*I'm not in anyway trying to say the SEC isn't really that great. I acknowledge their greatness. They are the best conference in college football. End of story.
Now....looking at UT's schedule this coming year...how much more difficult is it than what they faced last year?
Playing national champs Michigan in non-conf is no doubt impressive....but they would have played them if they had stayed in the B12.
Now beyond that....they get the extra non-con cupcake since the SEC has 4 non-con games. So there is one advantage they get in their schedule that they wouldn't get in the B12.
Here are last year's records of the teams they will face in the SEC this year:
Miss St 5-7 (1-7 SEC)
OU 10-3 (7-2 B12)
Georgia 13-1 (8-0 SEC)
Vandy 2-10 (0-8 SEC)
Florida 5-7 (3-5 SEC)
Arky 4-8 (1-7 SEC)
UK 7-6 (3-5 SEC)
Aggy 7-6 (4-4 SEC)
So they will face one team that had a winning record in SEC conference play. Obviously facing Georgia is a hell of a challenge and there isn't a team like them in the B12. The other team they play with a winning conference record is OU who they obviously would have faced in the B12 had they both stayed.
So having to face Georgia is a nightmare they wouldn't get in the B12. Beyond that....is it a huge difference looking at the schedule they got in their first SEC year?
Now....looking at UT's schedule this coming year...how much more difficult is it than what they faced last year?
Playing national champs Michigan in non-conf is no doubt impressive....but they would have played them if they had stayed in the B12.
Now beyond that....they get the extra non-con cupcake since the SEC has 4 non-con games. So there is one advantage they get in their schedule that they wouldn't get in the B12.
Here are last year's records of the teams they will face in the SEC this year:
Miss St 5-7 (1-7 SEC)
OU 10-3 (7-2 B12)
Georgia 13-1 (8-0 SEC)
Vandy 2-10 (0-8 SEC)
Florida 5-7 (3-5 SEC)
Arky 4-8 (1-7 SEC)
UK 7-6 (3-5 SEC)
Aggy 7-6 (4-4 SEC)
So they will face one team that had a winning record in SEC conference play. Obviously facing Georgia is a hell of a challenge and there isn't a team like them in the B12. The other team they play with a winning conference record is OU who they obviously would have faced in the B12 had they both stayed.
So having to face Georgia is a nightmare they wouldn't get in the B12. Beyond that....is it a huge difference looking at the schedule they got in their first SEC year?