Wonder why SEC on top? Look at other conference finals (with video)
Can you hear SEC commissioner Mike Slive? "Yes, I am king. Are there any questions?" (AP photo)
While it’s easy to understand why any fan of a conference not named the SEC grows tired of hearing and reading about the SEC, the evolution of this year’s conference championship match-ups screams why the landscape is so lopsided.
This came home Monday when Miami announced that the football program was going to self-impose a bowl ban (hoping to beat the NCAA to the punch) and therefore would not accept a bid to the ACC championship game. This allowed Georgia Tech to back through the door as Coastal Division “champions.” The Jackets will face Florida State for the ACC title.
This isn’t meant to pick on Georgia Tech. It’s not the Jackets’ fault they have been given this opportunity, despite a relatively crummy season. But if you want to know why the SEC commands the attention it does, just look at how the ACC and other conference championship games compare.
Here are the conference title games, listed from worst to first:
• BIG EAST: There is no conference championship game because it doesn’t have enough teams (12 is the mandated minimum). Why the Big East is an automatic qualifier in the BCS order of things is beyond logic because it seems to exist only to have its remains picked over by the ACC and Big 12 for their own conference expansion. On a related note: Possible Big East champion Rutgers is considering joining the Big Ten.
• BIG 12: It was forced to cancel its conference championship game after 2010 because the defections of Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pacific 12) left the conference with only 10 teams. In other words, the name “Big 12” is a lie! There’s also this: Kansas State, the conference’s best team and No. 1 in the BCS until Saturday, just got flattened by Baylor.
• ACC: The conference championship will match Georgia Tech against Florida State. If the Yellow Jackets lose to Georgia, they will be a 6-6 conference finalist. So much for marquee value. Coastal Division teams Miami and North Carolina are ineligible and usual power Virginia Tech has fallen apart. The Seminoles, winners of the Atlantic, have a nice record (10-1). But they get little love from computers (ranking 17th) and stand only 10th in the BCS. That’s what happens when you lose to North Carolina State and have one win over a ranked team (Clemson).
• BIG TEN: This is very ACC-like. Third-place Wisconsin (4-3, 7-4, with another possible loss this week at Penn State) will represent the “Leaders” Division in the conference championship game. Why? Because Ohio State (7-0, 11-0) and Penn State (5-2, 7-3) both are ineligible. The other finalist will be either Nebraska or Michigan, neither of whom rank among the top 13 schools in the BCS.
• PACIFIC 12: Oregon, the conference’s best team and until Saturday the No. 2 team in the BCS, may not even play for the Pac-12 title now. The Ducks lost to Stanford at home, and now need a win over Oregon State and a Stanford loss to UCLA to get into the game. The Bruins locked up the South Division with last week’s win over USC. But they’re far out of BCS title contention (17th).
• SEC: Conference teams have won six straight BCS championships and, as much as it pains the rest of the populace, there is a chance the SEC will make it seven. If Georgia beats Georgia Tech Saturday and Alabama beats Auburn, the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide will meet next week for not only the SEC championship but a pass into BCS game. Upsets by Tech and/or Auburn would change the scenario. But as of now, the SEC has by far the best conference title game and with the most on the line nationally.
So what else is new?
- By Jeff Schultz
Cyber-chatting on Atlanta sports — and can Tech pull the upset?
Busy times … earlier blogs you might’ve missed
• Falcons win — but run before somebody changes their mind
• Short takes: Ryan awful, defense great, win important
• Georgia’s new reality: From on the brink to BCS title possibility
• Upsets launch Georgia into BCS title picture (updated game column)
• Short takes: Murray wakes up the offense
• Weekend Predictions: Dogs, Jackets, Falcons and the lust triangles
• Falcons’ flaws aren’t worse than any other NFL team
• College hoop kings provide rare thrills for Atlanta
• Falcons’ startling admission: Ray Edwards was a blunder
• Will SEC get team to BCS championship (answer below) (with video)
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
498 comments Add your comment
The Ghost of Woody Hayes
November 19th, 2012
3:26 pm
I’d sucker punch A.J McCarron, Jarvis Jones, and Jadeveon Clowney. Bring ‘em on!
GTBob
November 19th, 2012
3:27 pm
I disagree though about the game in Charlotte selling out unless the Florida St fanbase buys all of the tickets
As of 2 months ago there were over 50,000 tickets sold which was ahead of the pace in 2010 and 2011 which were both sellouts.
DeezNutz
November 19th, 2012
3:28 pm
@ Buckeye
The SEC had had 4 different teams win the BCS NC in the last 6 years. And yet you say we only have two good programs in the conference. I wouldn’t make Florida made at ya. You’ll probably have to play them in the Outback bowl in a couple of years. Don’t want to make that beating worse than it already will be.
jules
November 19th, 2012
3:28 pm
Please, PLease, PLEASE Dawgs, stomp Tech and the Tide. I cannot stand to see Bama in yet another National Championship game. The time has come for somebody to roll the Tide out to LOW Tide. Everybody in GA needs to say a pray, or do whatever you do to cast a spell of WINNING on the DAWGS.
