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SEC fans are a prideful bunch. From historically great programs to wonderful fan traditions to the conference’s recent dominance over the college football landscape, there’s plenty to chant “S-E-C!” about. Here’s a look at five things the conference’s fans can point to from week two.
5. Big attendance numbers
This past week didn’t feature a whole lot of scintillating matchups, and the only SEC game was played in an NFL stadium. Still, fans showed up in droves. LSU and Texas A&M both set attendance records, three teams drew over 100,000 fans and fourth (Tennessee) was just a few hundred away from that number.
4. Beautiful renovated stadiums
Speaking of those attendance numbers, LSU and Texas A&M both opened up their home fields in style, showing off added capacity. In Baton Rouge, Tiger Stadium added nearly 10,000 seats with its south end zone expansion, while Kyle Field tacked about 24,000 seats onto its maximum capacity and is still only halfway through renovations. Both had their first 100,000-plus crowds in school history. The SEC already had some of the greatest venues in the sport and they just keep getting better.
3. Electric offenses
The SEC West in particular is home to some of the most thrilling teams in the nation. Texas A&M topped 50 points for the second straight week, rolling up 73 this time out, and Auburn hung 59 after putting up 45 a week ago. Arkansas got in on the action as well, setting a school record with 73 points of their own with five one-play scoring drives. Five SEC teams put up 50 or more points, impressive regardless of opponent.
2. Non-conference dominance
Week two may have been the week of the cupcake matchup, but the SEC still came to play. The conference went undefeated in 12 non-conference games, rolling up a total score of 550-126 in those games. That comes out to a rounded average of about 49-10, for those keeping track.
Other conferences (we see you, Big Ten) didn’t fare so well with their out-of-conference slate, so taking care of business so handily is something to be pumped about. Now, bring on the SEC schedule.
1. Poll lockdown
Even though Oregon jumped Alabama in the AP poll, the SEC still holds down five of the top-10 spots in both the coaches and AP polls and eight total in the top 25. Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Texas A&M and LSU all sit somewhere between Nos. 2-10 in both polls, while no other conference has more than two teams in the top 10.
Ole Miss, Missouri and South Carolina round out the final three ranked SEC teams, while Florida and Mississippi State sit just outside the rankings. That gives the SEC 10 of the top 30 teams in the nation, according to voters.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
