Zack Peñalva
Sports Editor
When it comes to college football, there’s no questioning the strength of the Southeastern Conference. Florida State’s victory in the BCS National Championship game last season broke the SEC’s streak of victories in the championship game that extended all the way back to the University of Florida’s win in the 2006/07 season.
Florida State’s win over SEC member Auburn last year may have been a symbolic power shift for some, but for those that thought that the SEC may have finally lost its title as college football’s toughest conference, think again. We’re only two weeks into the season, but early polls are already showing a glut of SEC teams in the top 25. The Associated Press poll put seven teams from the SEC in its top 15. And while Florida State (ACC) and Oregon (Pac 12) may sit at the number 1 and 2 spots respectively, the Pac 12’s only other representation in the top 15 are UCLA and Arizona State. The ACC’s next highest ranked team is Clemson at 22.
Will an SEC team make a comeback to the national championship game this year? That much still remains to be seen. Alabama is the most highly rated, but they have yet to have a real challenge in front of them. Their next game is against conference rivals University of Florida. The Gators have struggled in recent years, but they have playmakers that could cause problems for the Crimson Tide if they put together a more cohesive effort than they did during the triple overtime win against University of Kentucky.
#5 Auburn is in a similar position. They’ve recorded two commanding wins, one against fellow SEC member Arkansas, but haven’t proven themselves as a dominant team in the NCAA yet. The results of Thursday night’s game against #20 Kansas State will show whether or not Auburn is the real deal and if they deserve to be in the conversation for the top spot.
Graphic Info
AP Rankings as of 9/15/14
7 SEC teams in AP top 15
{C}3. Alabama
{C}4. Auburn
{C}5. Texas A&M
{C}6. LSU
{C}7. Ole Miss
{C}8. Georgia
{C}9. South Carolina
End of 2013/14 Season Rankings
4 SEC teams in AP top 15
{C}2. Auburn
{C}3. South Carolina
{C}4. Alabama
{C}5. LSU