re: how did the SEC get this bad?

It’s really not fair to compare a 5 year period to an opinion about the current state of a program. Id argue for UGA, Auburn, South Carolina and even Ole Miss being better now. that drastically changes the ratio from 8-3 in worse shape to 7-4 in better shape. Uga is number 2 in the country on an upward tragectory, Auburn under Mahlzahn has been to a natty and is a top 3 west team where as they were in the process of firing Tubberville at the time you’re referring to. Ole Miss was in the midst of their worst stretch ever now they’re a perineal bowl team. USC had a win pct barely over 51% they’re currently 5-2 trending upward and have won 55% of their games the past 5 seasons.