2. The SEC and Big Ten are at it again
Everyone outside of the SEC likes to rip on the SEC for being overrated, overloved, overhyped, and over-everything else.
But there’s a reason.
The SEC has been occupying about 25% of the NFL drafts lately, and the number gets to around 40% when you throw in the Big Ten.
Two leagues have most of the talent, most of the top programs, and most of the top teams, but it’s the SEC that continues to get the most respect, and these ranking show it with three of the top five – LSU (5), Georgia (4) and Alabama (3) – from the conference, and six of the top 13 when throwing in Florida (8), Auburn (11) and Texas A&M (13).
Think about it for a moment. Almost half of the teams in a 14-team conference are considered among the top 13 overall in college football, and then add in Tennessee (26th), Kentucky (29th) and Mississippi State (39th) and the SEC had nine teams get ranked overall.
The Big Ten got its share of respect with Ohio State at two and Penn State at seven. With Wisconsin (12), Michigan (15), Minnesota (18) and Iowa (23) in there, the conference has six of the top 23 teams in the country. However, it drops off from there with Nebraska – with just three votes – and Indiana with one vote the only other teams getting acknowledged.
In all, 13 of the top 26 teams come from the SEC and Big Ten. We were promised there wouldn’t be any math, but that’s half of the poll with two conferences.
ACC: Clemson (1), Notre Dame (10), North Carolina (19), Virginia Tech (24) with four teams in the top 25. However, with Louisville (33), Miami (34) and Virginia (37), there was other representation.
Big 12: Oklahoma (6), Texas (14), Oklahoma State (16), Iowa State (25) with four teams in the top 25. With Baylor at 31st, and with Kansas State and TCU also receiving votes, seven of the league’s ten teams were acknowledged.
Pac-12: Oregon (9), USC (17), Utah (20) with three teams in the top 25. Arizona State (27) and Washington (32) were at least close. Washington State received six votes, Cal five, and Stanford 2.