The 2014 college football season was one for the ages. College football’s inaugural playoff was initiated, much to the relief of fans everywhere sick to death of the mathematical confusion of the BCS system. 
Some of those fans (Baylor, TCU) may still feel duped by the first set of results of the newly enacted system, but any fan of a team that had a shot at playoff glory would feel that way, any true fan anyway.  It was a session that saw one of the most efficient quarterbacks of all time finally bring the coveted Heisman trophy to Eugene, which should not be overshadowed by a subpar performance by the Ducks in the national championship.  
Most importantly, it will go down as one of the greatest seasons in MSU history. A 10-win season, the team’s first No. 11 ranking, and a late-season Heisman contender is a lot to be excited about when .500 records and middle-of-the-pack finishes in the standing were once the norm.
Once again, it was a season that began with the SEC reigning supreme, as many felt an SEC team would hoist the revamped version of the championship trophy after a brief one-year hiatus.  However, during a year laden with massive upsets not only in the SEC, but across the Power 5 conferences, fans of down south football would have a bit more to be upset about.  
The SEC entered bowl season with 12 teams competing in bowls, including three in the New Year’s six games.  When the dust cleared and all was said and done SEC teams emerged with what many fans would say was a less-than-favorable outcome: no victories in any of their New Year’s bowl games and a total record of 7-5.
SEC teams also seemed to be lacking of the defense that is often pegged as the trademark of the conference. In each of their five defeats, SEC teams allowed more than 30 points per game. Such a poor performance by the conference has led many to begin to say the SEC is supremely overrated, but is this truly the case?
Of all the Power 5 conferences the Pac-12 boasted the best winning percentage in the bowl season at 67 percent. The SEC follows in second at 58 percent, the Big 10 (55 percent) was third, and the ACC and Big 12 round out the standing with winning percentages of 36 percent and 29 percent respectively. In other words most of the Power 5 did not manage to stay above .500 in the bowl season. But that should not suggest any one conference is overrated or underrated.
Instead it should speak to the even spread of strength throughout the Power 5 conferences. It should suggest that perhaps everyone, while basking in the glow of the dominance the SEC has known for the past decade or so, neglected to give the other conferences their due. The Pac-12 proved it has staying power with signature wins like Oregon’s blowout over Florida State and UCLA’s triumph over football powerhouse Kansas State. The Big 10 proved it belongs amongst the ranks of the elite also, as it captured a national title in convincing fashion over a talented Oregon team.  Michigan State and Wisconsin claimed hard fought victories over great teams as well. The list could goes on.
We fans of the SEC at times can be greedy, but this is simply because our teams have spoiled us with victory over the years.  This conference has produced some of the greatest teams and athletes college football has or maybe will ever see. So, to say it is overrated may be a supreme exaggeration. Instead, let’s take this bowl season in stride and hope next year yields better results for this proud conference; yes Bulldog fans, even for The School Up North. We are all in this together.