really make a big difference for a significant amount of recruitments where players are already pulling in 6 figures? We all know the SEC is too poor to afford much more than a paltry 5 figures

Good question. I'm not sure it'll make a huge difference, but the SEC is like a cornered animal right now. A spending cap they can ignore might be their only hope. When the poors break off and form their own league, do the big $ spenders like UT and A&M go with them?

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I don't like any of them. I don't even like Vanderbilt anymore.

 

[Dale]

and now Kiffin says well Pickett was promised #5 to sign with LSU. Who cares?!?!? The walk on should be able to wear #5 if he wants.

Now you got two drama queens lol

 

[TorontoGold]

This is blue blood level drama