re: Big 6 qualifications?

And that program that was nothing before 1990 still has more titles than Georgia.

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Alabama, LSU, Florida, and Auburn carry this conference on our backs.

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The gap between 1 and 2 is far larger than the gap between 4 and 5.

If anything it's the Big 1

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Alabama, LSU, Florida, and Auburn carry this conference on our backs.
The gap between 1 and 2 is far larger than the gap between 4 and 5.

If anything it's the Big 1

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Oh, historically, nobody else in the conference catches the Tide.
The point of the Big 6 is that there is very little to separate the other 5 programs, and each is capable of (and has) won national titles, with UGA being the furthest removed. Find another conference where the 6th best program could be ranked in the Top 10 consistently, and nobody would bat an eye.

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The Big 6 are far more accomplished overall than any other conference's group, historically.

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This is an interesting point.

Top 25 programs all-time (according to the AP) by conference:

SEC
#2 Alabama
#9 Tennessee
#11 LSU
#12 Auburn
#13 Georgia
#17 Florida
#19 Arkansas
#20 Texas A&M
#22 Ole Miss

BIG 10
#3 Ohio State
#4 Michigan
#7 Nebraska
#10 Penn State
#18 Michigan State
#25 Wisconsin

BIG 12
#1 Oklahoma
#8 Texas

ACC
#14 Florida State
#15 Miami
#21 Clemson
#23 Georgia Tech

PAC 12
#6 USC
#16 UCLA
#24 Washington

The only league that comes close is the BIG 10.... four programs among the Top 10 all-time is very strong. However, because Penn State and Nebraska are not original to the BIG 10, its not quite the same.

The SEC has 6 programs in the Top 17 all-time.... and all were original members of the league since 1933. Had Arkansas been in the league since 1933, and won several conference titles over the years, you could make an argument that they were part of the group. But with no conference titles and being in the league for 24 years, they are obviously not in the club.

Here's everything you ever needed to know about the Big 6 LINK

Are we measuring this in millimeters or micrometers?

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Miss? 6 SEC titles (only 2 behind Auburn and Florida) and a couple of recognized national titles. They're also top 10 in bowl wins somehow.

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What part of set in stone don't you understand?

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To slip below the .500 mark in all-time SEC play, the Tennessee football program would have to endure another 34 miserable seasons, averaging a 2-6 record in conference play each year. Oh, and to slip down to only winning an SEC Championship less than every 12 years, Tennessee would have to go the next 74 seasons without a football championship.

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Just out of curiosity, during the "Lost Decade" of Tennessee football, did we average a 2-6 conference record? We've never gone winless in SEC play, but I know we had a 1-7 year.

Geez you are the most butthurt Anti LSU poster on here. Do you ever not think about LSU?

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Bottom line is the big 6 was forged after 100 years of playing football. UF (or anyone really, I just said them bc they were mentioned) could go on a decade long drought but that doesn't erase everythign else they've done to that point.

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Certainly nothing ever gets erased. But Florida did not build itself up over 100 years to achieve their current status.... every ounce of their qualifications were garnered during a 20-year period.

At the conclusion of the 1980s, Florida had ZERO National Titles.... zero SEC Titles. Their all-time SEC record stood at just 149-167-15 (47.3%).... and they ranked as the #41 best program of all-time in the AP Poll.

Nothing about that resume even allowed them to enter the discussion of "Big 6".

So you are correct... what takes 100 years to build can't be lost for about 100 years (hypothetically speaking). But what Florida is today was essentially built in 20 years. not 100.... which is why they rank near the bottom of the BIG 6 all-time, and why they could more easily lose their status compared to say Alabama, Tennessee, LSU, or Georgia.

Florida has 8 SEC Championships.... just 2 more than Ole Miss.

Florida ranks #17 all-time in the AP Poll... just slightly above #19 Arkansas.... Arkansas is just three Top 10 finishes away (coupled with three years of finishing unranked for Florida) from passing Florida in the all-time AP standings.

Florida is more consistent in their achievements compared to Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M... those 3 rank okay in some categories, but not so okay in others.... Florida ranks pretty well across the board.

But Florida could not endure a period of decline like Tennessee has endured the past few years and expect to hold on to their status... quite frankly, Florida's foundation is not as stable as the Vols' was.

If Florida football faired during the next 14 seasons exactly like Tennessee did from 2002-2015, it would drop Florida substantially down behind the rest of the "Big 6" in the all-time AP standings.... assuming those programs performed the same as they have since 2002. The SEC teams would look like this:

1199 pts- Alabama (#3)
799 pts- LSU (#9)
725 pts- Tennessee (#10)
710 pts- Georgia (#12)
683 pts- Auburn (#13)
530 pts- Florida (#18)

That would cause quite a gap to form between Florida and the other members of the "Big 6".... a much larger gap between #5 and #6 than what would likely exist between #2 and #5.

No SEC Titles for 14 years would bring Florida down to a "Once every 12 years" average all-time, and most likely they'd drop substantially behind the other 5 programs as well.

Their overall SEC record would likely drop them from #4 all-time in the league to #6.

Essentially, a period of football like Tennessee has seen the last 14 seasons for Florida would send Florida to #6 in the SEC in almost every single category. I think it could create an argument that there was really a "Big 5" and Florida was without a doubt #6.... and depending on what Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Ole Miss did the next 14 years, they might be more in line with those programs.

It's been 8 years since Florida last won the SEC. If they went another 14 seasons without a title, that would give them a streak of 22 years without a trophy. That's not good when they started the first 59 years of the SEC without any also.


Of course all of this is hypothetical.... but LSU went through a rather abysmal period of football from 1989-1999.... Tennessee has been dreadful for the most part from 2002-2015. It's entirely possible that Florida could experience a drought like that..... my point is, Florida doesn't have as much room for error like Tennessee did. Tennessee was clearly the league's second best program as of 2002. It wasn't even debatable. In fact, at that time (coupled with Alabama's struggles), it seemed more likely they'd begin to challenge Alabama for the #1 spot all-time rather than drop down to #3. But what they've endured for 14 seasons has been unbelievably bad. Florida is at best the #5 program in the SEC.... and I'd actually go with Auburn #5 and Florida #6. The gap between the Big 6 and everyone else is large.... but if there is one program capable of dropping out, it would be Florida.