Count ’em: SEC shakes off early woes, has 8 teams in Top 25
COLUMBIA, S.C. » Top heavy and offensively challenged. Aging and ripe to be toppled. That was how the Southeastern Conference looked earlier this season, and by its standards, probably still does to some.
Halfway through the season, the SEC has only two teams in the top 10 but still can lay claim to the unofficial title of the deepest league in college football.
No. 1 Alabama (7-0, 4-0 SEC), the defending national champions, leads an impressive eight SEC teams in this week’s Top 25. Threeloss Ole Miss sits No. 23 and LSU, which fired longtime leader Les Miles last month, has returned at No. 25.
“It’s just the culture down there that makes football so important,” SEC Network analyst Marcus Spears said. “Boys grow up dreaming to play for their favorite (SEC) school instead of the NFL.”
And those dreams are coming true for much of the league this season.
Leading the way are the undefeated Crimson Tide and No. 6 Texas A&M (6-0, 4-0). But even a couple of Tigers, whose seasons seemed finished except for playing out the games — afore mentioned LSU (4-2, 2-1) and No. 21 Auburn (4-2, 2-1).
The rest of the ranked SEC teams are Eastern Division leader Florida (5-1, 3-1) at No. 15, Arkansas (5-2, 1-2) at No. 17 and Tennessee (52, 2-2) at No. 18 and Mississippi (33, 1-2) at No. 23.
“I’m not really surprised by it,” LSU receiver Travin Dural said. “It’s not something I haven’t seen before.”
It adds up to a schedule filled with losable contests where it’s impossible to relax.
“Every game is going to be a hard game,” Alabama linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton said. “You have to go out there and earn it. It’s not going to be given to you.”
Spears, who won a national title at LSU in 2004 under coach Nick Saban, understands that well. Growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the defensive end knew football was important. Even he didn’t expect the fanaticism he saw in college.
As a sophomore, Spears could not believe the scene he saw leaving the 2002 Sugar Bowl after the Tigers beat Illinois 47-34.
“There were grown men crying,” he said. “It wasn’t like we won a national championship and they were out there like that.”
It’s that passion, Spears said, that attracts coaches all over the country to fly South seeking top players.
Spears alma mater, LSU, has rebounded with two straight wins under interim coach Ed Orgeron. The Tigers get a boost this week with the return of injured star running back Leonard Fournette for the Saturday’s game against Ole Miss. That matchup kicks off a second half of games for LSU against ranked opponents with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and Texas A&M looming.
“It’s just staying focused and keeping things in front that are in front,” LSU safety Jamal Adams said.
Look on any SEC schedule it’s a gauntlet of games.
Alabama plays its third straight ranked opponent this week in Texas A&M. The Aggies are playing a third ranked SEC team in four weeks. and