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The past few seasons, SEC matchups have gotten more and more intense.
With Alabama being the SEC powerhouse for most of the last decade, the favorite to win the SEC was almost always clear at the beginning of the season. But now things have changed. Matchups have gotten more even and it seems like most teams can compete with one another.
Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher gave his thoughts on what has changed about college football to give the game more parity across the SEC.
“I think from the transfer portal, new guys, new things are happening, who can develop their teams and get them together,” Fisher said during the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday. “But there’s no doubt. This is a game of 1 or 2 possessions at the end. I call it fighting for the inches. Being able to fight for those inches and make those 1 to 4 plays in the game that make a difference because everybody is so close. Everybody’s got skill guys, everybody’s got big guys, they’ve got quarterbacks, there’s players everywhere.”
The transfer portal has certainly benefited teams that would’ve otherwise not been competitors in the past. Fisher also believes that the passion of SEC fanbases has had an impact on parity.
“And the home-field advantages that you have going into places,” Fisher said. “It’s truly a challenge and it’s a gauntlet when you’ve got to run it. Like I say, the teams with great mental toughness and fortitude to be able to push through those moments in a game and then on a weekly basis to accept those challenges are the guys that are going to come out on top.”
Texas A&M is hoping that parity will favor the team well as the Aggies get into SEC play. The Aggies will get their first SEC test this weekend as they take on Auburn.