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
3:30 pm
patch,
One game means nothing. I think the score was 20-19 or something close like that.
All time wins and NC’s mean everything. History.
I never claimed BIG dominance. I claim the dogs are a fraud and wear the clothes of the SEC! SEC! when it suite them ( when losing) but so little to contribute to it’s historical glory.
And, as recent history shows ( 3-10 v ranked SEC! SEC! SINCE 200) you have not been competitive against the class of the SEC! SEC! you claim to be a part of.
Mandel: “Delusional”
creative
November 19th, 2012
3:31 pm
Ya’ll are pretty funny. The fact that you guys all know every stat from the past hundred years and brag about it. Awesome!!! And you care so much.
Joey
November 19th, 2012
3:31 pm
“As of 2 months ago there were over 50,000 tickets sold which was ahead of the pace in 2010 and 2011 which were both sellouts.”
***********************************
That was before the fans knew there was a 6-6 team playing in the game. There will likely be lots of half-priced tickets available on-line now . . .
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
3:31 pm
deez,
Cam (one of the four) was a one semester sham. Look at them now two years out. Still a sham.
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
3:34 pm
dez,
Urban had our number. We played LSU close but no cigar. Speaking of Urban, he sends his regards……
Joey
November 19th, 2012
3:34 pm
A “sham” like 2010 Ohio St’s team?
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
3:36 pm
Q: The two most favorite words in the dog/FL rivalry besides Tim and Tebow and ‘nother beer?
A: TIME OUT! TIME OUT! TIME OUT!
LawDawg
November 19th, 2012
3:36 pm
The drop off from one to two and then from two to the rest tells you all you need to know about college football.
Joey
November 19th, 2012
3:39 pm
Q: What is Ohio St / Tressell most noted for since the refs shafted Miami and gave a title to OSU?
A: FREE TATTS! FREE TATTS! FREE TATTS!
NCAA Football 2012-2013 - Page 5 - Christian Guitar Forum
November 19th, 2012
3:40 pm
[...] SEC haters… Wonder why SEC on top? Look at other conference finals | Jeff Schultz __________________ Current Rig: Guitars: The NightShade, Fender Marauder, Fender Strat, Ibanez [...]
WDE
November 19th, 2012
3:41 pm
Buckeye yeppers we can all tell your all fired up about the greatness of OSU this year as your a lock not to have to eat your words…leave it to a Buckeye to find a how did you put it ?oh yeah a way to make lemon aid out of the lemons you were handed, in not being allowed to play in a bowl game this year. Classic!
DeezNutz
November 19th, 2012
3:41 pm
@ Buckeye
Here’s some stats for ya. 3-3 v UF over the last six years. Urban left because he could see the tide was changing. Ran to the safety of the Big 10 and a couple of exhibition seasons to hang his hat on before he has a chance to get his a$$ handed to him by the SEC in post season play.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 19th, 2012
3:41 pm
Buckeye
UGA is a fraud when we might be tied for second in SEC championships
and we have more bowl appearences and victories than Ohio St
sure UGA cant help they are in the south and dont have the northern media biased like Ohio St has with their joke success
Ohio st is the biggest fraud in college football; you cant beat the teams from the best conference at least we can hince our record in bowl games
GTBob
November 19th, 2012
3:42 pm
That was before the fans knew there was a 6-6 team playing in the game. There will likely be lots of half-priced tickets available on-line now
Doesn’t really matter to me. The game will more than likely sell out if it hasn’t already.
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
3:45 pm
And while we’re talking top basketball conferences seems the B1G has three of the top 5. Didn’t see the dogs anywhere (Howard, “I am riding the bench in the NBA” Thompkins we miss you).
Go ahead dogs, claim Kentucky’s one and done program. It reminds me of Can at Auburn but he only stayed one semester. At least the KY freshman stay for a year ( but have no academic accountability for the 2nd semester) SEC! SEC!
Associated Press Top 25
1. Indiana
2. Louisville
3. Ohio State
4. Michigan
5. Duke
6. Syracuse
7. Florida
8. Kentucky
9. North Carolina
10. Arizona
11. UCLA
12. Kansas
13. Missouri
14. Creighton
15. Michigan State
16. North Carolina State
17. Gonzaga
18. UNLV
19. Memphis
20. Oklahoma State
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
3:46 pm
wde,
Say what you will but delusional I am not.
WDE
November 19th, 2012
3:46 pm
I’m sorry Buckeye, come to my house, I got those silky white panties that you like on, be here by 8….
ARdawg
November 19th, 2012
3:48 pm
How can anyone beat the SEC? They will only play cupcakes until the MNC. Basically the SEC only has to win one game a year keep convincing people that they are an unbeatable machine of a conference.
_____________________
Gee GTBob
Your Jackets play an SEC team every single year. Out of the last 11 years, you’ve beaten them once. If memory serves the SEC hands you your a$$ in every single bowl game you’ve played them in. There is plenty of OOC from which you loud mouth complainers could beat an SEC team. The problem is, you just never do. Until you do, STFU
P_The_Ricker
November 19th, 2012
3:50 pm
“A” Ohio St:
Where cheaters go and probation follows! Oh, and an 0-9 record against the SEC in bowl games!
