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When most of us were young our parents likely told us at one point that sharing was a good thing. Either the members of the SEC didn't have a mother or they weren't listening.
For six years now a team from the SEC has claimed the BCS national championship. Not too long ago I detailed the significance of this streak in an article that questioned; Is the SEC's dynasty the best ever? Regardless of the answer, the streak is something that we're deep into and must live with every second of the college football season.
But if you're tired of their winning ways and you're looking for a savior to end the madness, here are five teams to end the SEC's national championship streak in 2012.
Honorable mention (Stanford, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Michigan State, Louisville, Oklahoma, Notre Dame)
5. Clemson Tigers
4. Nebraska Cornhuskers
To make it to the national championship from the ACC, an undefeated season is likely a must. Florida State and Virginia Tech could argue for a spot here, but the unbelievable collection of offensive talent on the side of the Tigers gives them the edge. Until the ACC shows a movement toward some legitimate defense I have to believe that the bid goes to the highest scorer.
Quarterback Tajh Boyd, halfback Andre Ellington, and receiver Sammy Watkins will cause nightmares all season for opposing defenses. The potent trio could be enough to carry the squad to a conference title and to an appearance in the BCS championship game. While defense does tend to win championships, getting to the big game is all Clemson could hope for -- and once there, anything can happen.
Quarterback Tajh Boyd, halfback Andre Ellington, and receiver Sammy Watkins will cause nightmares all season for opposing defenses. The potent trio could be enough to carry the squad to a conference title and to an appearance in the BCS championship game. While defense does tend to win championships, getting to the big game is all Clemson could hope for -- and once there, anything can happen.
4. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Take everything that you loved about the Ohio State Buckeyes from the past ten years and substitute some Nebraska uniforms. A powerful spread running attack, a dual-threat quarterback, and a wrecking crew for an offensive line. Throw in some serious experience and talent across the board on defense and you've got the recipe for a B1G championship.
The Cornhuskers must escape an early trap game at UCLA and have tough contests at Ohio State, Michigan State, and Iowa. However, their strength and overall balance mixed with experience at key positions gives them the ability to win crucial road games. Even if Nebraska drops one game, their tough schedule could work to their benefit and put them ahead of other teams with one loss for a serious shot at a national championship appearance.
The Cornhuskers must escape an early trap game at UCLA and have tough contests at Ohio State, Michigan State, and Iowa. However, their strength and overall balance mixed with experience at key positions gives them the ability to win crucial road games. Even if Nebraska drops one game, their tough schedule could work to their benefit and put them ahead of other teams with one loss for a serious shot at a national championship appearance.
3. Oregon Ducks
The 2012 version of the blur offense may have some slight growing pains with a new quarterback in Bryan Bennett. The good news for Oregon fans, however, is that the best compliment to a developing offense is a stellar defense -- something the Ducks carry into this year.Oregon is packed with talent on the defensive side and almost has enough depth to field another quality PAC-12 team. Kenjon Barner and Josh Huff look to carry the offense at halfback and wide receiver, but as the Ducks have proved thus far under head coach Chip Kelly -- the offense has a way of carrying itself.
As good as Oregon is, they must push through and stay focused leading up to their late-season matchup with USC. If they can pull off the upset against the Trojans, another tough road test awaits at California the following week. To claim the conference, Oregon would likely have to take down USC once more in the conference championship game. It's hard to think of a better resume' for a chance at a BCS title game appearance.
2. Texas Longhorns
Really, Texas?! You bet your Bevo they can. It may not be the most likely choice considering a lackluster 8-5 record in 2011, but projecting the future in college football requires an almost-clean-slate approach. And not only does the slate look different for the Longhorns this year, but the cupboard looks absolutely stuffed.
Nine returning starters on offense, including quarterback David Ash, mean that the road bumps incurred by the young 'Horns in '11 could translate into huge amounts of growth for the coming season. As with any Texas team, talent won't be an issue and the offense has plenty to go around.
And as good and talented as the offense looks, the defense appears to be twice as impressive. Ranking in as my second most-talented defense in the nation in 2012, Texas has skill comparable to some of the best top-tier Big-12 teams of the past -- enough defensive potential to scare off the upset and win crucial games on the road.
Nine returning starters on offense, including quarterback David Ash, mean that the road bumps incurred by the young 'Horns in '11 could translate into huge amounts of growth for the coming season. As with any Texas team, talent won't be an issue and the offense has plenty to go around.
