re: There have been 22 SEC national titles in football in the poll era (1936)

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This is false

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No. It's not.

Once the Poll Era begins in 1936, the AP becomes the gold standard. Any championships claimed after 1936 that weren't awarded by the Associated Press (or the Coaches Poll after 1950), are dubious to say the least.

Tennessee claims 6 national championships: 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967, and 1998.

- TCU finished #1 in the AP Poll in 1938, with the Volunteers coming in at #2.

- Minnesota finished #1 in the AP Poll in 1940, while the Volunteers finished #4. Interestingly enough, Tennessee lost its bowl game to #6 Boston College yet still claims 1940 as a national championship season, despite not even being awarded the title by the AP.

- Tennessee claims 1950 as a national championship season despite finishing #3 in the Coaches Poll and #4 in the AP Poll. Oklahoma finished #1 in both.

- Tennessee finished #1 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll in 1951. This is a legitimate title claim.

- In 1967, USC was #1 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll while Tennessee finished #2 in both while also sustaining two losses on the year.

- 1998 is a legitimate title claim. The Vols finished #1 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll while also defeating #2 Florida State in the BCS title game in Tempe, Arizona.

So there you have it.