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The New Big 6

Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:11 am
Posted by inelishaitrust
Oxford, MS
Member since Jan 2008
26183 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:11 am
The Big 6 has been an important concept in SEC football since at least the early 2000s. It was the idea that the conference had six elite programs that had elite talent, elite resources, elite fan support and could compete for a title year to year and six (and later 8) that couldn’t.

The Big Six were Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee, Florida, Bama, and LSU.


My question is two part: 1) how would you rank all 16 schools according to program prestige and 2) Which of these programs do you consider elite?
Posted by VFL67
Member since Feb 2025
1071 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:12 am to
1. Bama
2. OU
3. UGA
4. Texas
5. Tennessee
6. LSU
7. Auburn
8. Florida
9. Ole Miss
10. Aggies
11. Arkansas
12. Missouri
13. Hail State
14. South Carolina
15. Kentucky
16. Vandy
Posted by LewDawg
Member since May 2009
77371 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:13 am to
Until some other team wins some hardware, I wouldn’t change anything.
Posted by James11111
Walnut Creek, Ca
Member since Jul 2020
5517 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:14 am to
quote:

VFL67


Why would you put Tennessee over LSU? Show me the data that supports that.
This post was edited on 1/2/26 at 11:15 am
Posted by Chris_topher
Member since Sep 2012
7909 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:16 am to
SEC is a basketball conference
Posted by Eldodroptop
Member since Jul 2021
3343 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:16 am to
quote:

The New Big 6by inelishaitrust




Kidding aside, aren’t the big six just the teams that have won an SEC championship game?

Posted by Dwight Schrute Reb
2022 CWS National Champs
Member since Jul 2020
999 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:16 am to
The standard bearer in this league has been and will always be Alabama. That is why we hate em. Bama simply has bumps in the road and then gets it going again.

Georgia is positioning itself into a rock solid #2. Anybody really think they won't be back next year?

Most inflated self worth is LSU hands down. Yes, they've won some titles and good for them. However, that dumbassed school has done less with more and it isn't even close. They spend money hand over fist for the mediocrity that is LSU football. Flame away. That's the way it is.
Posted by skrayper
21-0 Asterisk Drive
Member since Nov 2012
34565 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:17 am to
quote:


1. Bama
2. OU
3. UGA
4. Texas
5. Tennessee
6. LSU
7. Auburn
8. Florida
9. Ole Miss
10. Aggies
11. Arkansas
12. Missouri
13. Hail State
14. South Carolina
15. Kentucky
16. Vandy



UGA over OU, because while OU > UGA historically it's been too long since OU hoisted national hardware.

LSU over Tennessee; they're practically equal historically but LSU has been relevant more recently.

Florida over Auburn.
Posted by inelishaitrust
Oxford, MS
Member since Jan 2008
26183 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:18 am to
My rankings:

1) Georgia
2) Bama
3) LSU
4) Texas
5) Tennessee
6) Oklahoma
7) Ole Miss
8) A&M
9) Mizzou
10) Florida
11) Auburn
12) South Carolina
13) Kentucky
14) Vandy
15) Mississippi State
16) Arkansas


Only the top 4 are elite programs rn, imo, and Georgia a step above the rest.
Posted by theballguy
Member since Oct 2011
32465 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:18 am to
quote:

UGA over OU, because while OU > UGA historically it's been too long since OU hoisted national hardware.

LSU over Tennessee; they're practically equal historically but LSU has been relevant more recently.

Florida over Auburn.


This here easily.
Posted by theballguy
Member since Oct 2011
32465 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:19 am to
quote:

Only the top 4 are elite programs rn, imo, and Georgia a step above the rest.



In a nutshell.
Posted by VFL67
Member since Feb 2025
1071 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:19 am to
Tennessee has more Natties than LSU
Tennessee has more SEC titles than LSU
Tennessee has more all time wins than LSU
Tennessee has a higher all time winning percentage than LSU
Tennessee has a winning record against LSU both in Knoxville and BR
Tennessee could lose to LSU every year for the next decade and still have a winning record against LSU


Vols and LSU are essentially neck and neck but numbers still slightly favor them. So theres your supporting data
Posted by inelishaitrust
Oxford, MS
Member since Jan 2008
26183 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:21 am to
quote:

Kidding aside, aren’t the big six just the teams that have won an SEC championship game?


Perhaps. All but Georgia had a recent-ish natties. UT’s being way back 1998 was definitely a point of discussion.
Posted by ibldprplgld
Member since Feb 2008
27491 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:21 am to
Until any team passes any of the Big Six in either SEC championships or National Titles won while in the SEC, no changes to Big Six are warranted.
Posted by TailbackU
ATL
Member since Oct 2005
13047 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:22 am to
Until we get our head out of our arse, we are lower third SEC right now. Sucks but it’s true.
Posted by James11111
Walnut Creek, Ca
Member since Jul 2020
5517 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:22 am to
quote:

Tennessee has more Natties than LSU
Tennessee has more SEC titles than LSU


Lol, most of that was 75+ years ago.
Posted by The Pirate King
Pangu
Member since May 2014
65719 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:23 am to
quote:

5. Tennessee
6. LSU


Posted by inelishaitrust
Oxford, MS
Member since Jan 2008
26183 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:24 am to
quote:

UGA over OU, because while OU > UGA historically it's been too long since OU hoisted national hardware.


Yeah, total history matters some, but recent results are more important. I wouldn’t consider Nebraska an elite program just because they have elite history, for example.
Posted by VFL67
Member since Feb 2025
1071 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:25 am to
Lol the only argument for LSU over tennessee comes if you look at football from 2000-2020. Tennessee has been a better program every other decade besides two, 2000s and 2010s. Hell Vols have even been better this decade.
Posted by inelishaitrust
Oxford, MS
Member since Jan 2008
26183 posts
Posted on 1/2/26 at 11:27 am to
quote:

Until any team passes any of the Big Six in either SEC championships or National Titles won while in the SEC, no changes to Big Six are warranted.


Is that not a pretty irrelevant standard. Like what good are the trophies in the case, really, if you’ve had five straight losing seasons?
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