And as good and talented as the offense looks, the defense appears to be twice as impressive. Ranking in as my second most-talented defense in the nation in 2012, Texas has skill comparable to some of the best top-tier Big-12 teams of the past -- enough defensive potential to scare off the upset and win crucial games on the road.
1. USC Trojans
If you've followed my columns the past two weeks it's likely no surprise who my number one team on this list would be. The Trojans are not only the team with the best chance to end the SEC streak, but they are my choice to finish the deal and win the 2012 BCS National Championship. Not to mention, they are listed as my second-rated team in the nation based on talent, and are led by Matt Barkley, my favorite to win the Heisman.
The Trojans have a tall order in closing out the season with games against Oregon, at UCLA, and home against Notre Dame. As if that weren't enough, a rematch with Oregon potentially looms for the PAC-12 title. But a schedule isn't enough to slow down the Trojans in 2012. They are a galvanized group that persevered through scandal and the subsequent fallout.
The talent alone of the Trojans is enough to push them to the top, and the leadership, experience, and hunger of the squad only pushes them that much higher in my mind. But if you want to argue against the intangibles it's a small ledge to stand on. USC is home to arguably the best quarterback in the nation, the best receiver corps in the country, one of the top linebacker groups in America, and the best secondary in Lane Kiffin's tenure.
The goal for any team, once again, is just to make it to the BCS championship game. Once there, anything can happen. In our current era it's hard to imagine a title matchup without the SEC, and rightfully so, as the conference of record should have a representative in the battle if their streak finally does come to an end.
Who are your favorites to end the SEC's national championship streak this year?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @long_snapper.
The Trojans have a tall order in closing out the season with games against Oregon, at UCLA, and home against Notre Dame. As if that weren't enough, a rematch with Oregon potentially looms for the PAC-12 title. But a schedule isn't enough to slow down the Trojans in 2012. They are a galvanized group that persevered through scandal and the subsequent fallout.
The talent alone of the Trojans is enough to push them to the top, and the leadership, experience, and hunger of the squad only pushes them that much higher in my mind. But if you want to argue against the intangibles it's a small ledge to stand on. USC is home to arguably the best quarterback in the nation, the best receiver corps in the country, one of the top linebacker groups in America, and the best secondary in Lane Kiffin's tenure.
The goal for any team, once again, is just to make it to the BCS championship game. Once there, anything can happen. In our current era it's hard to imagine a title matchup without the SEC, and rightfully so, as the conference of record should have a representative in the battle if their streak finally does come to an end.
Who are your favorites to end the SEC's national championship streak this year?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @long_snapper.
# 3
marginwalker12 @ Jul 6
USC is soft. Anyone remember USC beating anyone from the SEC, ever? I remember a Oklahoma victory. But an SEC team would beat this USC team down. What important games has the squad played lately with the sanctions? Oklahoma stands a far better chance than Texas, and pretty much anyone else on this list. And I'm a UT fan.
# 4
2phatshakur @ Jul 6
The SEC deserves all the accolades in college football that it has received in recent years. That being said, as a 41 year old college football fan I have learned one thing among all others. Nothing. Last. Forever. I remember watching the classic 80's, early 90's Miami teams and thinking...."Who will ever be able to stop this unstoppable force that is the Hurricanes?".....It happens. The SEC has had a great run, and it has had a little help along the way with a two loss LSU team getting the nod to play for a national title, Florida beating OU in Miami, Colt leading Texas to an early lead...and looking good doing it before getting injured in only his third drive. The voters opting for a 'bama/LSU rematch instead of giving OSU the shot...(they won't make that mistake again after one of the least watched MNC games ever in the BCS era. Point is, will the SEC's death grip on college football end THIS year? Who knows, but I will guarantee one thing....it won't win 6 more in row.
# 6
shanew21 @ Jul 6
@Jadakiss88
Texas is turning into a running powerhouse, and they've got some great talent up front on D as well as a good secondary. Look much more like an SEC team than I've seen in a while.
Texas is turning into a running powerhouse, and they've got some great talent up front on D as well as a good secondary. Look much more like an SEC team than I've seen in a while.
