Certainly, OU and Texas can play with Florida and Alabama, but the Gators and the Crimson Tide are just a little better.   Texas Tech and Missouri can play with LSU and Georgia, but the Bayou Bengals and the ‘Dawgs are a lot better. Year-in, year-out, from top to bottom, the SEC has more depth than any other conference, and it looks like that will continue in 2009.

The past few years the Big 12’s second tier has been Texas Tech, Missouri and Kansas.  While this is great for the Red Raiders, Tigers and Jayhawks, the Big 12 as a whole isn’t really getting any better.  It doesn’t need anymore second-tier teams.  It would be an added bonus for the second tier to maintain their success, but the conference needs two more top-tier teams.

Unlike the second tier, the Aggies and Huskers have the resources, facilities, tradition and fan support to get there.  In other words, Tech, Mizzou and KU are all tapped out; they’ve reached their maximum upside.  We all know what Nebraska can be, and Texas A&M has an upside capable of competing with OU and Texas.

OU, Texas, Texas A&M and Nebraska should be mainstays in the Top 10-15, year in, year out.  Right now, only OU and Texas are carrying their weight.  It’s time for the Huskers and Aggies to pull theirs and help carry the Big 12 torch.  

Relative to the SEC, the current state of affairs in the Big 12 is not good:  it’s OU, Texas, and the rest.  On the other hand, the SEC has Florida, Alabama, LSU and Georgia–all teams worthy of serious national consideration.  And Tennessee will be back soon if Lane Kiffin can adjust to the cut-throat recruiting culture of the SEC.

Both Nebraska and A&M made mistakes with their previous coaching hires with Bill Callahan and Dennis Franchione but seem to be happy with their current regimes.  It won’t be 2009, but in the next couple of years we’ll see if the former defensive mastermind Bo Pelini and former NFL Head Coach/GM Mike Sherman have recruited and developed well enough to become more than just a blip on the schedules of OU and Texas.  The Big 12 needs it.  Otherwise, no matter how many points they score or how many of its quarterbacks are invited to the Heisman ceremony, the Big 12 will be looking up at the SEC–again.

While the Pac-10 is underrated as a whole, the Pac-10 is USC and the rest.  Mike Belotti continues to amaze us with his long-term success at Oregon, but Arizona State and Cal seemed to take a step back.  While on the subject of the Pac-10, we can’t wait to see the Washington Huskies pull return to the level of play it had under Don James.  If you ever get an opportunity to catch a game at Husky Stadium, do it.  The game-day setting on the lake is something to behold (we are eager to get back to Seattle).

The Big 10 with Ohio State and Penn State and has its moments, but just can’t get by the other conference’s top teams when it counts.  The ACC is just mediocre, at best, with no real national power.  And the Big East should have its automatic BCS bid revoked or given to the Mountain West until they figure out what to do without Miami, BC and Virginia Tech.

The Big 12 will have its mainstays in the top 5-10, OU and Texas.  Either of those teams could compete at the highest level in the SEC.  Texas Tech and Oklahoma State are tough teams but haven’t recruited the athletes required to build or sustain a top 10 program.  Kansas and Missouri have had nice runs, but likely won’t be able to sustain that success.  All due respect to Nebraska’s respectable Gator bowl win, but until Texas A&M and Nebraska (both teams with SEC-type fan support and facilities) get performance that equals their resources, there is no Big 12/SEC argument.  Big 12 coaches also might want to consider moving some more speed to the defensive side of the ball.

As for the SEC, look for Alabama to again take its place as a mainstay in the top 5 for years to come.  Since the day he flew into Tuscaloosa, Coach Nick Saban has recruited and developed a monster.  Urban Meyer has fostered a culture of dominance, and has the Gators at the top of their game with another National Title.  LSU lost several key players from the ‘07 season and struggled through ‘08, but Les Miles will have the Bayou Bengals back in the hunt in ‘09.  After several close games, and wins AT the Swamp and in the Cotton Bowl, Houston Nutt has Ole Miss going into ‘09 with Jevan Snead returning to lead the Rebels.  Georgia’s Mark Richt has recruited well but will have to replace the production from Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno.  We’ll have to wait and see how the Lane Kiffin project works out at Tennessee. 

Who’s ready for the season?

But to those who are now claiming that Non-BCS teams deserve a chance at the National Title, save your breath.  Put the Utes on the road in the SEC, Big 12, Pac-10 or even the Big 10, and they have at least one loss, if not more.  Seventeen-to-twenty-one year old college football players can play at the highest level maybe three or four times per year.   Florida wasn’t on their game against Ole Miss; USC didn’t have it against Oregon State, OU vs. Texas, Texas vs. Texas Tech.   Utah had to get up for Oregon State, TCU, and BYU–all home games.  Does anyone think the Utes would be 12-0 if they had to travel to Norman, Austin, Baton Rouge, Gainesville or Columbus?

To me, the most impressive thing about an SEC or Big 12 team is the road wins.  Even at home, SEC/Big 12 visiting teams aren’t intimidated by the home crowd in a massive un-friendly stadium.  Road wins in those leagues are ALWAYS tough to come by.  Utah, BYU, and TCU-type teams don’t have to face these kinds of road contests in their schedules, nor do hey have to face battle-tested opponents at home.

Every year, we hear the same old ‘BCS Buster’ hype.  Put these teams in an SEC, Big 12 or Big 10 stadium on a Saturday night, and the madness will stop.

Meanwhile over in Tuscaloosa, ‘Bama grew tired of sub-standard results and the annual Tuberville-directed Iron Bowl beatings.  They hire Nick Saban, who starts pulling in top recruits right after his introductory press conference is over.  In only his second year, Saban had the Tide in the hunt for a national title. 

If ever there was a critical time at Auburn, it is now.   The hated rivals have struck gold, but there is still plenty of talent in the cupboard (thanks to Tuberville).   An opportunity to create some excitement with prospective recruits to bring in a Turner Gill, a Chris Peterson, or even Mike Leach–all proven winners at places with far fewer resources or passionate fans than Auburn.

But they blew it.  Gene Chizik?  The coach who was 5-19 in two years at Iowa State and winless in the Big 12 this year?  Well done, Auburn.  You just made the jobs of the other SEC coaches much easier both on the recruiting trail, and on the field.  Get out the pens, recruits–you can cross Auburn off your list.