Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin popped off this week making the declare that not solely is the SEC the most effective convention in faculty soccer however that it’s “ridiculous” the distinction between taking part in there and within the ACC or Huge 12.
Kiffin, who had essentially the most expertise presumably ever assembled in Oxford, has his workforce at a disappointing 8-3 and No. 14 within the Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings heading into Friday evening’s Egg Bowl in opposition to 2-9 Mississippi State, apparently a kind of SEC stalwarts.
The Ole Miss coach additionally didn’t point out the Huge Ten, which has the lone undefeated workforce left in Oregon and three one-loss groups in Ohio State (whose solely loss got here to Oregon), Penn State and Indiana (each of which solely misplaced to the Buckeyes).
“I’m not saying due to us, but it surely’s ridiculous the distinction between taking part in within the SEC and the ACC and Huge 12 and see these rankings,” Kiffin stated.
“I’m not even doing the Ole Miss homer factor. You’re speaking about Clemson’s schedule and who they’ve performed over Alabama. It’s silly. Take a few of these groups which can be up there who haven’t performed anyone and put them within the SEC, they’re .500 groups.”
Possibly. However the jury remains to be out on whether or not the SEC is the most effective convention in faculty soccer this season and simply beating up on one another or it’s a complete bunch of above-average groups and the Huge Ten is king this yr.
With the playoff rankings coming into much more focus, ought to a three-loss SEC workforce get in over a two-loss ACC workforce? A two-loss Huge Ten squad? It is going to all work itself out however the SEC ego is perhaps a little bit inflated this season.
Ole Miss performed Furman, Center Tennessee, Wake Forest and Georgia Southern – 4 cupcakes – to heat up for the SEC schedule the place the Rebels blew it in losses to Kentucky, LSU and Florida.
In its first yr within the SEC – and after many questions whether or not Texas may cling with the large boys – the Longhorns are the tops within the convention heading into an enormous showdown in opposition to Texas A&M.
Since 2010, Texas has gained just one Huge 12 championship and might be in line to win an SEC one in its first yr within the convention. What does that say about SEC dominance this season?
Cracks have proven.
Alabama flopped in opposition to a median Oklahoma workforce that’s now 6-5 and couldn’t work out its quarterback scenario all season. The Crimson Tide additionally misplaced to Vanderbilt for the primary time since 1984.
Georgia misplaced to that very same Alabama workforce and in addition acquired owned by Ole Miss. Tennessee misplaced at Arkansas – which misplaced to Oklahoma State, the last-place workforce within the convention (Huge 12) that Kiffin was mocking.
Texas A&M misplaced to Notre Dame by 10 at house within the season opener, acquired blown out by South Carolina and misplaced to a struggling (to place it mildly) Auburn workforce, 43-41.
Vanderbilt misplaced to Georgia State. LSU misplaced to USC amid a disappointing four-loss season thus far. Florida acquired run in embarrassing vogue by Miami in its season opener. Auburn misplaced to Cal. Mississippi State misplaced to Arizona State and Toledo – Toledo?!?! – and the Bulldogs’ solely wins got here in opposition to Japanese Kentucky and UMass.
All this to say the Huge Ten’s high 4 groups have a mixed document of 41-3.
The Huge 12’s Colorado Buffaloes has arguably the 2 finest gamers in faculty soccer in Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, the Heisman Trophy frontrunner.
SMU is fairly rattling spectacular within the ACC and Clemson isn’t any slouch.
Kiffin likes to talk holier than thou concerning the SEC and all of this drained rhetoric concerning the SEC being so superior is beginning to ring hole. In fact, it’s a loaded convention. However, this season, it isn’t what Kiffin and others within the SEC wish to suppose.