# 7
$NevaBroke$ @ Jul 7
The SEC (Shutdown Everything Conference) deck is stacked too high to be knocked off anytime soon by any other conference team in a national championship game. Ride with me for a sec brother...Bama and LSU just reload year after year after year with size and speed. Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have athletes just as sick on their squads and could easily beat the breaks off of any other conference team(icluding the ones you list above), if they can get their acts together. Tennessee is getting stronger by the year. Even Ole Miss, Miss State, Vandy, Arkansas, and Kentucky games are not easy wins for their competitors. Ohh, and the SEC now adds Texas A&M and Missouri to the pot. Heres what it boils down to- SEC dominates like it does because the SEC in-conference schedule is like a bowl game every week. Take a sec and think about USC playing LSU or Bama this year in a national championship...USC would have gotten wrecked and Matt Barkley would have left for the NFL, believe it. USC has a great team, coming off probation will be a great story for college football this year, and this will make Pac 12 games more entertaining to watch, but they will choke a game or 2 this year("cough" Stanford, Oregon, or Notre Dame) . Other conference teams have a hard time beating SEC teams because the talent is just better and other teams are not ready for the speed and size of the SEC squads. The teams you have listed above are good teams on paper, but loose games they have no business every year. The only teams that will come close to knocking the SEC off the champion hill in the later future (keyword: future) in order will be Florida State, USC, and Ohio State. Your welcome.
# 8
Amazziness @ Jul 8
@jadakiss88 uhm Ohio state lost to Florida shows and Ohio state returned the opening kickoff back for a touchdown so the opening kickoff they were ready to go? Your dumb. The only reason the SEC is better is because they all focus on big powerful defenses and throughout there SEC schedule they see every type of offense there is from Arkansas spread to Alabamas one back set. The SEC is soo good because the teams in the conference never get a week off and are pushed to get a win every week it is the toughest conference to win in. Thats why they always have the best team. You are right about big 12 teams never seeing the run is why they have good numbers against it. But I bet you if they saw the run as much as sec did they would be just as good. I think these are some of the best 5 out there not from the SEC. no body else even looks good.
# 9
Jadakiss88 @ Jul 10
Yea I'm Dumb when I said AFTER THE OPENING KICKOFF learn to read before throwing insults. And if they were so ready what happened...? And while Fast, Big, and Athletic Defenses are what the SEC recruits is not all they focus on. If you look at the last 6 teams that won the title they won by running the ball whether it was the QB or the RB. And outside of Arkansas and UGA the passing game isn't that great in the SEC. Yea, call out Tyler Bray and then tell me how many games Tennesse has won.
Yea Texas has always had good backs and they do very well after leaving Texas. But the BIG 12 as a whole don't stop the run very well. Back when OK played Florida and Texas played Bama everyone pointed to the fact that both defenses were tops in the nation in Rush Defense. While that's a good stat its kind of exaggerated. The Big 12 is truly a QB driven conference and when you pass the ball 65% to 75% of the time you don't run the ball much. But yea I agree Texas runs the ball very well I love their Running Backs
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jmik58
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Texas? First the Big 12 doesn't know how to stop the run. Yea you could point at all the Top defenses in the Big 12 that have great numbers in the Run Defense category but ask yourself "What teams run the ball consistently in the Big 12?" Bama proved that no matter how much you pass on an SEC team if you can't stop the run you want win and seeing how most SEC team's have multiple running backs it will be hard for Texas to catch their breath.
Nebraska is actually designed like an SEC team low on passing, mobile QB, dept in the running back position and hard hitting defense. However, the level that Nebraska is on is similar to Mississippi State. Nebraska hasn't been consistent enough in the last few years to be considered trouble for a Big 10 school let alone SEC.
Clemson well they play one or two SEC teams a year. They haven't found alot of success in the SEC yea they beat Auburn last year but WHO DIDN'T...?
The things you need to beat an SEC team is 1) Consistent and experienced D-Line 2) Ability to stop the run 3)Great Clock Control (if you can put together 3 or 4 long TD Drives you will definetly beat an SEC team) 4)Size, Speed, and Strength on defense.
From Colt McCoy's LongHorns, Sam Bradford's Sooners, LaMichael James' Oregon Ducks ( a team that threw for 360+ yards and only scored 21 points(two touchdowns were from James who only had 35 yards receiving), The Almighty Buckeyes (at the time) whatever SEC team they faced they realized not to long after the opening kickoff that they couldn't compete. They tried and tried but to no avail, they were exposed and dissected easily.
I pray USC makes it against LSU or Bama or even UGA because that team is the only hope to beat an SEC team in the Natty.