SEC! SEC! SEC!
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
3:52 pm
wde,
I never claimed “greatness” this year. I claim, as a fact, we’re undefeated. And yes, we would not compete with Bama this year and I don’t think the dogs can either. Otherwise, I’ll suit up against anybody.
Say what you will about Urban. He rode Tebow, now he’s riding Miller, Chitzic rode Cam. Richt is riding freshman ( we’ll see if the stick around for a couple years), Texas rode Vince Young, USC rode Bush, and waaaaaay back in 1980 Dooley rode Herschel.
P_The_Ricker
November 19th, 2012
3:52 pm
“A” Ohio State:
The equivalent of Kentucky…..if they every played football in the SEC.
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
3:52 pm
p,
how bout something original.
P_The_Ricker
November 19th, 2012
3:53 pm
“A” Ohio State:
Where urban meyer will suddenly quit in 3-5 years.
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
3:53 pm
p,
Shocked! KY football is SEC! SEC!
P_The_Ricker
November 19th, 2012
3:54 pm
“A” Ohio State:
Where buckeye wished he went to school, but probably went to toledo instead.
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
3:54 pm
wde,
Talk to me, Goose!
BigJim
November 19th, 2012
3:55 pm
Mark Richt: 3-15 against ranked teams, since 2009. And also repeat repeat visitors to the glorious Capital One Bowl (except in 2010..where Georgia went to the Liberty Bowl–and got beat by Central Florida)!
P_The_Ricker
November 19th, 2012
3:55 pm
“A” Ohio State:
Where fans still like to claim that lebron james would have gone to school had he not skipped college.
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
3:55 pm
p,
I’ve been to Toledo. It’s the Macon of Georgia.
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
3:56 pm
p,
Never looked at Lebron that way although it would have been a good year ( see Kentucky)
atlantaradiosucks
November 19th, 2012
3:58 pm
I hate the SEC, but it is far & away the best. No one even comes close.
Joshua Barlowe
November 19th, 2012
3:59 pm
Oregon lost to a very good Stanford team in overtime. Clemson and FSU are both very good teams. The SEC media lovefest has created a monster that is quite ridiculous. In reality, the SEC has 3 really good teams and everyone one else stinks just as much as every other conference. How do have such good teams? Crappy academics and admissions standards. And don’t forget that last year’s title game was the Oversigning.com bowl – LSU and Alabama taking on as many signing as they want and then yanking kids’ scholarships when they decide they’re not good enough.
Yeah, that’s a great thing.
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
3:59 pm
Buckeye: Nicklaus
dog: Bubba
Gotta admit, love Bubba.
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
4:00 pm
Ohio: Obama
Georgia: Romney
Georgia got that one right.
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
4:00 pm
Ohio: Obamaphone
Georiga: Georgiadome
Joey
November 19th, 2012
4:02 pm
Hey BigJim, your team would probably love to be “repeat visitors to the Capital One Bowl” right?
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 19th, 2012
4:12 pm
Yes they do just like the STUPID half educated masses think Obama is a good president. The perception is WRONG but look who we are talking about. There have been 24 different top 25 teams so far this year and these guys are EXPERTS? and the Voters are EDUCATED enough to make a good choice?
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 19th, 2012
4:14 pm
Look at WHO is doing the voting. The perception that the SEC is great is wrong. hell there have been 24 different top 10 teams this year and those guys voting are EXPERTS? NO they SELL TV and papers.
Joey
November 19th, 2012
4:18 pm
Oh yeah, everybody is wrong, but you are right.
Riiiiiight . . .
Gman 84
November 19th, 2012
4:21 pm
The buckeyes aren’t relevant. Seems to be a tough fact to accept in Columbus, but the SEC didn’t do that to them (of course, continually beating them on the national stage doesn’t help-yes you beat Arky with a bunch that should’ve been ineligible-whatever), they did it to themselves. There are enough what ifs without Buckeye nation continually interjecting that they are the best, if only….
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
4:22 pm
I would love to see the Ducks hang 60 on the dogs.
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
4:23 pm
Heard Murray called Matty Ice to inquire how to survive Alabama throwing 5 picks. Matty laughed, hung up.
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
4:25 pm
Gman,
Let’s look at the AP come Dec 2 and see who’d relevant.
Sec O Verrated
November 19th, 2012
4:26 pm
Being a southerner, it’s nice to see the SEC have a nice run on the mythical national title. After winning it a mere three time in the previous 25 years, it’s good for southern morale.
mgdawg
November 19th, 2012
4:27 pm
angryclemsonfan, I think you got it wrong. UGA beat the 4th ranked florida gators. Who out of the top 3 boasts the most impressive win?
Omar Little
November 19th, 2012
4:28 pm
It’s easy to be the best conference when many of the teams pay players, and the schools oversign and accept JUCO transfers.