Well, this is basically the MU/KU smack thread.

I take back everything I said about TCU.

http://coedmagazine.files.wordpress....5255751368.jpg

All depends on whether you believe computer rankings or not. If you do, it hasn't made much difference in the data. Last year the Big 12 was actually made better in Sagarin as the two newcomer averaged a 40 ranking while the four departures were 55.25 (thanks to CU)

Probably worth mentioning that the SEC just broke its own record by having eight team's ranked in the top 25. Congratulations to Alabama, LSU, aTm, Mizzou, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Auburn.

SEC gets record 8 in AP's Top 25

The Southeastern Conference set a record Sunday for most schools in The Associated Press college football poll with eight ranked teams.

The Top 25 was shaken Sunday after seven ranked teams lost, including five to teams that were unranked or lower ranked. Stanford dropped eight spots and Michigan fell from the poll.

The top four was unchanged, with No. 1 Alabama receiving 55 of 60 first-place votes. No. 2 is Oregon, followed by Clemson and Ohio State. Florida State moved up to No. 5 to set up a top-five matchup at Clemson next week.

Stanford, which had been top-five all season, lost 27-20 at Utah and dropped eight spots to No. 13. The Cardinal's Pac-12 and national title hopes took a serious hit, though they'll be able to get right back in the conversation next week by beating No. 9 UCLA at home.

No. 24 Auburn moved into the rankings for the first time this season to join No. 6 LSU, No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 11 South Carolina, No. 14 Missouri, No. 15 Georgia and No. 22 Florida from the SEC.

Missouri (6-0) jumped 11 spots with its first statement victory since joining the SEC, a 41-26 win against banged-up Georgia. But the Tigers lost quarterback James Franklin to a separated throwing shoulder. The senior will miss the rest of the regular season, a source told ESPN's Brett McMurphy on Saturday. Franklin's replacement is Maty Mauk, a redshirt freshman and big-time recruit.

The record for most teams from one conference in a regular-season poll had been seven, done many times, including this season by the SEC. The ACC and Big Ten have also reached seven ranked teams in season.

The SEC also had eight teams ranked in the 2011 preseason poll.

No. 12 Baylor is the highest ranked team in the Big 12 for the first time since the league started in 1996, taking advantage of Oklahoma's surprising loss to Texas. The Sooners fell six spots to No. 18.

SEC has three teams ranked with Tigers as a mascot.

The 6 SEC schools that are not ranked: 1-16 in league play.


I'm guessing the writer of that article could've pulled that up in Google just as easily as I did. That league is the ultimate feast or famine group

Yet one of those teams feasted on Texas with a 21 point win IN AUSTIN.

The Big 12 is just one big famine...and KU is the Donner party.

Big 12...2-9 against ranked teams

LMAO

In many years the strength of the teams in the top half skews the bottom feeders to some extent. For ex Mizzou last year could have beat WVA, a bowl team from the Big 12. Not promising they would have, but that would have been a very competitive game in spite of our injuries. There was more depth in the SEC last year than people think. Mizzou played one of the toughest schedules in the country as did a few other schools from our league.

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2012/Intern...games_cumm.pdf

As for this year there is much to play out but it appears the SEC is very good, PAC 12 up, Big 12 down, Big Ten it's usual pile of steaming rotten garbage, ACC up.

I will predict that the SEC's streak of championships ends this year. It has to end eventually, right.

LMAO

The league's perception is hurt right now big time w/ OU & Texas not both being among the elite. In fact it looks as though there are no elite teams in the Big 12 at the moment although Baylor has yet to play anybody of consequence so they are still somewhat of an unknown. Struggling at Kst doesn't necessarily alarm me unless we see them do it again in conference play.

I don't think there's any question that the league was hurt by expansion. Smaller footprint, Fewer "name" programs. Those things speak to perception, which is important and will drive TV $ long term. The #'s they are throwing around right now for the SEC are mind boggling.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...eases/1836389/

Also, recruiting is down across the board

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/footbal...k/2014/all/all

although that is likely due to multiple reasons.

I am w/ the others that think TCU was a terrible add. They don't bring anything to the table the league didn't already possess. I would have taken Louisville. Spinning #'s notwithstanding. WVA OTOH was an excellent choice given available options. They will be fine long term they are just adjusting to not getting to play South Florida and UCONN every other week.

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All that said, the other thing that's important to remember is that the reality is that we've just hit the pause button on expansion. IDK about the where or when but I don't believe for a second that it's over.