re: The SEC gauntlet schedule mythos

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Uh... hate to break it to you, but the SEC has a losing record against both the Big 12 and the ACC this year

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You really don't understand what I’m talking about.

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Texas has always been a top recruiter, but have historically underachieved with it. That is a Texas thing I guess.

Texas and OU will have big seasons, like the LSU's and Florida's. But just like those teams they will have a lot of 9 and 8 win years as well.

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Both have to ranked recruiting classes because they have the money and there is a HEAP of Div 1 skill position players in Texas. What there is not a lot of is true Div 1 Linemen. Oklahoma hasn't fielded a defense in memory. Both have played a LOT of games against teams without and or very few Div 1 linemen on both sides of the ball. Even Vandy has NFL talent on the line at times. EERYBODY in the SEC has NFL talent on the line. It takes its toll. When you combine that talent with the depth at those positions at the top half of the SEC it really takes a toll. Neither Texas nor Oklahoma have faced that week after week in their histories. They will starting next year. Time will tell who was right but its only Texas and OU fans claiming its a myth...the rest of the CFB recognizes it for what it is...

Texas and Oklahoma combined have won one natty each in 20 years. They did not play a team with a defensive pulse in either season and they have not 2 in a row for a long time if ever. They will next year. Hard to imagine either faring any better when they are going to be playing teams with as much or more talent than their opponents traditionally and certainly more depth week in and week out.

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Where does this narrative come from? Because it sounds like wishcasting and a coping mechanism for the 75% of SEC schools who consistently suck and need an explanation for why they can’t put together a sustainable winning run, and it sounds like the last gasp hope of the forever middling teams who will immediately be leapfrogged in respect and competitiveness by Texas and OU’s entry to the conference.

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It's not a myth really. It's somewhat true but probably exaggerated a good bit.

All conferences for the last 10 years have had good teams on top (Clemson/FSU OSU/Michigan/PSU, OU, USC/Oregon/Washington, Bama/UGA/LSU), but it has always been the 4-8 teams that to me separate the SEC. It may not be true every year, but most years, the 5th or 6th best SEC team is 2-3 TDs better than that same tier team in another conference.

I do not think it is true in 2023 to be clear. However, overall in the recent past it has been clearly true. An 8-4 SEC team is usually better than an 8-4 Pac 12 team

The Texas and OU fans in here have me laughing because they are just grasping at things trying to understand what we all know. You can't know until you watch it week in and week out.

Let's take a look at Ole Miss's schedule this year. Not a crazy difficult SEC schedule but a run of the mill tough slate of games in the league.


Bama
LSU
Arkansas
Auburn
Vandy
Texas A&M
UGA
State

There are 4 really difficult games on that schedule plus the rivalry game with state. The Arkansas game should be a gimme but you get it after having to play Bama and LSU. The State game which is already a rivalry game was played after having to play two of the most physical defenses in the league in A&M and UGA. The physical price you pay week in week out in this league is just unmatched and that's proven time and time again when SEC teams smash Big 12 teams in the playoffs over and over again. Iron sharpens iron. For comparison lets look at Texas's league schedule this year.

Baylor
Kansas
OU
UH
BYU
K-State
TCU
Iowa State
Texas Tech


So the best league team Ole Miss played would be Bama or UGA. Let's say its Bama. Texas best game team played was OU. Bama is much better than OU. So now the second best team Ole Miss played was UGA. For Texas that is either Kansas or K-State. Again UGA is much better than either of those. And it goes down the line the same way. LSU is a harder game than Kansas. A&M is a harder game than BYU. It's really not that complicated but when you struggle with Houston and call us crazy for telling you that you are gonna struggle at Starkville after having had played OU and UGA the previous 2 weeks you just aren't paying attention.

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Print the shirts!

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Lol y'all are the ones asking to be worshipped, not Texas and OU. Don't be mad because facts refute your delusions

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I know a team like Michigan would not be 13-0 if they played an SEC schedule. No shot.

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You don't think Michigan would have been 12-0 playing UGAs schedule this season (excluding the SECCG for the time being)?

UGA was the only 12-0 team in the SEC this regular season and I think there's a very good chance Michigan would have matched that. And I dislike Michigan very much.

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So the best league team Ole Miss played would be Bama or UGA. Let's its Bama. Texas best game team played was OU. Bama is much better than OU.

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Damn. Too bad Texas couldn't have played Bama this year. They would've been EMBARRASSED!

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It's really not that complicated but when you struggle with Houston and call us crazy for telling you that you are gonna struggle at Starkville after having had played OU and UGA the previous 2 weeks you just aren't paying attention.

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Yea... I couldn't imagine the conference champion needing a miracle to beat a 6-6 conference team that got pounded by New Mexico State the week before... must be a Big 12 thing

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It's not a myth really. It's somewhat true but probably exaggerated a good bit.

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I think this is basically the exact correct answer.

It's not as big a deal as SEC homers like to puff their chest out and say, but if you asked any coach in the country who has experience playing a full SEC schedule vs any other league they'd tell you without a doubt that it is different.

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Played exactly 2 top 15 teams and went 1-1. Impressive

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Oh, I guess I forgot all of the SEC was top 15 teams like the rest of this thread is trying to claim. Thank GOD Texas only had to play Bama and not perennial powerhouses A&M, South Carolina, Kentucky and Arkansas this year!!!

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I’m not looking to spar with you.

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There's nothing to spar about. Either we're talking about conference wins or we aren't. Clearly, we aren't.

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Texas A&M’s OOC opponents are no different than are our SEC brethren’s.

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I'd agree. So you all do indeed have "weeks off".

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We’ve faced Top 10 opponents, and we’ve played teams looking for nothing but exposure and a paycheck. Same as the rest of the conference

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See above comment.