re: NIL has neutered the SEC in the 2 big money sports

quote:

---

The SEC used to pay players more. NIL brought this all out into the open now that paying players is legal

---

This argument is dumb. Big 10 schools paid players, Pac 10 schools paid players, Big 12 schools paid player, and yes SEC schools paid players. Every single conference had under the table payments and bagmen. Most of the best players chose to stay closer to home. AND the SEC invested more in facilities, coaching, and player support. Because all the under the table pay was limited by how much you could get away with without it being completely obvious, the deciding factors for many athletes were proximity, climate and off the field amenities.
Now the Big 10 can outspend others. You are making that very argument by saying they are wealthier. It's not more "fair," it's just a willingness and ability to spend more. The QB at UM didn't go to Michigan for any other reason than the $12million dollars he got. Same with the Bball transfer from UAB. Michigan worked the system to their credit and bought championships.

quote:

---

Now the Big 10 can outspend others.

---

Your argument is working off the assumption that the SEC wasn't outpaying others in the past. I think we know that is not true (among many exhibits of evidence, see LSU's "strong arse offers" made by Will Wade).

Now schools can openly spend. The SEC thought they wanted to compete toe to toe with other conferences as far as resources because they thought they had more willingness to spend. I guess they found out the hard way that is not true.

quote:

---

Your argument is working off the assumption that the SEC wasn't outpaying others in the past

---

Ok, you are working under the assumption that they were. You haven’t given any proof at all. The flex that Big 10 schools have richer alums and can outspend in the NIL era doesn’t equate in any way to showing that SEC schools were outspending before. Southern schools had natural advantages. Come right out and say that you believe that the talented rosters UM had at OSU were not in any way bought and paid for. It’s a laughable assertion.

quote:

---

The Big Ten is a far wealthier conference. They are head and shoulders above the SEC in both sports now.

---

And yet the SEC had more players drafted last year for the 19th straight year and the most in the first round. Crazy that the SEC still has more talent.

Take the transfer portal back to what it was before covid. It would at least be a good first step

quote:

---

And yet the SEC had more players drafted last year for the 19th straight year and the most in the first round. Crazy that the SEC still has more talent.

---

Have you seen the NFL draft projections this year? Barely any SEC in the first round, especially the top 15 picks. This is the NIL era with above board payments to players. Everyone can equally cheat now.

Ridiculous take man. Just because Texas has been irrelevant for 20+ years doesn’t mean the SEC is. There will be fat years, and there will be slim. Maybe next year the Big10 doesn’t win anything and the SEC wins all 3? What will you say then? 2 of the last 3 major sports have defending SEC champs. Teams in the SEC have enough money to compete with anyone, but you still have to put it all together, and get hot and make shots and don’t commit errors and tackle. The SEC still leads in transfer rankings and recruiting rankings, but the teams have to mesh a play well.

Every school did $100 hand shakes. Not every school was paying bag men and street agents for players. Those that relied on that a bunch but are otherwise poor, are the ones complaining the most.

Those who engaged in the bag game (Ohio State, Oregon, etc.) but have money are not too bothered by NIL.

When Texas was in on a 5 star type who had visits setup to Oregon, Ohio State, LSU, Auburn, Jimbo Fisher at FSU or A&M, Alabama, and Georgia under Smart, there was zero chance of us landing him.

Now that we can pay legit, it's weird we start having double digit NFL draft classes on the reg.

quote:

---

Teams in the SEC have enough money to compete with anyone...

---

That's pretty obviously untrue. Texas, A&M, Vandy are wealthy schools. Ole Miss, LSU, Auburn, etc. are not and certainly are not on par with Big Ten schools. Iowa is literally twice as wealthy as Auburn. Michigan State has far more money than LSU. Ole Miss has rich idiot types as students but they aren't a wealthy school compared to a UCLA. But I guess we'll see in the next few years unless NIL caps are put into place.

quote:

---

In detail, tell how it was “unequal cheating” before. We’re all those big brains up north incapable of coming up with paying under the table? Or are you suggesting that they were all pure as the snow? You keep making the claim. Back it up, big boy.

---

If you think the SEC was not cheating more than other power conferences, you must get your same news from wherever Greg McElroy gets his news.