The SEC wasn't considered THE best just because of the 7 consecutive NCs by 4 different schools and then 6 out of 8 NCs by 3 different schools, although that would have been enough.
But add to that the SEC's bowl record each year, the best overall win% by conference each year, the most players drafted each year, the most 1st round drafted each year, and annually having HALF the top 12 of recruiting rankings each year.
All of that combined made any argument against it silly enough to laugh off. Now, because the SEC hasn't had the NC for 3 years now and 1 bad bowl record year, it's suddenly down.
Maybe.
But check all the other stuff. And I no longer believe bowl record matters at all, given that the top-echelon talent isn't participation anymore, by and large. So it if it should not count against a conference (the SEC this past year), nor should it count for a conference (going forward).
